Find Property Records in Westmoreland County

Westmoreland County property records are recorded and held by the Circuit Court Clerk in Montross, the county seat. The clerk is the official keeper of deeds, deeds of trust, plats, liens, and other land instruments for all real property in the county. In-person visits and mail requests are both accepted at the clerk's office. The statewide vacourts.gov system provides online access to many land records as well. The Commissioner of the Revenue manages property assessments, and the Treasurer handles tax data and payment records. This page covers the main search options for Westmoreland County property records.

Circuit Court Clerk: Deeds and Land Instruments

The Westmoreland County Circuit Court Clerk records all land documents for the county and is the official keeper of deed books, plats, and other property instruments. The Clerk is a constitutional officer elected every eight years. This office also serves as probate judge and administrator for civil and criminal court cases.

The Clerk's office records deeds, deeds of trust, judgments, financing statements, and other instruments tied to land transfers. Under § 55.1-600 of the Virginia Code, recording a deed is required to protect the buyer's interest against future claimants. A deed that is signed but not recorded does not bind third parties who had no notice of the transfer.

Virginia's full recording framework is in Title 55.1 of the Code of Virginia. That title covers what must be recorded, what form instruments must take, what fees apply, and what priority rules govern competing claims. Title 55.1 is where you look if you have a legal question about how recording works in Virginia.

Contact: Westmoreland County Circuit Court Clerk, 175 Polk Street, Montross, VA 22520. Phone: (804) 493-0100. Fax: (804) 493-0101. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Many Westmoreland County land records can be searched online through the Virginia Supreme Court's land records portal. The portal indexes instruments by grantor and grantee name and provides digital images for many recorded documents. For older or undigitized records, visiting the clerk's office in person is necessary.

Commissioner of the Revenue: Property Tax Assessments

The Commissioner of the Revenue is Westmoreland County's chief tax assessing officer, elected for a four-year term as required by the Virginia Constitution. The Commissioner determines the taxable value of all real and personal property in the county and maintains the county's official ownership records and tax maps.

The mission of the Commissioner's office is to fairly and impartially apply state law and local ordinance. Staff assess individual and business personal property, maintain real estate ownership records, process Land Use Program applications, oversee real estate tax exemptions for disabled veterans, and handle state income tax filings for taxpayers.

If you believe your property assessment is wrong, the Commissioner's office is the first place to go. You can review your assessment, ask how the value was determined, and file a formal appeal if needed. Relief programs for elderly and disabled property owners are also administered here.

Contact: Westmoreland County Commissioner of the Revenue, 1111 Court House Circle, Montross, VA 22520. Phone: (804) 493-0108. Fax: (804) 493-0109.

Westmoreland County also provides an online property tax search covering both real and personal property. You can look up assessed values, review tax payment history, and confirm ownership of record. Taxpayers can verify payment status, review historical tax bills, and confirm assessed values without visiting in person. The Commissioner's office is the primary contact for assessment questions, tax relief, and ownership record verification.

GIS Mapping for Westmoreland County Parcels

Westmoreland County has an Interactive GIS portal built in partnership with InteractiveGIS, Inc. The system lets you view parcel boundaries, ownership data, and spatial overlays on an interactive map. You can access the portal through the county's website.

All map data is provided for general reference only. The county and InteractiveGIS expressly disclaim any warranties about data accuracy. Recorded plats and deeds at the Circuit Court Clerk's office are the authoritative source for legal acreage and ownership. Use the GIS for visual orientation and preliminary research, not for legal determinations.

The GIS data was last updated in October 2025. The system works on all modern browsers that support HTML5. No special software or account is needed to use the portal. It is a useful starting point when you want to see where a parcel sits, what it looks like relative to roads and adjacent land, and what the general shape and size of the lot are before going into deed records.

For questions about GIS data, contact the county's planning or assessor offices. The Commissioner of the Revenue can direct you to the right resource for ownership questions at the parcel level.

Treasurer: Real Estate Taxes and Payment

The Westmoreland County Treasurer collects all real estate taxes, personal property taxes, dog license fees, and other local taxes. The Treasurer is responsible for the collection, custody, and disbursement of all county funds.

Real estate taxes are due December 5 of each year. Dog licenses are due January 31. The Treasurer's office is located at 1111 Court House Circle, Montross, VA 22520. Phone: (804) 493-0110. Fax: (804) 493-0111. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Before buying property in Westmoreland County, always check the Treasurer's records for delinquent taxes. Unpaid real estate taxes are a lien on the property and transfer with it at sale. Delinquent taxes can lead to a tax sale, which complicates title and can result in loss of the property. A quick call or in-person inquiry at the Treasurer's office can save you from inheriting someone else's tax debt.

The Treasurer also holds payment history records. If you need to document that taxes have been paid on a parcel over several years, the Treasurer can provide that information. This is sometimes needed for title insurance or loan closing purposes.

Types of Property Records Available in Westmoreland County

Property records in Westmoreland County span three main offices and cover a range of document types. Understanding what each office holds helps you find the right record quickly.

The Circuit Court Clerk holds recorded land instruments including deeds of conveyance, deeds of trust, deeds of release, plats, subdivision maps, easements, restrictive covenants, judgment liens, mechanics liens, and lis pendens notices. All of these are indexed by grantor and grantee name. More recent records may also be indexed by parcel ID. These documents establish and transfer ownership, create and release liens, and define property boundaries.

The Commissioner of the Revenue holds assessment records for all taxable parcels. Each record shows the assessed land value, improvement value, total value, property class, acreage, zoning, and the owner of record as of the assessment date. The assessment date is generally January 1 of each tax year. The Commissioner also holds records for tax relief and exemption applications.

The Treasurer holds tax payment history, delinquency records, and tax lien data. These records show whether taxes on a parcel have been paid and whether any tax liens have been placed against the property.

All of these are public records. Virginia's Freedom of Information Act at Title 2.2 of the Code of Virginia gives any person the right to inspect and copy public records. You do not need to show a reason or have a legal interest in the property to request records. Any person may request them.

How to Search and Copy Westmoreland County Property Records

Getting property records in Westmoreland County is straightforward if you know which office to contact.

For deed copies, go to the Circuit Court Clerk at 175 Polk Street, Montross, VA 22520. Bring the names of the parties (grantor or grantee), the approximate date of the transaction, and the instrument number if you have it. Certified copies cost more and carry the clerk's seal. Plain copies are sufficient for research. You can also search many records online through the Virginia land records portal at courts.state.va.us.

For assessment records and ownership data, use the county's online property tax search tool or visit the Commissioner of the Revenue. The online search is free and covers both real and personal property tax records. You can verify assessed values, confirm the owner of record, and review tax history without visiting the office.

For tax payment status, contact the Treasurer at 1111 Court House Circle, Montross. The Treasurer can tell you the current balance owed on any parcel and confirm whether taxes are current or delinquent.

For GIS and parcel maps, use the county GIS portal. Remember that GIS data is for reference only. Recorded plats are the legal source for boundary information.

For title research and legal opinions on ownership, consult a Virginia-licensed real estate attorney. Title companies active in the Northern Neck region can also assist with comprehensive title searches covering Westmoreland County deed books.