Search Buckingham County Public Records

Buckingham County public records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk, Commissioner of the Revenue, Treasurer, and other county offices in Buckingham Court House. Court case files, land deeds, tax assessments, and government documents are open to the public unless a specific state law limits access. This page covers the main record types in Buckingham County, where each one is kept, and how to get what you need from county offices or state online systems.

Buckingham County Circuit Court Records

The Circuit Court Clerk in Buckingham Court House is the main keeper of court records for the county. The clerk's office holds civil and criminal case files for the 10th Judicial Circuit. You can search cases online through the Virginia Circuit Court case information system. Select Buckingham County from the court list and search by name or case number. The system shows case status, party information, and hearing dates for most active and recent cases.

The Circuit Court Clerk in Buckingham County also handles probate records, marriage licenses, and land documents. All of those functions run through the same clerk's office at the courthouse. Virginia Code § 17.1-208 requires that court records be open to public inspection. Certified copies of documents in the file are available for a fee. You can request them in person or by mail. Bring valid photo ID when you visit the office.

Juvenile case records, adoption files, and records sealed by court order are not public. The rest of the civil and criminal docket is open to anyone.

The Virginia Courts website has the direct address and phone number for the Buckingham County Circuit Court Clerk. Staff can search by name or case number and help you find the documents you need. Copy fees are set under state law and apply across all Virginia circuit courts.

Land Records in Buckingham County

Deeds, deeds of trust, and other property documents filed in Buckingham County are recorded with the Circuit Court Clerk. The clerk maintains a grantor-grantee index and keeps original recorded instruments. Remote access to land records is available through the Virginia Secure Remote Access system. You need to register and pay a subscription fee to use SRA, but it lets you search indexes and view scanned deed images without traveling to the courthouse.

Real estate ownership and assessed values for tax purposes are tracked separately by the Commissioner of the Revenue. That office holds the land books and assessment rolls for the county. The Buckingham County government website has contact information for the Commissioner of the Revenue and other county departments. If you need to know who owns a parcel or what it was assessed for, start with that office. For the actual deed of record, you go to the Circuit Court Clerk.

The Virginia Circuit Court Online Case Information System lets you search Buckingham County court filings by name or case number at no cost.

Cases from the Buckingham County Circuit Court are listed in the statewide system alongside other 10th Circuit courts.

Property and Tax Records

Buckingham County splits property record functions between two offices. The Commissioner of the Revenue handles real estate and personal property assessments. Those records show ownership, land use classification, and the assessed value used to calculate taxes. They are public records and can be reviewed at the commissioner's office or through the county website.

The Treasurer's office tracks tax payments, delinquencies, and tax liens. If you want to know whether taxes on a property are current or if there is an outstanding balance, the Treasurer is the right contact. Tax liens that go unpaid are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk and become part of the land records as well. Checking both the Treasurer and the court records gives you a full picture of any claims against a specific parcel. The Buckingham County website has contact details for both offices.

Real estate assessments are updated on a regular cycle. Contact the Commissioner of the Revenue to confirm the most recent assessment year on any property you are researching.

Virginia FOIA and Buckingham County

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act, found at Va. Code § 2.2-3700 et seq., gives you the right to inspect or get copies of government records held by Buckingham County and its offices. All public records are presumed open. The county must respond to your request within five working days. If more time is needed, they must tell you promptly and can take up to seven additional days.

To make a FOIA request in Buckingham County, send a written request to the County Administrator or to the specific office that holds the records you want. Describe the records clearly. You do not need to state a reason for your request. Fees for copying and staff search time may apply, and the county is required to give you a cost estimate before doing the work. Routine documents like meeting minutes, budgets, and ordinances are often posted on the county website and do not need a formal request. The Virginia FOIA Advisory Council offers free guidance and can provide opinions if you have a dispute about access.

Criminal Records in Buckingham County

Criminal cases filed in Buckingham County Circuit Court are searchable through the Virginia court case portal. Case charges, court dates, and dispositions are viewable for most adult matters. The online system shows what is in the public court record. It does not provide a full criminal history and does not include General District Court cases in the same search.

For a complete criminal history background check, requests go to the Virginia State Police. The Central Criminal Records Exchange holds statewide conviction data. Under Va. Code § 19.2-389, full criminal history records are restricted to authorized uses. Individuals can request their own record. Third parties have limited access. What appears in the open court case files is available to anyone through the court portal. The Library of Virginia holds older criminal court records transferred from Buckingham County that can be useful for historical research.

Vital Records for Buckingham County

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for events that took place in Buckingham County are filed at the state level with the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond. The VDH does not maintain a separate county-level office. Certified copies cost $12 each. You can request them by mail or in person at the Richmond office at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227. Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the phone number is 804-662-6200.

Access to recent vital records is limited to close family members and those with a documented legal interest under Va. Code § 32.1-272. Birth records become public after 100 years. Death, marriage, and divorce records are open after 25 years. Older records are also available through the Library of Virginia, which holds historical vital records and genealogy materials for Buckingham County.

Marriage licenses issued in Buckingham County are recorded with the Circuit Court Clerk before the original goes to VDH. If you need to confirm a marriage that took place in the county, you can start with the clerk's office for a record of the license.

Certified vital records for Buckingham County events are available through the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond.

Copies cost $12 each and can be ordered by mail or in person at the Richmond VDH office on weekdays.

Other Public Records Sources

Several state agencies hold records that cover Buckingham County residents and businesses. The Virginia State Corporation Commission holds business registration records for any entity formed or registered in Virginia, including those based in Buckingham County. The online Business Entity Search is free and open to the public.

The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation handles licensing records for contractors, real estate agents, engineers, and many other regulated professions. You can verify a license or check for disciplinary history through the DPOR online lookup. The Virginia Department of Health Professions handles similar lookups for healthcare providers licensed in Virginia, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.

The Library of Virginia holds archived records from Buckingham County going back many decades. Historical land records, chancery court files, and other county records not in modern online systems can often be found through the Library's digital collections or by contacting their archives staff directly.

Nearby Counties

These counties border or sit near Buckingham County in central Virginia.

Cities Near Buckingham County

Buckingham County has no independent cities within its borders. Buckingham Court House serves as the county seat. The nearest cities with qualifying populations include Charlottesville to the northwest in Albemarle County and Lynchburg to the west in the Campbell and Amherst County area. Both operate their own Circuit Courts for cases filed within their city limits.