Find Deed Records in Mathews County

Mathews County deed records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk in Mathews, Virginia, on the lower Middle Peninsula near the Chesapeake Bay. The clerk's office records and indexes all real property instruments filed in the county, including warranty deeds, deeds of trust, quitclaim deeds, subdivision plats, and easements. You can search the public index online through Virginia's free SRA system, visit the courthouse in person, or send a written mail request. This page covers how to access deed records and what to expect when recording a deed or requesting copies in Mathews County.

Mathews County Circuit Court Clerk

The Circuit Court Clerk for Mathews County is the official custodian of all land records in this jurisdiction. When an instrument is submitted for recording, staff verify that it meets state requirements, collect fees and taxes, and enter the document into the permanent index. Each deed is indexed under both the grantor's name and the grantee's name so the record can be found through either party to the transaction.

The Mathews County Circuit Court is part of Virginia's 9th Judicial Circuit, which covers several counties in the Tidewater and Middle Peninsula area. The courthouse is in Mathews, the county seat. Check the court's website for current hours and contact details before making the trip. The office is typically open on regular business days.

Staff can help locate recorded instruments by party name or deed book reference. They can confirm whether a specific document is on file and make copies. They cannot provide legal advice or help interpret the meaning of any deed. If you have questions about title or property rights, consult a licensed Virginia real estate attorney.

Mail submissions are accepted. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of the original after recording. Make sure payment is enclosed for recording fees and any applicable taxes. Staff will contact you if there is a shortfall.

Searching Mathews County Deed Records Online

The Virginia SRA system provides free public access to grantor and grantee indexes for Mathews County. You can search by party name to find recorded instruments without visiting the courthouse. Results display the document type, recording date, and deed book and page number. This is the most efficient way to begin a title search or confirm that a specific instrument has been recorded.

The SRA is name-based. It does not search by address or parcel number. To research a specific parcel, start with the current owner's name in the grantee index and trace backward through prior conveyances. Each grantor leads you to the prior grantee, building the chain of title backward in time. This method is standard for Virginia title work.

Full document images may not be available free of charge through the SRA for all counties. If the index shows a record you need but the image is not accessible online, contact the clerk's office to request a copy by mail or visit the courthouse in person.

The Library of Virginia maintains older Mathews County deed books and microfilm. Mathews County was formed in 1790, and records from the county's early years may be accessible through LVA's collections. Their online catalog can help you find which deed books cover specific time periods for this county.

What Gets Recorded in Mathews County

The Circuit Court Clerk's office records all instruments that affect real property in Mathews County. Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds are the most common. Both transfer ownership, but a warranty deed includes title guarantees while a quitclaim deed passes only whatever interest the grantor holds.

Deeds of trust are a major category in the land record. When property is purchased with a loan, a deed of trust is recorded to secure the lender's interest. Certificates of satisfaction are recorded when loans are repaid. Both documents are part of the title chain and must be present for a clean title.

Subdivision plats must be recorded before lots can be conveyed. Easement deeds for waterfront access, boat ramps, and utility corridors are especially common in coastal counties like Mathews. Other instruments include mechanic's liens, lis pendens notices, judgment liens, powers of attorney used in closings, and UCC fixture filings affecting real property.

Under Virginia Code § 55.1-407, Virginia uses a race-notice recording system. If you do not record your deed promptly after closing, a later buyer who has no notice of your unrecorded deed and records first can take priority over your claim. Record as soon as possible after any real estate transaction in Mathews County.

How to Record a Deed in Mathews County

Submit the original signed and notarized deed to the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Mathews. The document must follow the formatting standards in Virginia Code § 55.1-300. Pages must be numbered. The grantor's and grantee's surnames must appear in capital letters or underscored in the first clause of the instrument.

The tax map parcel number must appear on the first page of the deed under Virginia Code § 17.1-252. This connects the recorded instrument to the correct parcel in the county's GIS and tax systems. Missing or incorrect parcel IDs are a frequent cause of rejection at the counter.

Social security numbers must be omitted from all recorded documents under Virginia Code § 17.1-227. A cover sheet is required for each instrument. The cover sheet lists the document type, parties, parcel number, and other required data. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if submitting by mail so the clerk can return the original after recording.

eRecording through state-approved vendors may be available for Mathews County. Title companies and real estate attorneys often use this method to avoid mailing originals. Confirm availability and procedures with the clerk's office or an eRecording vendor before your closing.

Recording Fees and Taxes in Mathews County

Mathews County follows Virginia's statewide recording fee schedule under Virginia Code § 17.1-275. The fee is $18 for documents of ten pages or fewer, $32 for eleven to thirty pages, and $52 for documents over thirty pages. Part of each fee funds the Library of Virginia's records preservation efforts.

The state recordation tax applies to most deed filings under Virginia Code § 58.1-801. The tax is 25 cents per $100 of consideration or fair market value. The clerk collects this at the time of recording. On a $200,000 waterfront lot sale, the recordation tax would be $500.

Some transfers qualify for exemptions under Virginia Code § 58.1-811. Transfers between spouses, certain parent-to-child gifts with no consideration, and some government conveyances are among the common exemptions. Note any claimed exemption on the cover sheet. Be prepared to show the basis for the exemption if the clerk's office asks.

Copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies carry a small extra fee. Ask the clerk's office about accepted payment forms before visiting or sending payment by mail.

Mathews County Land Records

Mathews County was created in 1790 from a part of Gloucester County. Its land records go back to the county's earliest years. Early deed books recorded land grants and large tract transfers in this coastal area of the Middle Peninsula. The records form a continuous chain of title for many waterfront and inland parcels in the county.

The Library of Virginia holds microfilm and digitized copies of older Mathews County deed books. Researchers tracing property ownership before the 20th century should check LVA's catalog before visiting the courthouse. Some early deed books have been digitized and are available online at no cost through LVA's digital collections.

Because Mathews County is small and rural, transaction volume is low compared to northern Virginia or Hampton Roads counties. The index is manageable in size but may have less consistent indexing in older records. When working with pre-1900 deed books, check for alternate name spellings and look at both the direct and indirect indexes. Waterfront property in this county often has a complex ownership history involving easements for water access, docks, and riparian rights.

Getting Copies of Mathews County Deed Records

Deed records are public records in Virginia. Anyone can get copies. You do not need to be a party to the transaction or own land in the county.

In person, visit the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Mathews during business hours. Give staff the deed book and page number or a party name and approximate recording date. The fee is $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost a bit more and include the clerk's official seal.

By mail, write to the clerk's office and include the grantor or grantee name, the approximate recording date, and a brief property description. Include payment for estimated copy fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of materials. Allow a few business days for the request to be processed.

For older records, check the Library of Virginia's online catalog first. LVA may have digitized versions available at no charge, which is faster and less expensive than ordering copies from the courthouse.

The image below shows the Mathews County Circuit Court's page on the Virginia court system website.

Visit the Mathews County Circuit Court page for current clerk contact details, office hours, and links to online search tools.

The clerk's office in Mathews is where deeds are recorded and copies of land records can be obtained for Mathews County.

Nearby Counties

Counties near Mathews on the Middle Peninsula and Tidewater each maintain their own land records at their Circuit Court Clerk offices.