Search Arlington County Deed Records

Arlington County deed records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk as part of the 17th Judicial Circuit. The clerk's office records and indexes all land instruments for Arlington County, including deeds, deeds of trust, and property liens. Arlington County also records deeds for property in the City of Falls Church, a unique arrangement in Virginia. Deed records can be searched online through Virginia's SRA system or in person at the Arlington courthouse.

Arlington County Circuit Court Clerk

The Arlington County Circuit Court Clerk's office handles all land record recording for Arlington County. Every deed, deed of trust, plat, and lien affecting Arlington County real property must be recorded here. The clerk indexes instruments by grantor and grantee, maintains deed books, and provides certified copy services. For current office hours, phone numbers, and the clerk's address, visit the Virginia Circuit Courts directory.

Arlington County is located directly across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., and is one of the most active real estate markets in Virginia. The clerk's office handles a high volume of daily recordings, so eRecording is widely used by title companies and settlement agents operating in the area.

Falls Church Property Deeds and Arlington County

One thing that sets Arlington County apart from other Virginia jurisdictions: the City of Falls Church does not have its own circuit court for deed recording purposes. All real estate transactions in Falls Church must be recorded with the Arlington County Circuit Court Clerk. This applies to deeds, deeds of trust, releases, plats, and any other instrument that affects property located within Falls Church city limits.

If you are searching for deed records on a Falls Church property, look under Arlington County in the SRA index. The recording will be filed with Arlington, not with any Falls Church court. This is important for title searches on Falls Church properties, since the chain of title runs through Arlington County's deed books throughout the property's history.

Note: Always confirm whether your property address falls within Arlington County limits or the City of Falls Church before recording, as both are handled by the same clerk's office.

How to Search Arlington County Deed Records

Use Virginia's free SRA online system to search the grantor and grantee index for Arlington County. The search shows instrument type, recording date, and deed book and page number. Full document images require a paid subscription. Given Arlington's high transaction volume, the SRA index is especially useful for narrowing down the deed book before visiting or ordering copies.

In-person searching is available at the Arlington courthouse. Public terminals allow you to run index searches without staff assistance. The clerk's office can help with older records or if you need to search for a specific deed book page.

For research involving both Arlington County and Falls Church properties, remember that both are indexed together in the Arlington County system. The property address will indicate whether you are looking at a county parcel or a Falls Church parcel, but both will appear in the same index and deed books.

Types of Instruments Recorded in Arlington County

Arlington County deed records include all standard Virginia real property instruments: warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, certificates of satisfaction, easement deeds, and powers of attorney for real estate. Subdivision plats, condominium declarations and amendments, judgment liens, and notices of lis pendens are also recorded here.

Under Virginia Code § 55.1-407, Virginia is a race-notice state. An unrecorded deed is void against any bona fide purchaser who records first without notice. In a high-volume market like Arlington, prompt recording after closing is critical.

Recording a Deed in Arlington County

Original deeds must be submitted with original signatures and notarization. Under Virginia Code § 55.1-300, the deed must have numbered pages, grantor and grantee surnames in all caps or underscored in the first clause, and the tax map or parcel ID number on the first page per § 17.1-252. Social security numbers must be removed under § 17.1-227.

A cover sheet is required. eRecording is available and widely used in Arlington County. Title companies and settlement agents can submit documents through authorized eRecording providers. For individual filers submitting paper documents, bring a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of your original after recording.

The image below is from Virginia's SRA portal, which provides online deed record index access for Arlington County and all Virginia circuit courts.

The SRA (Secure Remote Access) system is the primary tool for searching Arlington County deed records without a courthouse visit.

Use the SRA portal to search Arlington County grantor and grantee indexes and find recorded deeds, deeds of trust, and other land instruments.

Recording Fees and Taxes in Arlington County

Arlington County recording fees follow Virginia's statewide schedule set by Virginia Code § 17.1-275. The fee is $18 for documents of 10 pages or fewer, $32 for 11 to 30 pages, and $52 for documents over 30 pages. Of each fee, $3.50 goes to the Library of Virginia for records preservation.

The state recordation tax under § 58.1-801 applies at 25 cents per $100 of consideration or actual value. Given the high property values in Arlington County, the recordation tax on a typical residential transaction can be substantial. Exemptions are available under § 58.1-811 for qualifying transfers. Copies cost $0.50 per page, with a higher fee for certification.

Nearby Counties

Deed records for counties and cities near Arlington are held by their own Circuit Court Clerk offices.