Search New Kent County Deed Records

New Kent County deed records are held at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in New Kent, the county seat, and they document real property transactions within the county stretching back to its formation as one of Virginia's original shires. The clerk records and maintains warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, subdivision plats, easements, and other land instruments for all parcels within New Kent County. You can search New Kent County deed records online through Virginia's SRA system, visit the courthouse in person, or access older historical documents through the Library of Virginia.

New Kent County Circuit Court Clerk

The Circuit Court Clerk in New Kent County is the official custodian of all land records for the county. The office records, indexes, and preserves deeds, deeds of trust, plats, easements, and other real property instruments filed in New Kent County. When an instrument is submitted, clerk staff check compliance with Virginia's requirements, collect fees and taxes, record the document, and return the original after stamping with the deed book and page reference. Under Virginia Code § 17.1-223, the clerk has a legal duty to record all eligible writings.

The New Kent County Circuit Court is in the town of New Kent and is part of Virginia's 9th Judicial Circuit. Contact the clerk's office for current hours, the courthouse address, and any local submission requirements before visiting. If mailing documents for recording, include a self-addressed stamped envelope so your originals are returned after recording. New Kent County has experienced growth in recent years as suburban development has pushed eastward from the Richmond metro area, increasing the volume of deed recordings filed each year.

Searching New Kent Deed Records Online

Virginia's SRA (Secure Remote Access) system provides free access to the grantor and grantee indexes for New Kent County. A name search shows instrument type, recording date, and deed book and page number. To view full document images, a paid SRA subscription is required. The subscription is set up through the New Kent County Circuit Court Clerk. The free index is often enough to confirm a recording and get the book and page reference for follow-up.

In-person research at the courthouse in New Kent gives you access to the computerized index terminals and the physical deed books. New Kent County's records are among the oldest in Virginia, with the county tracing back to the original shires established in 1654. The Library of Virginia holds microfilm copies of many early New Kent County deed books and can be a valuable resource for researchers working on genealogical or long-term title chains. Some Library of Virginia collections for New Kent County are available through the online catalog.

What Gets Recorded in New Kent County

New Kent County's land records include the full range of real property instruments. Warranty deeds are the most common filing and transfer title with full covenants under Virginia Code § 55.1-300. Quitclaim deeds are also filed, as are deeds of trust securing mortgage loans and certificates of satisfaction releasing those liens. Subdivision plats must be recorded before lots in a new development can be sold. Easement deeds for utility and access easements, conservation easements, and other interests in land are recorded as part of the county's land record collection.

Virginia's race-notice recording statute under § 55.1-407 governs priority disputes between competing claims in New Kent County. A person who records first and has no notice of a prior unrecorded claim wins priority. This rule makes prompt recording critical for buyers and lenders. Delays in recording can result in loss of priority to a later purchaser or creditor who records first. Judgment lien certificates, mechanic's liens, and notices of lis pendens are also filed at the clerk's office and become part of the official land record.

How to Record a Deed in New Kent County

Recording a deed in New Kent County requires submitting the original signed and notarized document to the Circuit Court Clerk in New Kent. The deed must comply with the form requirements in § 55.1-300, including adequate margins, readable font size, and standard page dimensions. A cover sheet is required under § 17.1-227. No Social Security numbers may appear anywhere in the document. All pages must be numbered, and the tax map parcel identification number must appear on the first page per § 17.1-252.

Virginia allows eRecording through approved vendors, which lets you submit deeds and fees electronically. Ask the clerk's office whether your instrument type is eligible for eRecording in New Kent County. For mailed submissions, send the original with a check for fees and taxes payable to the clerk, plus a return envelope. Processing time for mailed recordings varies, so contact the clerk if timing is sensitive.

Recording Fees and Taxes in New Kent County

Recording fees in New Kent County are set by Virginia Code § 17.1-275. Documents of 10 pages or fewer cost $18. Documents of 11 to 30 pages cost $32. Documents exceeding 30 pages cost $52. These fees apply to deeds, deeds of trust, plats, releases, and other instruments submitted for recording.

The state recordation tax under § 58.1-801 is 25 cents per $100 of consideration or assessed value. A grantor tax is collected on most conveyances. Some transactions qualify for exemptions under § 58.1-811. If you think your transfer may be exempt, consult a real estate attorney before recording. Certified copies of recorded deeds cost $0.50 per page.

New Kent County Land Records History

New Kent County is one of Virginia's oldest counties. The county dates to 1654, making its land records among the oldest continuous property records in the Commonwealth. Early deed books document farm and plantation transactions in the tidewater region between the Pamunkey and Chickahominy rivers. These historical records are significant both for genealogical research and for tracing long chains of title in a county where land has changed hands over many generations.

The Library of Virginia has microfilm and digital copies of many New Kent County deed books from the early periods. The general indexes under § 17.1-249 are the finding tools for the deed records. For recent recordings, the SRA online index covers the digitized years; for older records, the courthouse deed books and Library of Virginia microfilm are essential resources.

Getting Copies of New Kent Deed Records

You can get copies of recorded deeds from the New Kent County Circuit Court Clerk in New Kent. Bring the deed book and page number if you have it. Staff can look up the index entry for you if you provide the party names and an approximate recording date. Certified copies cost $0.50 per page and carry the clerk's seal, making them suitable for legal use. Uncertified copies may be available at a lower fee.

Mail-in requests are accepted by most Virginia circuit court clerks. Send a written request with the deed reference, your contact information, and payment for copy fees. For early New Kent County deed books, the Library of Virginia may hold the material on microfilm and can provide copies without requiring a courthouse visit.

The image below is from the New Kent County Circuit Court website, which lists the clerk's contact details and recording procedures.

Visit the court's page before recording in New Kent County to confirm current hours and any local submission requirements.

Nearby Counties

Properties near New Kent County's boundaries may be recorded in a neighboring county. Verify the correct jurisdiction before submitting any land instrument.