Search Albemarle County Deed Records

Albemarle County deed records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk at the Albemarle County Courthouse in Charlottesville, Virginia. The office holds property records dating from the 18th century to the present, covering warranty deeds, deeds of trust, plats, easements, and related instruments. Residents, title searchers, and researchers can search the computerized index online or visit the clerk's office in person to find recorded land records.

Albemarle County Circuit Court Clerk

The Circuit Court Clerk for Albemarle County is Hon. Jon R. Zug. The clerk's office is located at the Albemarle County Courthouse, 350 Park Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

The Albemarle County Circuit Court is part of the 16th Judicial Circuit. The clerk's office records all land instruments affecting Albemarle County property, indexes them by grantor and grantee, and maintains copies for public access. If you have questions about a specific document or need to know what to bring when recording a deed, call the main number before your visit.

Note: Charlottesville is an independent city surrounded by Albemarle County. Property located within city limits is recorded at the Charlottesville Circuit Court Clerk's office, not with Albemarle County.

Searching Albemarle Deed Records

Albemarle County maintains a computerized index that makes it easier to search deed records than in many rural Virginia counties. You can search the index online for free through Virginia's SRA (Secure Remote Access) system. The SRA shows grantor and grantee names, instrument type, recording date, and deed book and page number. Full document images require a paid subscription through the clerk's office.

For in-person searches, visit the clerk's office during business hours. You can use the public access terminals to look up records by party name. If you need to search records from the 18th or early 19th century, some older deed books are available at the courthouse and through the Library of Virginia.

Title searchers working on real estate transactions often start with the SRA index, then order copies of specific deeds to build a chain of title. The computerized index covers a substantial range of years, though older instruments may require reviewing bound deed books directly.

Types of Instruments Recorded in Albemarle County

Albemarle County's deed records include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, and mortgages covering property throughout the county. The office also records plat records and subdivision maps, condominium declarations, easement deeds, powers of attorney for real estate, judgment liens docketed against real property, and notices of lis pendens.

Certificates of satisfaction are recorded when a deed of trust or mortgage is paid off. These releases are important to the chain of title and should be recorded promptly after a loan payoff. UCC filings that affect real estate are also recorded at the Circuit Court Clerk's office.

Under Virginia Code § 55.1-407, recording your deed right away protects your ownership against later claims. An unrecorded deed is void against a bona fide purchaser who records first and has no notice of the prior transfer.

Recording a Deed in Albemarle County

To record a deed in Albemarle County, bring the original signed and notarized document to the clerk's office. The deed must follow the requirements of Virginia Code § 55.1-300. Pages must be numbered, and the grantor and grantee surnames must appear in all caps or underscored in the first clause of the deed.

Virginia law under § 17.1-252 requires that the tax map or parcel identification number appear on the first page. Social security numbers must be removed from all documents before they are submitted per § 17.1-227. A cover sheet is required. Bring a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can mail back your original after recording.

eRecording is available in many Virginia jurisdictions and allows settlement agents and title companies to submit documents electronically. Contact the Albemarle County clerk's office to confirm current eRecording availability and accepted service providers.

Recording Fees and State Recordation Tax

Recording fees in Albemarle County follow Virginia's statewide schedule under Virginia Code § 17.1-275. A document of 10 pages or fewer costs $18 to record. Documents of 11 to 30 pages cost $32. Documents over 30 pages cost $52. Of each fee, $3.50 goes to the Library of Virginia for records preservation.

Most deeds are also subject to the state recordation tax of 25 cents per $100 of consideration or actual value under § 58.1-801. Some transfers are exempt from this tax under § 58.1-811, including certain intra-family transfers and transfers to or from government entities. Copies of recorded documents cost $0.50 per page, with an additional fee for certified copies.

Albemarle County Plat and Historical Land Records

Albemarle County's land records go back to the 18th century, giving the office a rich collection of historical property documents. Plat records and survey maps show subdivisions, lot lines, and property boundaries. Condominium declarations filed with the clerk establish the legal framework for condo ownership in the county. These are all public records and can be searched by anyone.

The image below comes from the Albemarle County Circuit Court's official page, which links to deed record search tools and clerk contact information.

The Albemarle County Circuit Court page provides access to online services and current office details for the clerk's recording division.

Use this resource to confirm current hours, find online index access, and get contact information for the Albemarle County Circuit Court Clerk's office.

Nearby Counties

Deed records for counties surrounding Albemarle are filed with each county's own Circuit Court Clerk office.