I own a home in Virginia
Property taxes, assessments, deeds, and homeowner relief programs.
VIRGINIA GUIDE
Life in Virginia comes
with its own rules.
Know what comes next.
From independent cities and the car tax to the Circuit Court Clerk, storm season, and starting a business, CountyOffices gives you clear Virginia-specific guidance for the things that matter.
Reviewed against official Virginia government sources • Updated as laws and requirements change
What brings you here today?
I own a home in Virginia
Virginia's real estate tax bill is assessed by your locality's Commissioner of the Revenue (or Assessor, depending on the locality) and billed and collected by the Treasurer - two separate offices for two halves of the process. If you're a 100% permanently and totally disabled veteran, Virginia offers a genuinely complete benefit: a full real estate tax exemption on your primary residence with no cap on home value and no income test, covering the dwelling plus up to one acre (some localities extend this further) - apply through your local Commissioner of the Revenue, not the state. This exemption also extends to a surviving spouse who doesn't remarry, and separately covers one personal vehicle from personal property tax. Beyond real estate, Virginia taxes vehicles as personal property annually - every vehicle owner gets a "car tax" bill each year, though state-funded relief (the Personal Property Tax Relief Act) reduces the burden on qualifying personal-use vehicles, with the exact relief percentage set annually by each locality (recently around 37% on the first $20,000 of assessed value in many localities). Deeds are recorded with the Circuit Court Clerk for your specific county or independent city.
Sources: Virginia Dept. of Taxation, local Commissioner of the Revenue and Treasurer offices
I'm buying or selling property
Closings, title searches, deeds, recording fees, and land records.
I'm buying or selling property
Virginia closings typically go through a title company or attorney, with deeds recorded by the Circuit Court Clerk for your specific county or independent city - not a separate Recorder of Deeds office the way many states organize it. Virginia charges a state and often local recordation tax at recording, calculated per $100 of the sale price or loan amount. A title search through the Circuit Court Clerk's land records confirms there are no outstanding liens before closing. Once you buy and move in, if you're a 100% disabled veteran, apply for the real estate tax exemption through your local Commissioner of the Revenue - it never transfers with the sale, so a new owner needs their own qualifying status. If you're purchasing rural or agricultural land, ask specifically whether it qualifies for Land Use Valuation (also called use-value assessment), which taxes qualifying farm, forest, or open-space land based on its use rather than market value - removing land from that status can trigger a rollback tax. Confirm whether the property is in a county or an independent city, since Virginia's independent cities operate entirely separately from any surrounding county.
Sources: local Circuit Court Clerk and Commissioner of the Revenue offices, Virginia Dept. of Taxation
I live in an independent city
City halls here handle what counties do elsewhere, from taxes to courts.
I live in an independent city
Virginia has 38 independent cities - a genuinely unique structure nationally - meaning places like Richmond, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Charlottesville, and Alexandria belong to no surrounding county at all and run their own complete slate of local government services. If you live in one of these cities, your city hall handles everything a county would handle elsewhere in Virginia: real estate assessment and tax collection, the Circuit Court Clerk's office for land records and probate, marriage licenses, and general local governance - there's no separate county office to contact for anything, since the city itself is the equivalent jurisdiction. This matters practically: don't assume a "county" office exists somewhere nearby for services your city already provides directly, and don't confuse a city's name with a similarly-named county nearby (Virginia has several places where a county and an independent city share a name, like Fairfax County and the separate City of Fairfax, or Franklin County and the separate City of Franklin - they are entirely distinct jurisdictions with entirely separate governments). Confirm specifically whether your address falls within an independent city or a county, since services, tax rates, and even court jurisdiction can differ meaningfully between a city and its neighboring county despite sitting right next to each other.
Sources: Virginia Association of Counties, Virginia Municipal League
Someone passed away
Probate at the Circuit Court Clerk, wills, estates, and next steps.
Someone passed away
Probate in Virginia happens at the Clerk of the Circuit Court for the county or independent city where the deceased lived - genuinely distinctive because a judge often isn't involved at all in straightforward, uncontested probate. The Clerk (or a deputy clerk with statutory authority) can admit a will to probate and qualify an executor directly, without a court hearing, provided there's no dispute among interested parties. Only contested matters escalate to an actual judge. Virginia offers a simplified small estate affidavit process for estates under a statutory value threshold, letting heirs settle without opening full probate. If the deceased had the 100% disabled veteran real estate exemption on their home, it doesn't automatically transfer to heirs - whoever inherits and occupies the home needs their own qualifying veteran status, or the exemption ends. If the deceased owned farm or forest land under Land Use Valuation, transferring ownership may trigger reassessment or a rollback tax depending on the new owner's intended use, so confirm this with the local Commissioner of the Revenue. Property records for real estate in the estate are held by the same Circuit Court Clerk handling the probate case.
Sources: Virginia Judicial System, Code of Virginia Title 64.2 (Wills, Trusts, and Fiduciaries)
I'm getting married or divorced
Marriage licenses, divorce filing, name changes, and official records.
I'm getting married or divorced
Marriage licenses in Virginia come from the Circuit Court Clerk for your county or independent city - apply at any Virginia Circuit Court Clerk's office, with no waiting period, so a license can be issued and used the same day. Divorce is filed in Circuit Court, and Virginia requires 6 months of residency for at least one spouse before filing. Virginia's no-fault ground is genuinely tied to a separation period rather than a post-filing waiting period: couples with no minor children and a signed separation agreement can divorce after just 6 months of living separate and apart; everyone else needs a full 12 months of separation before the court can grant an absolute divorce. This separation clock is a substantive part of the ground itself - you generally can't file first and let the clock run afterward. Virginia also recognizes fault-based grounds (adultery, cruelty, desertion, felony conviction) that don't require the separation period. Courts divide marital property under an equitable distribution standard, and Virginia is not a community property state. A "stipulated divorce," where both spouses sign a full settlement agreement, can be granted by affidavit without either spouse appearing before a judge.
Sources: Virginia Judicial System, local Circuit Court Clerk offices, Code of Virginia Title 20
I'm caring for an aging parent
Senior services, tax relief for seniors, benefits, and estate planning.
I'm caring for an aging parent
If your parent is a 100% permanently and totally disabled veteran, help them apply for Virginia's full real estate tax exemption through their local Commissioner of the Revenue - it eliminates real estate tax entirely on their primary residence, with no cap on home value and no income test, covering the home plus at least one acre. This also extends to a surviving spouse who doesn't remarry, and covers one personal vehicle from personal property tax as well. Separately, many Virginia localities offer their own real estate tax relief programs specifically for seniors or people with disabilities (not tied to veteran status), typically income- and asset-limited - check with your parent's specific Commissioner of the Revenue, since these programs and their thresholds genuinely vary by locality. Remember every Virginia vehicle owner, including your parent, receives an annual personal property "car tax" bill, though state-funded relief reduces the amount owed on qualifying personal-use vehicles. If your parent needs help managing property or finances, a durable power of attorney can avoid the need for court-supervised guardianship in many situations; guardianship itself, when necessary, goes through Circuit Court.
Sources: Virginia Dept. of Taxation, local Commissioner of the Revenue offices, Virginia Dept. for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
I need an official record
Birth, death, marriage, court, property, and business records.
I need an official record
Birth and death certificates come from the Virginia Dept. of Health Division of Vital Records, a state office, though local registrars can sometimes assist. Marriage records are held by whichever Circuit Court Clerk issued the license. Property records - deeds, mortgages, liens - are recorded and searchable through the Circuit Court Clerk for your specific county or independent city, generally free to search in person with a fee for certified copies. Probate and estate records also come from the Circuit Court Clerk, the same office handling land records - Virginia's Clerk holds genuinely broad responsibilities compared to many states. Other civil and criminal court records also flow through the Circuit Court (or the lower General District and Juvenile & Domestic Relations Courts for certain matters). Business entity records are filed with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, searchable statewide. Property valuation and tax relief records go through your local Commissioner of the Revenue, while tax payment records go through the Treasurer - remember every Virginia county and independent city runs its own complete set of these offices, since independent cities belong to no county.
Sources: Virginia Dept. of Health, local Circuit Court Clerk, Commissioner of the Revenue, and Treasurer offices, Virginia State Corporation Commission
I'm starting or running a business
Licenses, permits, EIN, sales tax, and local requirements.
I'm starting or running a business
Registering a business in Virginia starts with the State Corporation Commission, where you file to form an LLC or corporation and register a trade name. Most businesses register with the Virginia Dept. of Taxation for a sales tax certificate if they'll sell taxable goods or services, and get an EIN from the IRS if they're not a sole proprietor with no employees. Local business licenses (Virginia calls this the BPOL tax, Business, Professional and Occupational License) and zoning approval come from your specific county or independent city - remember Virginia's 38 independent cities run entirely separate local governments from any surrounding county, so confirm exactly which jurisdiction your business address falls in before assuming a nearby county's rules apply. If you'll own commercial vehicles, remember every vehicle in Virginia, business or personal, gets an annual personal property "car tax" bill from your locality, assessed by the Commissioner of the Revenue. Business real estate is assessed by that same office and billed by the Treasurer, with deeds and any business-related land records held by the Circuit Court Clerk.
Sources: Virginia State Corporation Commission, Virginia Dept. of Taxation, local Commissioner of the Revenue offices, IRS
How-To Guides for Virginia
How do I access court records?
Read guide →How do I appeal my property tax assessment?
Read guide →How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?
Read guide →How do I find and access senior services?
Read guide →How do I get a business license?
Read guide →How do I get a copy of a birth certificate?
Read guide →How do I get a copy of a death certificate?
Read guide →How do I get a marriage license?
Read guide →How do I pay my property taxes?
Read guide →How do I register to vote or check my registration?
Read guide →How to Research Your Family History in Virginia
Read guide →Open Records
Read guide →Virginia Statewide Probate Guide
Read guide →Virginia works differently. Here's what to know.
Independent Cities Stand Alone
Virginia's 38 independent cities belong to no county and run their own services.
Independent Cities Stand Alone
Virginia is the only state where cities can genuinely stand entirely independent of any county - 38 of them, including major population centers like Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Richmond, and Alexandria, belong to no surrounding county whatsoever and run their own complete local government. This is a real structural feature, not a naming quirk: an independent city has its own Circuit Court, its own Commissioner of the Revenue and Treasurer, its own Clerk, and handles every function a county would handle elsewhere in Virginia. Several independent cities share a name with a nearby but entirely separate county - Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax, Franklin County and the City of Franklin, Richmond County and the City of Richmond - and confusing the two means contacting the wrong government entirely, since they don't share services, courts, or tax records despite the identical or similar name. Virginia's 133 total jurisdictions (95 counties plus 38 independent cities) each function as a complete, self-contained local government - worth genuinely internalizing if you're used to a state where cities exist inside counties and share certain county-level services.
Sources: Virginia Association of Counties, Virginia Municipal League
Probate at the Circuit Court
Wills are probated with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, often without a judge involved.
Probate at the Circuit Court
Virginia's approach to probate is genuinely distinctive: wills are typically admitted to probate directly by the Clerk of the Circuit Court (or an authorized deputy clerk), not by a judge, for straightforward uncontested cases. The Clerk can qualify an executor, issue Letters Testamentary, and get an estate moving without ever requiring a courtroom appearance before a judge - a meaningfully faster, less formal process than states where every estate must pass before a probate judge. Only contested matters - a will dispute, a challenge to an executor's qualification, disagreement among heirs - actually escalate to a judge for resolution. This means your first and often only stop when settling an uncontested Virginia estate is the Circuit Court Clerk's office for the county or independent city where the deceased lived, not a courtroom. Virginia offers a simplified small estate affidavit process for estates under a statutory value threshold, letting heirs settle even more modest estates without formal probate at all.
Sources: Virginia Judicial System, Code of Virginia Title 64.2
The Car Tax
Localities tax vehicles as personal property each year, with state relief on part of the bill.
The Car Tax
Virginia taxes vehicles as personal property every single year - a genuinely distinctive, ongoing annual bill that surprises newcomers from states where vehicle taxes are folded into registration fees or don't exist as a separate recurring cost at all. Every locality (county or independent city) assesses your vehicles based on their value and bills you annually, separate from your state vehicle registration. To soften this, the Commonwealth provides state-funded reimbursement under the Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA) that reduces the tax owed on qualifying personal-use vehicles - the exact relief percentage is set annually by each locality based on its state reimbursement allocation, and has genuinely varied year to year (recently around 37% on the first $20,000 of assessed value in many localities, though this changes annually and differs by locality). Vehicles valued at $1,000 or less typically get a full exemption. Business-use vehicles generally don't qualify for this relief. If you're a 100% disabled veteran, a separate, more complete exemption covers one personal vehicle entirely. Because this bill arrives every year like a recurring subscription rather than a one-time cost at purchase, budget for it annually rather than assuming your vehicle taxes are settled once you've registered the car.
Sources: Virginia Dept. of Taxation, local Commissioner of the Revenue offices, Code of Virginia §58.1-3523 through 3524
Commissioner and Treasurer
The Commissioner of the Revenue assesses local taxes, and the Treasurer collects them.
Commissioner and Treasurer
Virginia genuinely splits local tax administration between two separate elected officials, and mixing them up is a common source of confusion. The Commissioner of the Revenue assesses local taxes - determining your real estate value (in many localities), calculating your annual vehicle personal property tax, and administering tax relief programs like the disabled veteran exemption or local senior relief. The Treasurer, a completely separate elected office, actually bills and collects the money - sends your tax statement, processes payment, and handles delinquency if a bill goes unpaid. If you're applying for a tax exemption or disagree with an assessed value, that's a Commissioner of the Revenue matter; if you're confused about a bill amount, payment methods, or a due date, that's a Treasurer matter. Some smaller Virginia localities combine these roles into a single office, but most maintain them as genuinely separate elected positions, and every county and independent city runs its own version of both offices independently, since Virginia has no countywide equivalent that spans multiple jurisdictions.
Sources: Virginia Dept. of Taxation, local Commissioner of the Revenue and Treasurer offices
Land Records at the Courthouse
Deeds are recorded with the Circuit Court Clerk for your county or city.
Land Records at the Courthouse
Property records in Virginia - deeds, mortgages, liens, plats - are recorded and searchable through the Circuit Court Clerk for your specific county or independent city, not a separate Recorder of Deeds office the way many states organize this function. This is a genuinely broad office in Virginia: the same Circuit Court Clerk handling your land records also handles probate for uncontested estates and other civil court filings, a wider combination of duties than a typical county Recorder holds elsewhere. This means a title search in Virginia runs through the specific Circuit Court Clerk's records for wherever the property sits, and if you're researching property near a border between a county and an independent city, confirm exactly which jurisdiction's Circuit Court actually holds the relevant records, since they don't share a records system. Each of Virginia's 133 jurisdictions maintains its own Circuit Court Clerk's office independently, so digitization level, search tools, and how far back records go online can vary meaningfully between, say, a populous Northern Virginia county and a small rural county in Southwest Virginia.
Sources: Virginia Judicial System, local Circuit Court Clerk offices
Land Use Valuation
Qualifying farm and forest land can be taxed on its use value instead of market value.
Land Use Valuation
Virginia's Land Use Valuation program lets qualifying agricultural, horticultural, forest, or open-space land be taxed on its use value rather than full market value - a genuinely significant benefit for working farms and managed forestland near Virginia's more developed corridors, where market value can run well above what the land is actually worth for its current productive use. Requirements vary somewhat by category: agricultural and horticultural land typically needs at least 5 acres, while forest land needs at least 20 acres, and each locality's assessing officer can require proof of ownership, description, acreage, actual use, and production history to verify continued eligibility. This isn't automatic just because land looks rural or undeveloped - you need to apply and periodically demonstrate the qualifying use continues. This isn't a no-strings benefit: any change in acreage, zoning, or actual use of the land triggers a rollback tax, typically recapturing 5 years of tax savings, so understand this genuine financial obligation before assuming enrollment carries no future cost if your plans for the land might change. Whether a specific locality even offers Land Use Valuation, and the exact local requirements, can vary - confirm with your county or independent city's Commissioner of the Revenue.
Sources: Virginia Dept. of Taxation, local Commissioner of the Revenue offices, Code of Virginia §58.1-3229 through 3244
The questions Virginia residents actually ask
The Virginia county records research approach starts with the specific county or independent city's official website. Most large Virginia localities offer online court record search through the Online Case Information System (operated by the Virginia Judicial System), property record search, and recording document search through their county or city websites. The Virginia Association of Counties and Virginia Municipal League provide links to locality websites.
Virginia is the only state with a substantial number of independent cities (38 of them) operating fully separately from any county. Virginia independent cities are not part of any county; they handle all functions that counties handle in other states plus all functions that cities handle. Residents of independent cities pay only city taxes. Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Richmond, Newport News, and Alexandria are among the largest independent cities. The Virginia county records system has parallel structures for counties and independent cities.
Virginia probate operates through the Circuit Court Clerk in each county and independent city. The Circuit Court Clerk admits wills to probate as Probate Clerk and handles routine probate matters. Virginia offers a small estate affidavit procedure for estates valued at $50,000 or less in personal property. Larger estates proceed through full probate. Virginia has no estate or inheritance tax. The Virginia county records on probate matters are maintained by each Circuit Court Clerk.
Virginia property tax due dates vary by locality (county or independent city). Most Virginia localities bill real estate tax in two semi-annual installments. Personal property tax (which applies to vehicles in Virginia) is billed annually in most localities, typically due October 5. After delinquency, taxes accrue interest and penalties. Some localities allow payment plans. The Virginia county records on property tax delinquencies are maintained by the locality Treasurer.
Apply at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in any Virginia county or independent city. Both applicants must appear together. Required documents include government-issued photo ID and Social Security number. License fees are approximately $30. Virginia has no waiting period between license issuance and the marriage ceremony. Licenses are valid for 60 days. The Virginia county records on marriage are maintained by the issuing Circuit Court Clerk.
Order through the Virginia Department of Health Division of Vital Records or through a Circuit Court Clerk that participates in vital records ordering. Required information includes the full name on the certificate, date of birth, place of birth, parents' names, and proof of your identity and relationship if you are not the person named. Virginia birth certificate fees are approximately $12 per certified copy at the state level (one of the lower fees in the United States).
Virginia divorce filing requires meeting the 6-month Virginia residency requirement, completing one year of separation (or six months if no minor children and separation agreement), completing the Bill of Complaint for Divorce, and filing with the Circuit Court in the locality where either spouse resides. Filing fees are approximately $90 plus service costs. Virginia allows no-fault grounds plus various fault-based grounds. Virginia is an equitable distribution state. The Virginia county records on divorces are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk.
The Virginia Board of Equalization is the locality-level body that hears property tax appeals. Property owners who believe their assessment exceeds market value can file an appeal during the Board's session (varies by locality). The Board conducts hearings and issues decisions. If unsuccessful, owners can appeal to the Circuit Court. Virginia has no state-level property tax appeal body (unlike most states); appeals go directly from Board of Equalization to Circuit Court. The Virginia property tax guide covers the appeal process.
File Articles of Organization with the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The filing fee is $100. Virginia LLC formation typically processes within 5-7 business days for standard filing or sooner with expedited service. Virginia LLCs must pay an annual registration fee of $50 by the last day of the month in which the LLC was formed. After formation, obtain a federal EIN and any required local business permits.
Register through the Virginia Department of Elections or your locality General Registrar. Virginia allows online voter registration. Registration deadline is 22 days before each election. Virginia allows no-excuse absentee voting effective with 2020 legislation. Virginia requires photo ID at the polls with an affidavit alternative available. The Virginia county records and city records on voter registration are maintained by each locality General Registrar.
The Virginia county records maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk include real property records (deeds, mortgages, easements, liens), probate records, marriage license records, criminal records (felony cases), civil records (cases above the General District Court threshold), military discharge papers (DD-214), and various other recorded instruments. Each Virginia county and independent city has its own Circuit Court Clerk. Most offer online search through their locality website. The Virginia Circuit Court Clerks' Association provides additional information.
Virginia allows expungement of certain dismissed cases and not-guilty verdicts under Code of Virginia section 19.2-392.2. Recent Virginia legislation effective 2025 significantly expanded record sealing for certain misdemeanor and felony convictions after specified waiting periods. The expanded sealing law represents a major change in Virginia's approach to record relief. The Virginia county records on sealed matters become inaccessible to most parties through this process. The Virginia court records guide covers expungement and sealing procedures.
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Important Deadlines in Virginia
Virginia's car tax - personal property tax on your vehicle, genuinely billed and due annually - has a due date that varies meaningfully by locality, so this is one deadline you must confirm with your specific county or independent city rather than assuming a statewide date.
Important Deadlines in Virginia
Virginia's car tax - personal property tax on your vehicle, genuinely billed and due annually - has a due date that varies meaningfully by locality, so this is one deadline you must confirm with your specific county or independent city rather than assuming a statewide date. Examples show the real range: Fairfax County bills once, due June 5; Arlington County is due October 5; Loudoun County splits payment into two installments, due May 1 and October 5. Most vehicles used for personal (non-business) purposes qualify for relief under the Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA), which reduces the tax on the first $20,000 of a vehicle's value by a percentage set annually by each locality - genuinely worth understanding since the relief percentage itself varies year to year and place to place. Real estate tax due dates similarly vary by locality - common dates include December 5 and June 5, but confirm your specific jurisdiction. If you're seeking tax relief for seniors, disabled residents, or veterans, applications typically run on an annual cycle set by your locality's Commissioner of the Revenue, so check locally for the exact deadline. Because Virginia genuinely has 133 separate jurisdictions (95 counties plus 38 independent cities, each governed independently), no single "Virginia deadline" applies to car tax, real estate tax, or most relief programs - always verify with your specific locality.
Sources: Virginia Dept. of Taxation, county/city Commissioner of the Revenue and Treasurer offices, Code of Virginia §58.1-3506 and §58.1-3523 (PPTRA)
Assessment Appeals in Virginia
If you disagree with your property's assessed value, Virginia's appeal process runs entirely at the locality level - there's no single statewide deadline, so confirm your specific county or independent city's exact window (many follow reassessment notices sent in early in the tax year, with appeal windows typically open for a set number of weeks after).
Assessment Appeals in Virginia
If you disagree with your property's assessed value, Virginia's appeal process runs entirely at the locality level - there's no single statewide deadline, so confirm your specific county or independent city's exact window (many follow reassessment notices sent in early in the tax year, with appeal windows typically open for a set number of weeks after). Bring genuine supporting evidence: comparable sales, an independent appraisal, or documentation of a factual error in your property's characteristics. Start with your locality's Commissioner of the Revenue or Assessor's office (title varies by jurisdiction) for an informal review - this can often resolve a disagreement without a formal hearing. If that doesn't resolve things, formal appeal goes to your locality's Board of Equalization or Board of Assessors, a citizen panel distinct from the assessing office, convened specifically to hear valuation disputes. Beyond the local board, further appeal to Circuit Court remains available. Because Virginia's 133 jurisdictions each set their own reassessment cycles and appeal calendars - some reassess annually, others on multi-year cycles - a car tax or real estate tax appeal genuinely follows a different rhythm in Fairfax County than in a rural county or independent city, so verify your specific locality's current schedule directly rather than relying on a neighboring jurisdiction's timeline.
Read the full property tax appeal guide →
Sources: Virginia Dept. of Taxation, county/city Commissioner of the Revenue and Board of Equalization offices, Code of Virginia §58.1-3379 and §58.1-3330
Public Records Access in Virginia
The Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) presumes that records held by state and local government agencies are open to public inspection, and like most states' open-records laws, you generally don't need to explain your reason for a request or demonstrate a personal interest in the records.
Public Records Access in Virginia
The Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) presumes that records held by state and local government agencies are open to public inspection, and like most states' open-records laws, you generally don't need to explain your reason for a request or demonstrate a personal interest in the records. Agencies must respond within 5 working days, and cite a specific statutory exemption if a request is denied - common exemptions include certain law enforcement investigative records, personnel and medical information, and other categories the legislature has carved out. Real estate records - deeds, mortgages, liens - are recorded and searchable through the Circuit Court Clerk for your county or independent city. Estate and probate matters, distinctively, are handled by the Clerk of the Circuit Court directly, often without a judge involved at all for routine, uncontested estates - a real, notable structure compared to states requiring judicial involvement in every case. Business entity records are filed with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, searchable statewide. Property valuation records go through your locality's Commissioner of the Revenue or Assessor's office, while tax collection runs through the Treasurer - separate offices for separate halves of the process. Remember Virginia's 38 independent cities genuinely belong to no county - they run their own complete set of services, including their own Circuit Court Clerk, Commissioner of the Revenue, and Treasurer, so verify whether you're in a county or an independent city before assuming which office serves you. If a FOIA request is denied, disputes can ultimately go to circuit court.
Read the full open records guide →
Sources: Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council, Code of Virginia §2.2-3700 et seq. (FOIA), county/city Circuit Court Clerk offices
Storm & Recovery Help in Virginia
Virginia's hurricane and storm season runs officially June 1 through November 30, and the state's genuinely long coastline and Hampton Roads region (including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth) face real risk from both direct hurricane strikes and coastal flooding - this region has genuine, extensive recent experience with recurring nuisance flooding even outside major storm events.
Storm & Recovery Help in Virginia
Virginia's hurricane and storm season runs officially June 1 through November 30, and the state's genuinely long coastline and Hampton Roads region (including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth) face real risk from both direct hurricane strikes and coastal flooding - this region has genuine, extensive recent experience with recurring nuisance flooding even outside major storm events. Know your specific evacuation zone before hurricane season if you're along the coast, since Hampton Roads and other coastal localities maintain real, zone-based evacuation planning. Inland Virginia, including the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Valley, faces separate real risk from tropical remnants moving through - heavy rainfall on mountainous terrain can produce serious flooding well after a storm has technically weakened. Your county or city Emergency Management office coordinates local response and maintains current evacuation and warning information - remember Virginia's 38 independent cities run their own complete emergency management function separate from any county. After a storm causes damage, your locality's Commissioner of the Revenue can adjust your property's valuation to reflect the damage, and if a federal disaster is declared, FEMA assistance becomes available for both individuals and local governments. Insurance claims should be filed promptly with documentation (photos, a written inventory), and flood insurance specifically is essential in coastal and low-lying areas.
Sources: Virginia Dept. of Emergency Management, FEMA, county/city Emergency Management and Commissioner of the Revenue offices
New to Virginia?
As a new Virginia resident, check with the Virginia DMV for the current specific window to transfer your out-of-state driver's license and register your vehicle - and remember you'll also owe an annual car tax (personal property tax) on that vehicle, with a due date that genuinely varies by locality, so confirm your specific county or city's date immediately after registering.
New to Virginia?
As a new Virginia resident, check with the Virginia DMV for the current specific window to transfer your out-of-state driver's license and register your vehicle - and remember you'll also owe an annual car tax (personal property tax) on that vehicle, with a due date that genuinely varies by locality, so confirm your specific county or city's date immediately after registering. If your vehicle is for personal, non-business use, you likely qualify for relief on the first $20,000 of value under the Personal Property Tax Relief Act - this typically applies automatically, but confirm with your Commissioner of the Revenue. If you've purchased a home, ask about real estate tax due dates locally, and check whether you qualify for senior, disabled, or veteran relief programs through your locality. Register to vote through your county or city registrar. Remember Virginia genuinely has 38 independent cities that belong to no county at all - if you're settling in one, understand that city hall handles everything a county would handle elsewhere, including its own Circuit Court Clerk, Commissioner of the Revenue, and Treasurer. Property deeds and estate/probate matters both run through the Circuit Court Clerk for your specific county or independent city.
Sources: Virginia DMV, Virginia Dept. of Taxation, county/city Commissioner of the Revenue and Circuit Court Clerk offices
Find the services available in your county
Virginia laws apply statewide, but offices, services, procedures and local requirements can vary by county. Select your county for verified local offices, services and official resources.
All 133 Virginia counties & independent cities
Browse every county, independent city, and courthouse.
Accomack CountyAccomacAlbemarle CountyCharlottesvilleCity of AlexandriaAlexandriaAlleghany CountyCovingtonAmelia CountyAmelia Court HouseAmherst CountyAmherstAppomattox CountyAppomattoxArlington CountyArlingtonAugusta CountyVeronaBath CountyWarm SpringsBedford CountyBedfordBland CountyBlandBotetourt CountyFincastleCity of BristolBristolBrunswick CountyLawrencevilleBuchanan CountyGrundyBuckingham CountyBuckinghamCity of Buena VistaBuena VistaCampbell CountyRustburgCaroline CountyBowling GreenCarroll CountyHillsvilleCharles City CountyCharles CityCharlotte CountyCharlotte Court HouseCity of CharlottesvilleCharlottesvilleCity of ChesapeakeChesapeakeChesterfield CountyChesterfieldClarke CountyBerryvilleCity of Colonial HeightsColonial HeightsCity of CovingtonCovingtonCraig CountyNew CastleCulpeper CountyCulpeperCumberland CountyCumberlandCity of DanvilleDanvilleDickenson CountyClintwoodDinwiddie CountyDinwiddieCity of EmporiaEmporiaEssex CountyTappahannockFairfax CountyFairfaxCity of FairfaxFairfaxCity of Falls ChurchFalls Church
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Sources and References
- Virginia.gov
- Virginia State Corporation Commission
- Virginia Department of Health Vital Records
- Virginia Judicial System
- Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council
- Virginia Association of Counties
- Virginia Municipal League
- Virginia Department of Taxation
- Virginia Department of Elections
- Virginia Circuit Court Clerks' Association
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