Search Botetourt County Deed Records

Botetourt County deed records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk in Fincastle, Virginia, the county seat. The clerk's office records and indexes all real estate deed records, plat records, mortgage and deed of trust records, and judgment lien records for property throughout the county. You can search Botetourt County land records online through Virginia's free SRA index or visit the clerk's office during business hours.

Botetourt County Circuit Court Clerk

The Botetourt County Circuit Court Clerk's office handles all land recording for the county. Every deed, deed of trust, plat, and lien affecting Botetourt County real property must be filed here. The clerk reviews submitted documents for compliance with state recording requirements, collects the required fees and recordation tax, and returns originals after recording. For current office hours, phone numbers, and the clerk's mailing address, visit the Botetourt County Circuit Court page.

Botetourt County is part of the 25th Judicial Circuit. The county seat, Fincastle, is a small town, and the clerk's office serves the entire county from there. If you are not sure whether a particular property falls within Botetourt County limits or within an adjacent independent city, check with the county commissioner of revenue or assessor's office before filing.

How to Search Botetourt County Deed Records

Virginia's SRA (Secure Remote Access) system provides free grantor and grantee index searches for Botetourt County deed records. The results show the instrument type, recording date, and deed book and page number. Full document images require a paid subscription through the local clerk. For most research, the index data from SRA is enough to find a specific deed book reference before ordering copies.

In person, the clerk's office in Fincastle has public access terminals for the computerized index. For older deed books and plat records that predate the computerized system, the clerk can direct you to the right volume. The Library of Virginia holds microfilm for some older Botetourt County land records as well.

Note: When searching for a property in Botetourt County, it helps to have the current owner's name or the last recorded owner's name, since the grantor and grantee index is organized by party name, not by parcel address.

Instruments Recorded at the Botetourt County Clerk's Office

All instruments that create, transfer, or encumber interests in Botetourt County real estate are recorded with the Circuit Court Clerk. This covers warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, and mortgages. Certificates of satisfaction releasing paid-off liens, plat records, easement deeds, condominium declarations, judgment liens, and notices of lis pendens are also recorded here.

Under Virginia Code § 55.1-407, Virginia is a race-notice state. Recording first, without notice of a prior unrecorded transfer, establishes priority. An unrecorded deed is void against a bona fide purchaser who records without knowledge of it. This rule makes prompt recording essential after any real estate closing.

Recording a Deed in Botetourt County

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

A cover sheet is required. Bring a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of your original. If you are submitting by mail, confirm the process with the clerk's office first. eRecording availability varies; call to check current options.

The image below is from the Botetourt County Circuit Court's official page, the primary resource for deed recording and land record information in this county.

The Botetourt County Circuit Court page provides current contact information and links to online deed record tools.

Use this page to access the SRA index and get the current contact information for the Botetourt County Circuit Court Clerk's office.

Fees for Recording Botetourt County Deeds

Recording fees follow Virginia's statewide schedule under Virginia Code § 17.1-275. Documents of 10 pages or fewer cost $18. Documents from 11 to 30 pages cost $32. Documents over 30 pages cost $52. Each fee includes $3.50 for Library of Virginia records preservation. The state recordation tax under § 58.1-801 is 25 cents per $100 of consideration. Exemptions apply under § 58.1-811 for qualifying transfers. Copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies carry a higher fee and are required for some legal transactions.

Getting Copies of Botetourt County Deed Records

Copies of recorded deed records are available from the Botetourt County Circuit Court Clerk's office in person or by mail. If you already have a deed book and page number from the SRA index, bring that information when you visit or include it in your mail request. Copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies carry an extra fee and may be needed for legal proceedings or lender requirements.

For a mail request, write to the clerk's office at the Fincastle courthouse. Include the grantor or grantee name, approximate date of recording, and a brief description of the property. Enclose your payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope. If you need historical deed records not held at the courthouse, the Library of Virginia can assist with older microfilm and digital collections for Botetourt County.

Title searchers working on properties near the Botetourt-Roanoke County line should confirm which jurisdiction holds the relevant deed records, since boundaries in this area can affect which court clerk's records apply. When in doubt, check both Botetourt County and Roanoke County deed indexes to cover the full chain of title.

Nearby Counties

Deed records for counties near Botetourt are maintained by their own Circuit Court Clerk offices.