Accomack County, VA Property Records: Search Deeds, Owners, Tax Records, and Maps

Accomack County has approximately 40,000 land parcels in eastern Virginia. Local employment, affordability, and low housing inventory largely influence the county’s property market. The Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Office, the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office, and the Treasurer’s Office are responsible for keeping property records.

The county has mostly single-family detached homes spread across its neighborhoods, along with some mobile and manufactured homes. On average, it takes about 64 to 87 days to receive offers for property listings. This timeline is slightly slower than Virginia's statewide average.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $171,250 and median rent of $986, alongside a median household income of $48,571 and a median real estate tax rate of 0.59 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Accomack County Property Records

The Clerk of the Circuit Court provides access to recorded land documents. You can look up deeds, plats, and liens through the Circuit Court land records. The Commissioner of the Revenue Real Property Search is the official search platform for assessment and property ownership records in the county. Property tax bills, payment history, tax debt, and related information are available on the treasurer’s online payment portal.

Who Keeps Accomack County Property Records?

Anyone can access public Accomack County property records under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The county manages property records through the following offices:

• The Accomack County Clerk of the Circuit Court is the public repository for official real estate records, including warranty deeds, deeds of trust, plats, liens, and easements. You can visit the county courthouse to request these records, or you can search them online.

• The Commissioner of the Revenue keeps property ownership information and assessment records for over 40,000 parcels within the county. Other property records managed by the office include property images, permits, sales history, acreage, and exemption status.

• The Accomack County Treasurer’s Office maintains property tax records, including tax bills, delinquent payments, and tax payment history.

• The Accomack County Real Estate Assessment Office locates, lists, and values property at fair market value to maintain records and uniform property information.

How to Search Accomack County Property Records Online

Accomack County property records are searchable online through the following steps:

1. Locate the parcel. The AccoMap GIS is the go-to when you want to locate a parcel in Accomack County. Search with the street name, parcel ID, or owner’s name. The search typically returns a list of matching parcels with basic details.
2. Select the property in the search results to open its details and view more information, including the owner’s name, tax district, assessment information, parcel data, sale history, permits, zoning, photos, and utilities.
3. Verify the chain of title through the Clerk of the Circuit Court's online index. Search by owner name, recording date, or book and page reference to retrieve deeds, deeds of trust, liens, plats, and other recorded documents.
4. You can find tax information about a parcel in Accomack County by using the treasurer’s online payment portal. The information available includes payment history, tax bill records, and tax debt.
5. Contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court by phone or in person for certified copies of recorded deeds and other instruments. Note that fees apply.

Clerk of the Circuit Court: Deeds, Deeds of Trust, and Plats

The Clerk of the Circuit Court in Accomack County records official real estate documents and maintains the official catalog of every recorded property instrument.

Commissioner of the Revenue: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

The Commissioner of the Revenue handles property appraisals and valuations, assessment appeals, and approves exemption applications. The office also keeps records relating to ownership, assessment parcel data, and sales details.

Treasurers: Tax Bills and Payments

The Accomack County Treasurer’s Office processes property tax payments in Accomack County. The office also conducts tax sales, issues tax bills to residents, and keeps property tax records. Real estate tax bills are typically issued twice a year, with the first installment due on June 5 and the second installment due on December 5.

Property Tax in Accomack County: Values, Exemptions, and Appeals

Property tax in Accomack County is calculated by multiplying the property's assessed value by the local real estate tax rate and dividing the result by $100. The tax rate is expressed per $100 of assessed value. The final tax bill is determined by applying any applicable exemptions, tax relief, or credits.

Exemptions and relief

Appealing your assessment

You can review your assessment with the Accomack County Real Estate Assessment if you believe it is incorrect. If the Real Estate Assessment reviews it and makes no changes, or if you disagree with the new value, the next level of appeal is the Board of Equalization. The Board of Equalization will hold a formal hearing to decide on the matter. If you disagree with their decision, you can file a formal lawsuit in the Accomack County Clerk of the Circuit Court.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

For a visual representation of a property in Accomack County, you may use the AccoMap GIS to view boundaries and zoning classifications. You may search on this portal by the property owner’s name, address, and parcel ID.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

Under Virginia law, there are two types of foreclosure and tax sale in Accomack County:

Trustee Foreclosure

Homeowners sign a deed of trust when they purchase their home with a mortgage. This document gives a neutral party, who is called the trustee, the legal power to manage the property or land until the owners pay off the loan. The trustee can sell the property if the owner fails to make payments. The trustee handles the auction process, including the paperwork and publishing of the property in a local newspaper before selling to the highest bidder. The auction takes place outside the courthouse.

Judicial Tax Sale

Under Va. Code 58.1-3965, a judicial tax sale is handled by Accomack County to collect back taxes. This is the process used by the county treasurer if you ignore your local real estate tax bill after the second anniversary of its due date. However, the treasurer cannot seize your property if the county has not filed a formal lawsuit against you in the Circuit Court.

The county will mail a warning notice to you and publish a list of the delinquent properties in a local newspaper 30 days before filing the suit. A Circuit Court judge will review the case and sign an order authorizing a special legal firm to sell the property at a public auction to pay off the tax debt.

Costs to Access Property Records

Virginia Code § 17.1-275 governs the typical costs of accessing property records in Accomack County. The fee schedule covers the costs for recording documents or obtaining certified copies:

How to Record a Document

Follow these steps to record a property document through the Accomack County Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Office:

1. Your documents must meet Virginia's formatting standards and include required information about the involved parties and the property. A Virginia Land Record Cover Sheet must accompany all land filings.
2. Confirm the recording fees and other additional costs by contacting the clerk’s office or by using the Virginia Supreme Court Deed Calculator..
3. Submit documents for recording to the Accomack County Clerk of the Circuit Court in person, by mail, or through an e-recording vendor. The clerk reviews, records, and indexes the document in the county’s official real estate records.
4. You can retrieve digital images of a recorded document from the Circuit Court land records portal or get physical copies in person at the clerk’s office.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Accomack County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals