Westmoreland County Deed Records

Westmoreland County deed records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Montross, the county seat of Westmoreland County, Virginia. The clerk's office records all deeds, deeds of trust, plats, easements, and other land instruments that affect real property in the county. Free online searching of Westmoreland County deed records is available through Virginia's SRA system, where you can search by grantor or grantee name. You can also visit the Montross courthouse in person or submit a mail request for copies of recorded instruments.

Westmoreland County Circuit Court Clerk

The Circuit Court Clerk in Westmoreland County is the official custodian of all land instruments recorded in the county. The clerk's office at the courthouse in Montross accepts deed filings, reviews documents for Virginia recording requirements, collects fees and recordation taxes, and assigns deed book and page references. All recorded instruments are indexed in the general index under Virginia Code § 17.1-249, organized by grantor and grantee surname.

Westmoreland County is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit. Located in Virginia's Northern Neck region along the Potomac River, Westmoreland County has one of the older deed record collections in the state. For current hours, contact information, and directions to the Montross courthouse, visit the Westmoreland County Circuit Court page.

The clerk must record all properly prepared instruments under § 17.1-223.

Searching Westmoreland County Deed Records Online

Virginia's SRA (Secure Remote Access) system provides free online access to the Westmoreland County deed record index. Search by grantor or grantee name to get the instrument type, recording date, and deed book and page reference. The SRA covers Westmoreland County land records in the clerk's computerized system and is the main tool for remote deed research.

Full document images require a paid SRA subscription. Many users find the free index search sufficient for confirming a deed exists and getting the citation to order a copy. For in-person research, public terminals at the Montross courthouse let you search the index and view scanned deed images. Older deed books that are not yet digitized can be accessed in bound volumes with help from clerk staff.

Westmoreland County's deed record collection goes back to the colonial era, making the Library of Virginia an especially important resource for deep historical research. The Library holds Westmoreland County deed books on microfilm and in digital form, covering some of the earliest land records in Virginia.

What Gets Recorded in Westmoreland County

All instruments affecting title to real property in Westmoreland County must be recorded with the Circuit Court Clerk to be enforceable against third parties. Common filings include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, certificates of satisfaction, easements, plats, deeds of correction, mechanic's liens, judgment liens, and lis pendens notices. Powers of attorney used in real estate transactions are also filed here.

Under Virginia Code § 55.1-407, Virginia's race-notice recording rule makes prompt recording essential. An unrecorded deed is void as against a subsequent purchaser who records without notice of the prior conveyance. Recording your Westmoreland County deed promptly after closing secures your title and gives your deed priority over any later competing claim.

How to Record a Deed in Westmoreland County

To record a deed in Westmoreland County, present the original executed and notarized document at the clerk's office in Montross. The deed must meet the requirements of Virginia Code § 55.1-300: consecutively numbered pages, grantor and grantee surnames in all caps or underscored in the first clause, and legible text. The first page must include the tax map or parcel identification number for the property under § 17.1-252.

Remove all social security numbers before filing. § 17.1-227 covers SSN removal and cover sheet requirements. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of your original after recording. Ask the clerk whether Westmoreland County accepts eRecording through approved electronic filing vendors.

Recording Fees and Taxes in Westmoreland County

Recording fees in Westmoreland County are set by 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. Part of each fee funds the Library of Virginia's records preservation efforts.

The state recordation tax under § 58.1-801 is 25 cents per $100 of consideration. Some transfers qualify for a full or partial exemption under § 58.1-811, including spousal transfers and certain trust conveyances. Confirm exemptions with your attorney before filing. Copy fees are $0.50 per page; certified copies carry an additional certification fee.

Westmoreland County Land Records History

Westmoreland County was formed in 1653 from Northumberland County, making it one of Virginia's oldest counties. The deed record collection spans nearly four centuries of property transfers in the Northern Neck region. The county was home to George Washington and Robert E. Lee, and land records from the colonial and early republic eras are of significant historical importance. Early Westmoreland County deed books contain colonial land grants, conveyances, and related instruments that predate Virginia's statehood.

The Library of Virginia holds older Westmoreland County deed books on microfilm and in digital form. These collections are widely used by genealogists, historians, and title researchers working on deep historical chains of title in the Northern Neck. More recent records are available through the SRA and at the Montross courthouse.

Getting Copies of Westmoreland County Deed Records

Copies of Westmoreland County deed records are available at the clerk's office in Montross. Bring the deed book and page reference if you have it, or provide the grantor and grantee name and approximate recording date. Copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are available for an additional fee and are commonly required for estate proceedings, title insurance, and legal filings.

Mail requests may be accepted by the clerk's office. Contact them first to confirm the current process. Send identifying information, estimated payment, and a return envelope. Some Westmoreland County deed images may also be available through the paid SRA subscription.

The Westmoreland County Circuit Court page provides current contact information for the Montross clerk's office.

Reach the clerk's office in Montross for help finding Westmoreland County deed records or ordering copies of recorded land instruments.

Nearby Counties

Deed records for counties bordering Westmoreland are held by their respective Circuit Court Clerk offices.