Washington County Recorder Information

Land records in Washington County are recorded by the Circuit Court Clerk. The office is held by Patricia S. Moore.

StatewideSecure remote access to land records is by paid subscription through each circuit court clerk's office or through designated application service providers.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Va. Code § 17.1-279 · Circuit Court Clerk - Washington County Virginia

These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.

Added at recording

Other charges

StatewidePlat or map sheets no larger than 8.5 by 14 inches count as ordinary pages; a fee of $17 per page or sheet applies to plat or map sheets larger than 8.5 by 14 inches. $3.50 of each recording and indexing fee is designated for preserving the permanent records of the circuit courts, administered by The Library of Virginia. A cover sheet submitted under § 17.1-227.1(A) is not counted as a page for the recording fee. The recording fees shown are the s. 17.1-275(A)(2) fee ($18 for 1 to 10 pages, $32 for 11 to 30 pages, $52 for 31 or more) with the $8 Technology Trust Fund fee (s. 17.1-279) added in, which is how the clerks publish them.

Paying the office

StatewideWhere credit or debit cards are accepted, the clerk collects a convenience fee of not more than four percent of the transaction or a flat $2 per transaction. For a returned check or a declined card payment, the clerk may collect $50 or 10 percent of the payment, whichever is greater.

Transfer tax

Additional tax paid by grantor (grantor tax). 50 cents for each $500 or fraction thereof, when the consideration or value of the interest, whichever is greater, exceeds $100, exclusive of the value of any lien or encumbrance remaining thereon. The tax is collected when the document is recorded. (statewide, Va. Code § 58.1-802(A))

StatewideState recordation tax on deeds: 25 cents on every $100 or fraction thereof of the consideration or the actual value of the property conveyed, whichever is greater (Va. Code § 58.1-801). Recordation tax on deeds of trust or mortgages: 25 cents on every $100 or portion thereof of the amount of bonds or other obligations secured, with a sliding maximum schedule and reduced rates for refinancing (Va. Code § 58.1-803). Recordation tax on a deed of release: fifty cents (Va. Code § 58.1-805). Cities and counties may impose a city or county recordation tax equal to one-third of the state recordation tax (Va. Code § 58.1-814). Regional transportation and congestion relief fees apply in certain regions (Va. Code §§ 58.1-802.3 to 58.1-802.5). The grantor tax is returned one-half to the state treasury and one-half to the locality (Va. Code § 58.1-802(B)).

Verified October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Va. Code § 17.1-275 · Va. Code § 17.1-279 · Va. Code § 58.1-802 · Va. Code § 58.1-801

Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.

Minimum one inch margin on the left, top, and bottom; one-half inch on the right margin. Plats: margins at least 1/4 inch on all sides.

StatewideUnless a cover sheet is submitted, the clerk may reject a writing unless the surnames of individual parties are underscored or in capitals in the first clause, each page is numbered consecutively, the consideration and actual value are stated on the first page, any claimed recordation tax exemption is clearly stated, and each party to be indexed is named and identified as grantor or grantee in the first clause. Social security numbers are to be removed. A deed conveying residential property of not more than four dwelling units states on the first page the title insurance underwriter, or that title insurance is unknown to the preparer, and that it was prepared by the owner or by a Virginia-licensed attorney (with name and Virginia State Bar number). In localities with a unique parcel identification system, the tax map reference or parcel identification number goes on the first page or on the cover sheet.

No plat will be recorded that does not bear an attestation by the property owner, surveyor or attorney that the plat does not constitute a boundary line adjustment and complies with applicable laws and ordinances, or a valid signature stating that the drawing has been submitted to the local governing body for review of compliance. Plats must be between 8 1/2 x 11 and 18 x 24 inches; larger plats will be cut down to size. When recording a conveyance instrument in conjunction with a foreclosure, evidence of actual value of the property as well as the consideration of the sale is required.

Submitting documents

StatewideClerks with an eRecording System record electronic documents under the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act. A clerk without one records a legible paper copy of an electronic document if it is certified by the submitter as a true and correct copy of the electronic original. Recorded writings may be returned to a grantee unless the writing or cover sheet clearly gives another return address.

Documents must be submitted in time for recordation to be completed by 4:30 p.m.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Va. Code § 17.1-227.1 · Va. Code § 17.1-223 · Circuit Court Clerk - Washington County Virginia