Montgomery County Deed Records Search

Montgomery County deed records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Christiansburg, Virginia, in the New River Valley of southwestern Virginia. The clerk's office records and indexes all real property instruments filed in the county, including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, subdivision plats, and easements. You can search the public index online through Virginia's free SRA system, visit the courthouse in person during business hours, or send a written request by mail. This page explains how to search, record, and get copies of deed records in Montgomery County.

Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk

The Circuit Court Clerk for Montgomery County is the official keeper of all land records filed in this county. When a deed or other real estate instrument is submitted, clerk staff check the document against state requirements, collect fees and taxes, assign a deed book and page number, and enter it into the grantor-grantee index. The original is returned to the submitter after the recording process is complete.

The Montgomery County Circuit Court is part of Virginia's 27th Judicial Circuit. The courthouse is in Christiansburg, the county seat. Check the court's website for current office hours and contact details before visiting. The clerk's office handles a high volume of filings given the county's university population and active real estate market.

Clerk staff can help you search the index by party name or deed book reference. They can confirm whether a specific document is on file and provide copies. They cannot give legal advice or help interpret the content of any recorded instrument. For legal questions about title or ownership, contact a licensed Virginia attorney.

Mail submissions are accepted. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of the original after recording. Make sure payment covers all fees and taxes. Staff will contact you if additional payment is needed.

Searching Montgomery County Deed Records Online

Virginia's SRA land records system provides free public access to grantor and grantee indexes for Montgomery County. You can search by party name from any location with internet access. Results include the document type, recording date, and deed book and page number. The SRA is a reliable starting point for any title research or deed lookup in Montgomery County.

The SRA is name-based. It does not search by address or parcel number. To find all deeds for a specific property, start with the current owner's name in the grantee index and trace backward through prior conveyances. Each prior grantor leads to the next earlier deed. This is how title searches work in Virginia.

Image availability varies. Some counties provide full document images through the SRA at no charge. Others show only the index, requiring a visit or a mail request for the actual document text. Contact the Montgomery County clerk's office to confirm what is available online.

The Library of Virginia holds older Montgomery County deed books and microfilm. Pre-1900 land records may be accessible through LVA's collections or online catalog. The Library of Virginia is a key resource for historical title work and genealogical research tied to this county.

What Gets Recorded in Montgomery County

The Circuit Court Clerk's office records all instruments that affect real property in Montgomery County. Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds are the most common. Both transfer title, but a warranty deed includes title guarantees while a quitclaim deed passes only the grantor's current interest without guarantees.

Deeds of trust are a large part of the record, particularly given the active student and faculty housing market near Virginia Tech. When a buyer takes out a home loan, a deed of trust is recorded to secure the lender. When the loan is paid off, a certificate of satisfaction is recorded to release the lien. Both are part of the permanent chain of title.

Subdivision plats, easement deeds, conservation restrictions, and access agreements are also recorded here. Other instruments include powers of attorney used in closings, lis pendens notices, mechanic's liens, judgment liens, and UCC fixture filings. All of these are part of the public land record for Montgomery County.

Under Virginia Code § 55.1-407, Virginia follows a race-notice recording system. An unrecorded deed does not protect the buyer against a later purchaser who pays value, has no notice of the prior deed, and records first. Always record promptly after closing to protect your ownership interest in Montgomery County property.

How to Record a Deed in Montgomery County

To record a deed, bring or mail the original signed and notarized instrument to the Circuit Court Clerk in Christiansburg. The document must follow the formatting rules in Virginia Code § 55.1-300. Pages must be numbered. The grantor's and grantee's surnames must appear in all capital letters or underscored in the first clause of the deed.

The tax map parcel number must appear on the first page under Virginia Code § 17.1-252. This links the deed to the correct parcel in Montgomery County's GIS and tax systems. Missing the parcel ID is one of the most common reasons a deed is rejected at the counter.

Social security numbers must not appear in any recorded document under Virginia Code § 17.1-227. A cover sheet is required. It lists the document type, parties, parcel number, and other required information. If mailing the deed, include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of the original.

eRecording through state-approved vendors is likely available for Montgomery County given its transaction volume. Title companies and attorneys in the New River Valley often use electronic submission for routine filings. Confirm availability and vendor options with the clerk's office before your closing.

Recording Fees and Taxes in Montgomery County

Montgomery County uses the statewide recording fee schedule under Virginia Code § 17.1-275. Documents of ten pages or fewer cost $18. Documents of eleven to thirty pages cost $32. Documents over thirty pages cost $52. Part of each fee goes to the Library of Virginia for statewide records preservation.

The state recordation tax applies to most deed filings under Virginia Code § 58.1-801. The rate is 25 cents per $100 of consideration or fair market value. The clerk collects this at recording. On a $350,000 home sale, the tax is $875.

Some transfers qualify for exemptions under Virginia Code § 58.1-811. Common examples include deeds between spouses, transfers to children with no consideration, and certain government or nonprofit conveyances. Note the exemption on the cover sheet and be ready to provide supporting documentation if asked.

Copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies carry a small additional fee. Check with the clerk's office about accepted payment methods before visiting or mailing payment.

Montgomery County Land Records

Montgomery County was established in 1776. Land records in the county go back to the Revolutionary era and provide a long chain of title for many parcels in the New River Valley. Early deed books recorded large farm tract transfers and some grants in the southwestern Virginia interior. The clerk's office has maintained these records continuously since the county's founding.

The Library of Virginia holds microfilm and digitized copies of older Montgomery County deed books. For research into property ownership before the 20th century, check LVA's catalog first. Some records are available online through LVA's digital collections at no cost. Others require a visit to Richmond or a formal research request.

Montgomery County is home to Virginia Tech, and the university's growth has driven significant residential and commercial development in recent decades. Subdivision plats, condominium declarations, and large planned-community instruments are a notable part of the modern Montgomery County land record. Development near Blacksburg and Christiansburg has produced a high volume of deed filings in recent years.

Virginia Tech itself owns substantial property in the county, and some conveyances involve the university or affiliated research entities. These deeds appear in the land record alongside private residential and commercial transactions and are subject to the same recording requirements.

Getting Copies of Montgomery County Deed Records

Deed records are public records. Anyone can get copies without showing a reason or any connection to the property.

In person, visit the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Christiansburg during business hours. Provide the deed book and page number or a party name and approximate recording date. Staff will find the record and make a copy for $0.50 per page. Certified copies are available for a small additional fee.

By mail, write to the clerk's office with the grantor or grantee name, the approximate recording date, and a brief property description. Include a check or money order for estimated copy costs and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow a few business days for processing.

For older deed books, check the Library of Virginia's catalog before contacting the courthouse. LVA may have digitized versions available at no cost, which is faster and less expensive.

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

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

The clerk's office in Christiansburg is the place to record deeds and request copies of land records in Montgomery County.

Nearby Counties

Counties surrounding Montgomery in the New River Valley each maintain their own deed records at their Circuit Court Clerk offices.