Recording a deed in Henrico County, Virginia

Recording a deed in Henrico County

Deeds affecting property in Henrico County, Virginia are recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Recording is what puts the world on notice of your ownership and fixes the priority date. An unrecorded deed can still transfer title between the parties, but it leaves you exposed to anyone who records first.

The recording rules the office applies come from Va. Code §§ 17.1-223, 17.1-227.1, 17.1-252, 55.1-600 to 55.1-606. Deeds themselves are governed by Va. Code § 55.1-300.

What to bring

• The original signed and notarized deed. Recorders do not record photocopies handed over the counter.
• A completed notarial acknowledgment, with the date, the place where you signed, and the commission expiry all filled in.
• Any transfer tax payment or exemption statement the office asks for.
• A completed Virginia Land Record Cover Sheet (Form CC-1570, or the clerk's own version) on top of the deed (Va. Code § 17.1-227.1).
• Payment for the recording fee, about $35 per document. Many offices do not take personal checks.

Formatting

• Virginia's recording standards for paper documents (17VAC15-61-20 to 17VAC15-61-40, which Va. Code § 55.1-606 applies to deeds): white, unglazed paper from 8½ × 11 to 8½ × 14 inches, at least 20-pound weight, with no watermarks or logos; black print of 9 point or larger, in a font equivalent to a normal Arial or Courier; a top margin of at least 1¼ inches on every page and other margins of at least ¾ inch; one side only; signatures in dark blue or black ink. Virginia sets no 3-inch space on page one; Deedly leaves one for the clerk's stamp.
• Deedly's layout, which suits this office: 8.5 × 11 inch paper, a 3-inch clear space at the top of page one for the recording stamp, 1-inch margins on the other edges, a 1.5-inch top margin on later pages, and type no smaller than 10 point. Deedly formats every document this way automatically.
• A legal description. A street address alone is not enough.
• A 'when recorded, return to' block so the stamped original comes back to you.

How to file

1. 1In personTake the original to the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Henrico. This is the fastest route. You usually walk out with the recording information the same day.
2. 2By mailSend the original with a check or money order for the fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow one to three weeks for the stamped original to come back.
3. 3E-recordingTitle companies, attorneys, and other approved submitters file electronically through services such as Simplifile, CSC, or ePN. Some offices accept filings from the public through those services; check the office's website. If you prepared the deed yourself, in person or by mail is usually simpler.