dickenson county public records: a beginner’s guide to finding information

What these records include

If you’re new to researching Dickenson County, public records are documents created by local government that track community activity. They include property deeds, tax assessments, court filings, marriage licenses, and meeting minutes. Many are free to view online, while certified copies may require in-person verification and a small fee.

Where to start

Begin with the Clerk of the Circuit Court for deeds and probate, the General District and Circuit Courts for case information, and the Commissioner of the Revenue for tax data. The county website often posts Board of Supervisors agendas and minutes.

• Clerk of Circuit Court: land records, probate, marriage licenses
• General District/Circuit Court: civil and criminal case lookups
• Commissioner of the Revenue/Assessor: real estate, parcels, tax maps
• Sheriff/Jail: inmate and warrant information (availability varies)
• FOIA requests for items not posted online

Smart searching tips

Use exact names, parcel IDs, and date ranges. Try alternative spellings. For older books, ask about index volumes. Respect privacy limits-some items are redacted under Virginia FOIA. When in doubt, a quick call to the office can save time, and bringing a government ID may be required for certified copies.