Search Accomack County Property Records
Accomack County property records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk in Accomac, Virginia, who serves as the official record keeper for all land instruments filed in the county. The clerk's office holds deeds, deeds of trust, plats, liens, and other documents tied to real estate on the Eastern Shore. These records are public and go back many years. You can start your search online through the AccoMap GIS portal or the Virginia court system at vacourts.gov. In-person visits to the courthouse are welcome, and mail requests are also accepted. This page covers the main ways to find and get copies of Accomack County property records.
Accomack County Property Records
Accomack County Property Records Online
The county offers two main paths to search property records online. The first is AccoMap, the county's GIS and mapping portal. AccoMap has a free version and a paid subscription tier. The free site lets you look up tax parcel numbers, zoning, flood zones, and election district data for any parcel in the county. You don't need an account to use the free site -- just click the link, read the disclaimer, check the acknowledgment box, and you're in.
The AccoMap GIS and mapping portal is run by the county's Department of Planning and Community Development. Parcel data, roads, and addresses are updated monthly. If you need more than basic parcel info, the subscription tier costs $321.00 to register and $107.00 per year to renew. That level gives you enhanced searching and more data layers. For most property research purposes, the free site is enough to get parcel IDs, owner names, and boundary information.
The county also makes GIS data available for download through its Open Data Portal in ESRI shapefile format. Those files are useful if you work with third-party GIS software. Note that all GIS data carries a standard disclaimer: the county makes no warranties about accuracy, and the data is not a legal description of any parcel.
Accomack County Assessor and Tax Records
Property tax assessments in Accomack County are handled by the County Assessor's Office. The assessor's office is located at 23296 Courthouse Ave., Room 106, Accomac, VA 23301. You can reach them by phone at (757) 787-5729 or by fax at (757) 789-3350. The office maintains assessment records for all real estate in the county.
The statewide assessor search directory lists Accomack County among its database of Virginia assessor offices. Through this directory you can search Accomack County real estate land records alphabetically, or use the GIS map search to look up parcels by owner name, tax map number, parcel ID, or billing address. Both searches are free. Virginia law classifies land and improvements as real property, while vehicles and equipment are personal property. The assessor handles both.
If you own property in Accomack County and want to remove your name and mailing address from the AccoMap search feature, you can request that through the Department of Planning. Contact planning@co.accomack.va.us with your name, tax parcel numbers, and the bill number from your real estate assessment. Keep in mind that removing your data from AccoMap does not prevent someone from finding it through other public channels, including by contacting the county directly.
Land Records at the Circuit Court
Recorded deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, liens, and other instruments that affect title to real property in Accomack County are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk. This is required under § 55.1-600 of the Code of Virginia, which designates circuit court clerks as the official recorders of property writings for their jurisdiction.
Under Title 55.1 of the Code of Virginia, all conveyances, deeds, deeds of trust, and related instruments must be properly acknowledged and recorded to be binding against third parties. A deed that isn't recorded may still be valid between the parties who signed it, but it won't protect the buyer against later claims from creditors or other purchasers who record first. Recording gives public notice of the ownership change or encumbrance.
Documents submitted for recording must meet physical and format standards set out in § 55.1-606. Documents must be originals or first-generation printed copies, legible, and meet the Virginia Public Records Act standards. The clerk can refuse documents that don't conform, but if a nonconforming document is accepted, it is deemed validly recorded and the clerk has no liability for accepting it.
The Virginia courts system has a Secure Remote Access (SRA) portal at vacourts.gov that allows online access to land records. Users must register for an account and pay subscription fees to access document images remotely. Index information may be available without a paid subscription.
GIS Maps and Parcel Search in Accomack County
Accomack County's GIS system is one of the more detailed county mapping platforms on the Eastern Shore. The AccoMap system, run through the Department of Planning, ties parcel boundary data to ownership records, zoning classifications, flood zone maps, and other layers. Parcel and address data updates monthly, which keeps it reasonably current for research purposes.
The statewide GIS mapping directory also lists Accomack County resources. Through that directory you can get free access to GIS maps with parcel search by owner name, tax map number, parcel ID, or billing address. You can also view precinct and polling location maps organized by precinct number.
For those who need raw data rather than a map viewer, the county's GIS Open Data Portal provides downloads in ESRI shapefile format. Parcel shapefiles include boundary and parcel ID information. For additional attribute data beyond what's in the shapefile, you'll need to use AccoMap directly. Data outside of parcels, roads, and addresses is updated on an as-needed basis rather than a set schedule.
One practical note: GIS maps are reference tools, not legal descriptions. If you need to determine exact lot lines, set boundaries, or support a legal claim about property dimensions, you'll need a licensed surveyor. Virginia law is clear that GIS data cannot be used as a legal description for design, construction, or floodplain determination purposes.
How Virginia Property Recording Works
Virginia follows a race-notice recording system. When a deed or other instrument is recorded with the circuit court clerk, it gives constructive notice to all future parties. Under Chapter 6 of Title 55.1, the clerk indexes recorded documents by grantor and grantee names, date of recording, and instrument type. This index is what makes it possible to search the chain of title for any parcel.
When you search Accomack County land records, you are looking at this index. Each entry points to a specific deed book and page where the document is recorded. Copies cost $0.50 per page at the clerk's office, and certified copies carry an additional fee of $2.00 per document. The Virginia court system also maintains access through the SRA portal for remote document retrieval.
If you find an error in a recorded deed -- such as an incorrect legal description -- Virginia provides a process to correct it through a corrective affidavit under § 55.1-609. The affidavit must be prepared by an attorney, served on all parties to the original deed, and recorded in the land records if no objection is received within 30 days. Once recorded, the corrective affidavit relates back to the date of the original instrument.
The Library of Virginia's Chancery Records Index is another useful resource for historical property research. This database contains scanned chancery court cases from Virginia circuit courts, which often include land boundary disputes, estate settlements, and title questions from the 18th and 19th centuries. Accomack County, with its long history, is well represented in these records.
Accessing Accomack County Records In Person
The Accomack County Courthouse is in Accomac, the county seat. The Circuit Court Clerk's Office maintains the official land records -- deeds, deeds of trust, plats, and judgments -- for the county. You can search these records in person at the courthouse during regular business hours.
The Commissioner of the Revenue's office, located at 23296 Courthouse Ave., Room 106, handles real estate assessments and personal property records. If you have questions about the assessed value of a specific property, want to apply for tax relief programs, or need to report a change in ownership or land use, this is the office to contact. Phone: (757) 787-5729.
For those researching property ownership, title history, or recorded instruments, start with the Circuit Court Clerk. For assessment values, tax maps, and tax-related questions, start with the Commissioner of the Revenue. Both offices are at the courthouse in Accomac.