Augusta County Deed Records

Augusta County deed records are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk at the Augusta County Courthouse in Staunton, Virginia. The office holds land records dating back to the county's formation in 1738, making it one of Virginia's most extensive deed record repositories. Anyone searching for property ownership, recording a new deed, or researching historical land records in Augusta County can use the clerk's office or Virginia's online search tools.

Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk

The Circuit Court Clerk for Augusta County is Hon. R. Steven Landes. The clerk's office is located at Augusta County Courthouse, 1 East Johnson Street, Staunton, VA 24401. For mailed submissions, use P.O. Box 689, Staunton, VA 24402-0689. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

The Augusta County Circuit Court is part of the 25th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Alleghany, Bath, and Highland Counties. The clerk's office records all real property instruments for Augusta County. Note that Staunton is an independent city; property within Staunton city limits is recorded at the Staunton Circuit Court Clerk's office, not with Augusta County.

Searching Augusta County Deed Records

Use Virginia's free SRA (Secure Remote Access) system to search the grantor and grantee index for Augusta County deed records. The SRA shows instrument type, recording date, and deed book and page reference for indexed instruments. Full document images require a paid subscription through the clerk's office.

For in-person searching, visit the clerk's office at 1 East Johnson Street in Staunton. Public access terminals let you search the computerized index. Augusta County has extensive deed books going back to 1738. Records from the 18th and 19th centuries may be in bound deed books at the courthouse or on microfilm. The Library of Virginia also holds digitized and microfilmed Augusta County records, including early deed books. Their catalog can help you identify which deed book covers the time period you need.

Augusta County Land Records: Depth and Scope

Augusta County was established in 1738, making its deed records among the oldest continuously maintained land records in Virginia. The deed books cover nearly three centuries of property transactions in the Shenandoah Valley, including land grants, conveyances, mortgage instruments, and surveys from the colonial period through today. This depth makes Augusta County deed records especially valuable for genealogical research and long chain-of-title work.

The clerk's office maintains deed books, plat and survey records, mortgage and deed of trust records, property lien records, and eminent domain records. Researchers tracing family land ownership or establishing a complete chain of title often find that Augusta County records are well-organized and span an unusually long period.

For records predating the county courthouse, some very early land grants and colonial-era instruments are held by the Library of Virginia. Their digital collections include early Virginia land grant records and patent books that may cover Augusta County territory before formal deed books were kept.

What Gets Recorded in Augusta County

Every real property instrument affecting Augusta County land is filed with the Circuit Court Clerk. This includes warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, and certificates of satisfaction. Plat records and subdivision maps, easement deeds, condominium declarations, judgment liens, powers of attorney for real estate, and notices of lis pendens are also recorded here.

Under Virginia Code § 55.1-407, recording establishes priority under Virginia's race-notice system. An unrecorded deed is void against a bona fide purchaser who records without notice. The duty to record is set out in § 17.1-223, which makes the clerk responsible for recording all presented instruments that meet the statutory requirements.

How to Record a Deed in Augusta County

Submit the original deed with original signatures and notarization to the clerk's office. The deed must follow the format requirements of Virginia Code § 55.1-300: consecutively numbered pages, grantor and grantee surnames in all caps or underscored in the first clause, and the Augusta County tax map or parcel ID number on the first page as required by § 17.1-252.

Per § 17.1-227, social security numbers must be removed before filing. A cover sheet is required. Bring a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can return your original. eRecording is available in Augusta County; title companies and settlement agents should contact the clerk's office to confirm accepted service providers.

The image below is from the Augusta County Circuit Court's official page, which covers deed recording and land record access for this county.

The Augusta County Circuit Court page provides the clerk's current contact details and links to online deed record search tools.

Visit this page to access current office hours, confirm the recording address, and find links to the SRA online index for Augusta County land records.

Recording Fees and State Recordation Tax

Augusta County follows Virginia's statewide recording fee schedule under Virginia Code § 17.1-275. Documents of 10 pages or fewer cost $18. 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 preservation of land records statewide.

The state recordation tax applies to most deeds at 25 cents per $100 of consideration under § 58.1-801. Exemptions are available under § 58.1-811. Copies cost $0.50 per page; certified copies require an additional fee.

Nearby Counties

Deed records for counties near Augusta are held by their respective Circuit Court Clerk offices.