Accomack County Public Records

Accomack County public records are held by several county offices on Virginia's Eastern Shore, including the Circuit Court Clerk, Commissioner of the Revenue, and Treasurer. Whether you need court case documents, land records, or tax information, this page explains where to look, which offices to contact, and how to submit a records request under Virginia law.

Accomack County Circuit Court Records

The Circuit Court Clerk for Accomack County keeps civil and criminal case records, as well as land records and probate filings. You can search cases online through the Virginia Judicial System case search portal. Select Accomack from the county list to pull up cases by name, case number, or hearing date. The system shows party names, case status, and upcoming court dates.

Not all records show up online. Juvenile cases, adoption files, and sealed matters are not included. For those, or for certified copies of any court document, you go directly to the Circuit Court Clerk's office. The clerk can search the full case index and make copies. Under Virginia Code § 17.1-208, court records are open to the public during regular business hours. Bring a photo ID when you visit. Copy fees are set by statute and apply to both plain and certified copies.

The Virginia Courts website at vacourts.gov has contact details for the Accomack Circuit Court Clerk's office, including address, phone number, and hours. That is a good place to start if you need to call ahead or confirm office hours before making the trip.

Land Records in Accomack County

Deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, and liens in Accomack County are recorded with the Circuit Court Clerk. The Clerk's land records office indexes all recorded documents by grantor, grantee, and parcel. Many of these records go back centuries, since Accomack is one of Virginia's oldest counties. Remote access to recorded land documents is available through the Virginia Secure Remote Access system, also called SRA. You need to register and subscribe to use that system, but it gives you online access to scanned deed images and index data.

Property assessment records are a separate thing from recorded land documents. The Commissioner of the Revenue handles real estate assessments and personal property tax records. You can search assessed values, ownership history, and parcel data through the county's GIS system. This is helpful when you need to know what a parcel is worth on the tax rolls or who owns a piece of land right now.

Note: The SRA system may require a paid subscription for full document access. Some users find it helpful to call the Circuit Court Clerk first to confirm what is available remotely before subscribing.

Property and Tax Records

Accomack County tax records are split between two offices. The Commissioner of the Revenue sets the assessments, and the Treasurer collects the bills. Both offices keep records that are open to the public under Virginia law.

The Commissioner of the Revenue office maintains real estate assessment data, personal property tax records, and business license information. Real estate values and ownership records are often searchable through the county website or GIS portal. You can look up a parcel by owner name or address to see the current assessed value and property description.

The Treasurer's Office keeps payment records and handles tax liens. If you need proof that taxes have been paid on a piece of property, or want to check if a tax lien has been filed, the Treasurer is your contact. Online payment options exist for most tax types. Tax lien redemption also goes through the Treasurer under Virginia Code provisions.

The main county website at co.accomack.va.us ties both offices together. You can find department contact information, links to online services, and general guidance on which office handles what type of record.

FOIA Requests in Accomack County

Virginia's Freedom of Information Act gives the public the right to see government records. Under Virginia Code § 2.2-3700, all public records are presumed open unless a specific exemption applies. Accomack County must respond to FOIA requests within five working days, as required by § 2.2-3704. The response can be to provide the records, deny the request with a legal reason, or ask for more time if the request is large or complex.

FOIA requests in Accomack County go to the County Administrator's Office. You do not have to explain why you want a record or give your name in most cases. The request just needs to describe the records well enough for staff to find them. If there are fees for copying or staff time, the county should tell you upfront. The Virginia FOIA Advisory Council offers guidance on how to file a request and what your rights are if a request is denied.

Some records are exempt from FOIA disclosure. Personnel files, certain law enforcement records, and attorney-client communications are common examples. But most administrative records, meeting minutes, contracts, and budgets are open. When in doubt, submit the request and let the county determine what applies.

Vital Records Access

The Virginia Department of Health maintains vital records for the entire state, including births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. These are not held at the county level. To get a certified copy of a birth or death certificate for an event that occurred in Accomack County, you request it from the VDH Office of Vital Records. The fee is $12 per copy. The office phone number is 804-662-6200.

Under Virginia Code § 32.1-272, birth records less than 100 years old and death, marriage, and divorce records less than 25 years old have restricted access. You need to be the person named on the record, a close family member, or have a legal reason to get a copy. After those time periods pass, the records become fully public and are available through the Library of Virginia.

Note: The Library of Virginia holds historical vital records and other archival documents that can be very useful for genealogical research on Accomack County going back several centuries.

Criminal Records Access

Criminal case records from Accomack County Circuit Court are searchable through the state's online court case system. You can find charges, case status, and dispositions for most adult criminal matters. Misdemeanor cases handled in General District Court are also available through the same portal by selecting that court type.

For a formal criminal history report, you contact the Virginia State Police. The State Police maintain the Central Criminal Records Exchange. Under Virginia Code § 19.2-389, access to full criminal history records is restricted to certain users including law enforcement, employers with legal authority, and individuals requesting their own record. The public can see what appears in court records, but not the full criminal history compiled by the State Police.

Social Security numbers are redacted from public court filings under § 8.01-420.8. This protects personal information while still keeping the case record open.

The Virginia circuit court online portal allows you to search Accomack County cases by name or case number. Visit the Virginia Judicial System to start your search.

Results show party names, case numbers, and current case status for civil and criminal matters filed in Accomack County.

Nearby Counties

Accomack County is on Virginia's Eastern Shore peninsula. Neighboring counties and nearby jurisdictions include the following.