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Richmond City, Virginia public records (independent city)

In Richmond City, deeds are recorded by the Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court; property values come from the City of Richmond Office of the Assessor of Real Estate; court files are split between the Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court and the Richmond Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Where to get each record
  2. Deeds and land records
  3. Property values, owners and tax bills
  4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
  5. Marriage records
  6. Divorce records
  7. Birth certificates
  8. Death certificates
  9. Probate records and wills
  10. Business names (DBA)
  11. Voter records
  12. Historical records
  13. Good to know about Richmond City records
  14. Office addresses, phones and hours
  15. Records that are not online: public records requests
  16. Questions people ask
  17. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  18. Sources

Richmond City is an independent city: the Census Bureau counts it as a county-equivalent that is not part of any county, governed by the City of Richmond.1 The offices below serve the city itself; no county office keeps its records.

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsClerk of the Richmond Circuit Court4Search deeds2Fee charged$.50 per page3
Property values and ownersCity of Richmond Office of the Assessor of Real Estate4Property search5—
Property tax billsCity of Richmond Department of Finance6Tax bill search7Fee charged—
Court casesClerk of the Richmond Circuit Court – Criminal Section4
Richmond Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court4		—Copies $.50/page; certification additional $2.00; subpoena duces tecum $17.003
Marriage recordsClerk of the Richmond Circuit Court8——
Divorce recordsClerk of the Richmond Circuit Court – Civil Section4——
Birth certificatesRichmond City Health Department Vital Records Office4——
Death certificatesRichmond City Health Department Vital Records Office4——
Probate and willsClerk of the Richmond Circuit Court – Probate Division4——
Business names (DBA)Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court8——

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Richmond City are recorded by the Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court (Deeds / Record Room).4

Online search
risweb.vacourts.gov/jsra/sra2Fee charged
Cost
Account required: $50.00 per month, 6-month minimum, paid in advance, per user2
Who runs it
Supreme Court of Virginia Secure Remote Access (risweb.vacourts.gov); pre-1993 images via Cott Systems product2
Years online
All land records digitized back to 1782 (Division I, north of the James) and 1874 (Division II, south of the river incl. old City of Manchester)2
Copy fee
$.50 per page3
Certified copy fee
Additional $2.003
How to order
In person in the Record Room, or written request with payment enclosed (call to confirm document length); fees collected in advance3
Recording fee
Use the Supreme Court of Virginia Deed Calculation Tool (select Richmond City Circuit Court); fees for Deed Book and Will Book instruments rose $3.00 on July 1, 20269
Electronic recording
CSC eRecording and Simplifile9
Fraud alerts
VADeed Alert (free, state courts) risweb.vacourts.gov/VADeedAlert9
Title search
Clerk staff cannot perform title searches or legal advice9

How deeds work in Virginia

Property values, owners and tax bills

The City of Richmond Office of the Assessor of Real Estate sets property values4; the City of Richmond Department of Finance (Real Estate Unit; real estate tax billing and collection) bills and collects the tax6.

Property search
actdatascout.com/… (ACT DataScout property search; the city's old Property Search link now points here)5
Tax bill search
Pay real estate taxes online via the Invoice Cloud portal linked from rva.gov/finance/real-estate; rate $1.20 per $100; due January 14 and June 147
Appealing a value
1) Office Review with the City Assessor within 30 days of notice; 2) Board of Equalization by November 30; 3) direct appeal to Richmond Circuit Court within three years10

How property tax works in Virginia

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Circuit Court of the City of Richmond (Thirteenth Judicial Circuit)Felonies and grand-jury misdemeanors, civil over $25,000 (concurrent $4,500-$25,000), divorce/annulment, wills and estates, appeals from district courts11Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court – Criminal Section—
Richmond General District CourtTraffic infractions, misdemeanors, smaller civil claims——
Richmond Juvenile & Domestic Relations District CourtJuvenile, child support, custody, visitationRichmond Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court (custody, support, visitation)—
Fees
Copies $.50/page; certification additional $2.00; subpoena duces tecum $17.003

Criminal records and background checks

Overview
Circuit Court Criminal Section holds felony case files; open to inspection in office12

How Virginia courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court (marriage licenses, judgments, financing statements, assumed names).8

Marriage license
$30.00 (cash or credit/debit); both parties present with photo ID; valid 60 days; issued 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. by appointment (804) 646-676713
Copies
Certified copy $2.50 by written request or in office; licenses issued July 1, 1997-June 30, 2001 need permission of a married party13
VDH
Richmond City Health Department also issues marriage certificates ($15)14

Virginia marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Divorce and annulment are filed in Circuit Court (exclusive jurisdiction); case files at the Circuit Court Clerk; divorce certificates from VDH ($15)11

Virginia divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Richmond City Health Department Vital Records Office issues birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates for Richmond City residents; $15 per copy; apply in person, by fax/mail, or online14

Ordering a Virginia birth certificate

Death certificates

$15 per certificate/search; no refund if not found14

Ordering a Virginia death certificate

Probate records and wills

Clerk probates wills and qualifies executors/administrators by appointment (804-646-6540); will records on SRA back to 1995 (current) with older indexes15

Finding a will or probate case in Virginia

Business names (DBA)

Assumed name information is held by the Circuit Court Clerk and open to inspection3

Voter records

Richmond Office of Elections manages voter registration16

Historical records

Deed records back to 1782 (north of the James River) and 1874 (south of the river and the City of Manchester)2

Good to know about Richmond City records

  • Richmond land records are split by the James River: Division I (north, from 1782) and Division II (south, including the old City of Manchester court, from 1874); a Merged Division covers April 1, 1984-Aug. 31, 1993 after the Richmond courts consolidated.2
  • The Circuit Court Clerk's public records are exempt from Virginia FOIA and are instead open under Code § 17.1-208.3
  • Recording fees for Deed Book and Will Book instruments increased by $3.00 on July 1, 2026.9
  • Richmond's standard Tax ID (parcel) number is 11 digits and must appear on the first page of recorded deeds.9
  • Marriage licenses issued between July 1, 1997 and June 30, 2001 require a married party's permission before copies go to others.13

Office addresses, phones and hours

Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court (Deeds / Record Room)

Address
Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court, John Marshall Courts Building, 400 North 9th Street, Richmond, VA 232199
Phone
(804) 646-6505 general; Record Room (804) 646-65309
Hours
Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; recording 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.; marriage licenses 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.9

Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court – Criminal Section

Address
Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court, John Marshall Courts Building, 400 North 9th Street, Richmond, VA 232199
Hours
Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; recording 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.; marriage licenses 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.9

Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court – Civil Section

Address
Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court, John Marshall Courts Building, 400 North 9th Street, Richmond, VA 232199
Hours
Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; recording 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.; marriage licenses 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.9

Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court – Probate Division

Address
Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court, John Marshall Courts Building, 400 North 9th Street, Richmond, VA 232199
Phone
804-646-6540 (probate appointments)15
Hours
Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; recording 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.; marriage licenses 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.9

Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court (marriage licenses, judgments, financing statements, assumed names)

Address
Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court, John Marshall Courts Building, 400 North 9th Street, Richmond, VA 232199
Hours
Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; recording 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.; marriage licenses 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.9

Richmond Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court (custody, support, visitation)

Address
Oliver Hill Courts Building, 1600 Oliver Hill Way, Suite C181, Richmond, VA 23219-123218
Phone
(804) 646-2942; fax (804) 646-290618
Hours
Clerk's Office 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM18

City of Richmond Office of the Assessor of Real Estate

Address
Richmond City Hall, 900 E. Broad St., Room 802, Richmond, VA 2321910
Phone
(804) 646-7500; fax (804) 646-568619
Hours
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.19

City of Richmond Department of Finance (Real Estate Unit; real estate tax billing and collection)

Address
Department of Finance, 900 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 232197
Phone
(804) 646-7000 (RVA 311)7
Hours
Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.6

Richmond City Health Department Vital Records Office (VDH)

Address
Vital Records Department, Room 126, 400 East Cary Street, Richmond, VA 2321914
Mail
Same (mail to Cary Street address)14
Phone
804-205-3911; fax 804-786-900714
Hours
Monday - Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.14

Richmond Office of Elections (General Registrar)

Hours
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.16

Assessor GIS & Mapping / Assessor GeoHub

Records that are not online: public records requests

Request page
rva.justfoia.com/… (City FOIA portal)20
Where to send it
City responds within five working days; Circuit Court Clerk FOIA contacts at 400 N 9th St.20

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Richmond City?

The Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court (Deeds / Record Room) keeps deed records. To order copies: In person in the Record Room, or written request with payment enclosed (call to confirm document length); fees collected in advance. Plain copies: $.50 per page. Certified copies: Additional $2.00.43

Can I search Richmond City land records online for free?

No, the official online search charges a fee. Account required: $50.00 per month, 6-month minimum, paid in advance, per user. The official search: risweb.vacourts.gov/jsra/sra2

Where do I get a divorce decree in Richmond City?

Divorce and annulment are filed in Circuit Court (exclusive jurisdiction); case files at the Circuit Court Clerk; divorce certificates from VDH ($15).11

How do I look up who owns a property in Richmond City?

Use the property search of the City of Richmond Office of the Assessor of Real Estate: actdatascout.com/…5

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Richmond City office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties and independent cities in Virginia with a full guide: Albemarle County, Alexandria City, Arlington County, Chesapeake City, Chesterfield County, Fairfax County, Hampton City, Loudoun County, Newport News City, Norfolk City, Prince William County, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County, Virginia Beach City. Every county and independent city in the state: Virginia county and independent city list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 21 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
  2. Secure Remote Access (SRA)Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court
  3. Records ResearchClerk of the Richmond Circuit Court
  4. City of Richmond, VA home pageCity of Richmond
  5. Property Search: legacy-system noticeCity of Richmond Assessor of Real Estate
  6. Department of FinanceCity of Richmond
  7. Real Estate TaxesCity of Richmond Department of Finance
  8. Richmond Circuit CourtSupreme Court of Virginia
  9. DeedsClerk of the Richmond Circuit Court
  10. Real Estate Assessment Appeal ProcessCity of Richmond Assessor
  11. CivilClerk of the Richmond Circuit Court
  12. CriminalClerk of the Richmond Circuit Court
  13. MarriagesClerk of the Richmond Circuit Court
  14. Vital Records – Richmond City Health DepartmentVirginia Department of Health
  15. WillsClerk of the Richmond Circuit Court
  16. ElectionsCity of Richmond
  17. Circuit Court Clerk – AboutClerk of the Richmond Circuit Court
  18. Richmond Juvenile & Domestic Relations District CourtSupreme Court of Virginia
  19. Assessor of Real EstateCity of Richmond
  20. Virginia Freedom of Information ActCity of Richmond
  21. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau