Lexington Deed Records

Lexington deed records are maintained by the City of Lexington Circuit Court Clerk, the office that records all deeds, deeds of trust, and other real property instruments for land within city limits. Lexington is a small but historically significant Virginia independent city in the Shenandoah Valley, surrounded by Rockbridge County but operating as its own separate jurisdiction for land records. All instruments covering property in the City of Lexington must be filed with the city's circuit court clerk. You can search Lexington land records through Virginia's free SRA online index or visit the clerk's office in person.

Lexington Circuit Court Clerk

The Lexington Circuit Court Clerk's office is located at 2 E. Washington Street, Lexington, VA 24450. The clerk records all land instruments for real property within the City of Lexington. As an independent city, Lexington is not part of Rockbridge County for deed recording purposes, even though the county surrounds the city. Property in Rockbridge County is recorded at the Rockbridge County Circuit Court Clerk's office, not at the Lexington clerk's office.

The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday during regular courthouse hours. Call 540-463-2232 to confirm current hours and to ask about specific recording requirements. eRecording through approved vendors is available, as is mail submission. Walk-in recordings are accepted at the filing window during open hours.

Public access terminals at the Lexington courthouse let you search the land record index and view deed images during business hours. Staff can help with older deed book lookups, plat searches, and certified copy requests. Lexington is a small city, but its land records include a significant number of historic properties associated with Washington and Lee University and the Virginia Military Institute.

Current court and clerk contact information is available on the Lexington Circuit Court website.

Searching Lexington Deed Records Online

Virginia's SRA system provides free access to the Lexington grantor and grantee index. Search by party name or date range. The index shows the instrument type, recording date, deed book number, and page number for each entry. The SRA is the best starting point for most Lexington deed searches.

Full document images for some instruments may require a fee, but the basic index is free. In-person searches at the Lexington clerk's office provide direct access to deed images and deed book volumes. Older deed books that predate electronic indexing are also available for research at the courthouse.

The Library of Virginia holds historical Lexington land records and the older Rockbridge County deed books. Lexington became an independent city in 1966. For properties with deed history before that date, the early records likely appear in Rockbridge County deed books at the LVA. The LVA's online catalog can help you find the right microfilm reels before planning a visit.

For properties near the city boundary, always confirm whether the parcel falls inside the city or in Rockbridge County before searching or recording. The two clerks serve separate legal jurisdictions even though they are in the same geographic area.

Instruments Recorded in Lexington

The Lexington clerk accepts all standard real property instruments. Common types include warranty deeds, special warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, deeds of release and certificates of satisfaction, easement agreements, subdivision plats, condominium documents, judgment liens, notices of lis pendens, and powers of attorney used in property transactions.

Virginia follows a race-notice recording rule under Virginia Code § 55.1-407. A buyer who records a deed first without notice of an earlier unrecorded transfer takes priority over the earlier deed. Prompt recording after any real estate closing is standard in Lexington and across Virginia. Delays create risk for the new owner.

Subdivision plats and historic deed references are common in Lexington due to the age of the city and its institutional property holdings. When a deed refers to a recorded plat or an earlier deed by book and page, those referenced documents should be reviewed as part of a thorough title search.

How to Record a Deed in Lexington

Deeds for Lexington city property are submitted to the Lexington Circuit Court Clerk at 2 E. Washington Street. The deed must comply with the form requirements of Virginia Code § 55.1-300. It must be signed by the grantor, acknowledged before a notary, name both parties, describe the property, and state the consideration or the nature of the conveyance.

The tax map reference number must appear on the first page of every deed under Virginia Code § 17.1-252. Use the parcel number from Lexington's real estate tax records. The clerk will not accept a deed that is missing this number. Check with the city assessor's office if you are not sure of the correct number for a given parcel.

A cover sheet is required under Virginia Code § 17.1-227. The cover sheet identifies the instrument type, the parties, and the property. It also triggers SSN redaction if needed. Documents must be typed or printed in at least 8-point font on paper no larger than 8.5 by 14 inches.

Recording Fees and Taxes

Virginia recording fees are fixed by Virginia Code § 17.1-275. The base fee is $18 for instruments of 10 pages or fewer. Documents of 11 to 30 pages cost $32. Instruments over 30 pages cost $52. These rates apply to all circuit court clerks, including Lexington.

The state recordation tax under Virginia Code § 58.1-801 is 25 cents per $100 of the consideration paid. Some Virginia localities add a local grantor's tax on top of the state rate. Ask the Lexington clerk's office whether any local charge applies to city property transfers.

Certain transfers qualify for recordation tax exemptions under Virginia Code § 58.1-811. Common exempt transfers include those between spouses and certain government or educational institution transfers. Given the presence of major educational institutions in Lexington, property transfers involving institutional entities may warrant a review of the exemption provisions. Any claimed exemption must be noted on the deed or the cover sheet.

Lexington Land Records and Rockbridge County

Lexington is surrounded by Rockbridge County, but the two jurisdictions maintain separate land record systems. Deeds for property inside Lexington city limits go to the Lexington clerk. Deeds for property in Rockbridge County go to the Rockbridge County Circuit Court Clerk, which has its own courthouse. The two offices are separate even though they serve the same general geographic area.

For properties near the city boundary, it is worth confirming the correct jurisdiction before recording or searching. A parcel just inside city limits records with Lexington, while a parcel just outside records with Rockbridge County. GIS maps of city limits or a call to the assessor's office can help confirm which side of the line a property falls on.

The image below is from the Lexington Circuit Court website, where you can find current contact information for the clerk and recording services.

The Lexington Circuit Court Clerk at 2 E. Washington Street is the recording office for all deeds and land instruments covering property within the City of Lexington.

Getting Copies of Lexington Deed Records

Copies of Lexington deed records are available from the clerk's office at 2 E. Washington Street. Standard copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies carry an additional fee and are sometimes required for legal proceedings, estate work, or refinancing transactions.

In-person requests are the fastest way to get copies. Mail requests are also accepted. Include the deed book and page number, the names of the parties, and the recording date. Send a check payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Staff will locate the document and send copies back by mail.

The SRA online system may provide access to images of recently recorded instruments. Older records require an in-person visit or a mail request to the Lexington clerk's office.

Nearby Cities

Lexington is in the Shenandoah Valley near several other independent Virginia cities, each with its own land record system.