Amherst County Public Records

Amherst County public records are held by county offices along the Blue Ridge Mountains in central Virginia, including the Circuit Court Clerk, Commissioner of the Revenue, Treasurer, and County Administration. Court cases, land deeds, property assessments, and government documents are all part of the public record here. This page explains what is available and how to access it through county and state channels.

Amherst County Circuit Court Public Records

Civil and criminal cases filed in Amherst County Circuit Court are accessible through the Virginia Judicial System online case portal. Select Amherst County from the court list and search by name or case number. The system shows party names, case status, and hearing dates. The same system also allows you to search General District Court cases filed in the county.

The Circuit Court Clerk holds the official case files, land records, marriage licenses, and probate records for the county. Under Virginia Code § 17.1-208, these records are open for inspection during business hours. For certified copies, or to access records that are not available online (like juvenile cases and sealed matters), you contact the clerk directly. The Virginia Courts website lists the clerk's address, phone number, and office hours.

The Amherst County Circuit Court is part of the 24th Judicial Circuit. Most general civil suits, felony criminal cases, and estate probate matters are handled here. All of those generate case files that stay in the clerk's office after the case closes.

Land Records in Amherst County

Deeds, deeds of trust, and other property instruments are recorded with the Amherst County Circuit Court Clerk. Documents are indexed by grantor and grantee name and by parcel. The Virginia Secure Remote Access system lets you search and view recorded land documents online. You need to register and subscribe to use SRA, but it gives you remote access to deed images and the land records index without a trip to the courthouse.

For property assessments and current ownership data on the tax rolls, you go to the Commissioner of the Revenue. Assessment records show parcel descriptions, assessed values, and owner of record for tax purposes. This is a different data set from what the clerk records, but both are useful when researching a piece of property.

The Amherst County website links to both offices and provides contact information for each.

How to Request Amherst County Records

Virginia's Freedom of Information Act requires government bodies to make public records available on request. Under § 2.2-3700, records are presumed open unless a specific exemption applies. Amherst County must respond within five working days under § 2.2-3704. FOIA requests for county records go to County Administration. You can send requests by mail, email, or in person.

Your request should describe the records well enough for staff to find them. You do not have to give your name or explain your reason in most cases. If there are costs for copying or staff research time, you should hear about them before work begins. If a request is denied or partially withheld, the county must give a written reason citing the specific legal exemption. The Virginia FOIA Advisory Council is a good resource for guidance on the process and your rights under state law.

Many routine public documents, such as board minutes and county budgets, are posted on the Amherst County website and do not require a formal FOIA request.

Property and Tax Records

Real estate assessments and personal property tax records are maintained by the Commissioner of the Revenue. You can check assessed values, ownership, and parcel details through this office. Tax payment history and account balances are handled by the Treasurer's Office. Online payment options may be available for some tax types.

If you need to verify that taxes are current on a piece of property, or check for outstanding liens, the Treasurer has that information. Tax liens filed against property are also recorded with the Circuit Court Clerk as part of the land records system. Both the Commissioner and Treasurer are elected positions in Virginia, and each holds separate records.

Note: Confirming which office holds the specific record you need before visiting in person can save a trip. The county website has contact information for each department.

Criminal Records in Amherst County

Criminal cases from Amherst County Circuit Court are searchable through the Virginia court case portal. This covers charges, case status, and dispositions for most adult matters. For a full criminal history report, you need to contact the Virginia State Police, which maintains the Central Criminal Records Exchange. Under § 19.2-389, access to that database is limited to specific authorized users. The general public can see what is in the open court case record, but not the full State Police history file.

Social Security numbers are kept out of public court filings under § 8.01-420.8. This rule applies to all Virginia circuit courts, including Amherst County. Historical court records going back many decades are also held at the Library of Virginia, which maintains archival collections from county courts across the state.

Vital Records Access

Vital records for births, deaths, marriages, and divorces in Amherst County are handled at the state level. Certified copies are available from the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records at $12 per copy. The office number is 804-662-6200. Under § 32.1-272, recent vital records are restricted to close family members and those with a direct legal interest. Older records (100 years for births, 25 years for other types) are open to the public and searchable at the Library of Virginia.

Virginia's judicial system provides an online search tool for circuit court and general district court cases in Amherst County. Visit the Virginia Judicial System portal to look up case information.

Search results include party names, case numbers, hearing dates, and current status for Amherst County cases.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with or sit near Amherst County in the central Virginia foothills.