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

Hanover County covers about 469 square miles and has roughly 52,000 property parcels. Its housing market includes single-family homes, townhomes, farms, and other rural properties. The county benefits from its location near Richmond, with quality public schools and access to the Richmond job market among the factors that attract homebuyers. Listed properties typically go under contract in about 17 to 30 days.

Several county offices maintain property information, including the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Commissioner of the Revenue, and Treasurer. Many early deeds and other court records were lost in the Richmond fire of April 3, 1865, after they had been moved there for safekeeping during the Civil War. To research surviving records, check these offices.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $367,650 and a median rent of $1,321, alongside a median household income of $91,835.5 and a median real estate tax rate of 0.69 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Hanover County Property Records

When researching a property in Hanover County, you will need to access three different county databases. The Real Estate Assessment Data Search provides information such as a property’s assessed value and parcel details. The county’s parcel map also allows searches by address, account number, GPIN, or road. The Circuit Court land records system provides a searchable index through Self-Service for recorded deeds and other land records. The Treasurer provides access to real estate tax information, including yearly payments and tax bills.

Each property has a GPIN, which you can use to locate the same parcel in the county’s property search system. Using the GPIN along with the property address or owner’s name may help when comparing information from different county records.

Who Keeps Hanover County Property Records

Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, property documents are open to the public. In Hanover County, these offices manage property-related data:

• The Clerk of the Circuit Court acts as the official recorder for the county's land history, storing all deeds and land plats.

• The Commissioner of the Revenue handles local tax administration and maintains records for assessing real estate and personal property for taxation.

• TheDepartment of Real Estate Assessment determines the assessed value of real property and conducts periodic reassessments based on the county’s assessment requirements.

• The Treasurer bills and collects real estate and personal property taxes. The office also provides general oversight and custody of all other funds collected by the county.

How to Search Hanover County Property Records Online

A successful property search usually involves checking several county records.

1. Start with the county's Real Estate Assessment Portal. Look up the property by street address, or use the owner's name, to find basic details.
2. Next, open the Circuit Court’s Land Records index and type in the owner's name. To build a chain of ownership, match the seller (grantor) on the current deed to the buyer (grantee) on the previous deed when they bought the home.
3. Use the same names to look for claims or other documents tied to the property, such as deeds of trust, mechanic’s liens, and easements.
4. Finish your check on the Treasurer's Resident Portal to ensure all real estate taxes are fully paid.

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

The Clerk of the Circuit Court is an elected official responsible for safely recording and archiving all local land transactions. The recording department handles general and special warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, bank satisfaction releases, judgment liens, easements, and detailed subdivision survey plats.

Hanover County is considered a burned-record county. Nearly all property records before 1865 were destroyed in the Richmond fires. The county’s surviving land records date from late 1865 to the present.

Department of Real Estate Assessments: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

The Hanover County Department of Real Estate Assessments appraises every piece of land and building in Hanover County. Virginia law requires all real estate to be valued at 100% of its fair market value, so local assessments are adjusted regularly to reflect local market trends.

The county's free database allows you to look up:

• The current owner of the record

• The property's GPIN

• Approved tax exemptions for senior citizens, disabled residents, or disabled veterans

• Official boundary description

• Property characteristics of the building, including year built and acreage

Treasurer: Tax Bills and Payments

The County Treasurer collects real estate taxes and handles related tax bills. Property taxes are paid in two equal installments, due June 5 and December 5 each year. The Board of Supervisors sets the annual tax rate, which is currently $0.81 per $100 of assessed value.

Late payments are subject to penalties and monthly interest. When taxes remain unpaid for an extended period, the county may seek a judicial tax sale of the property to recover the outstanding balance.

Property Tax in Hanover County: Rates, Exemptions, and Appeals

Hanover County calculates real estate taxes by dividing a property's total assessed value by 100 and multiplying it by the current tax rate of 0.81. While the assessment department assesses all real estate at its market value, the Commissioner of the Revenue oversees the state income tax filing process and tax relief programs.

Exemptions and relief

Appealing your assessment

Property owners who believe their property is assessed above its fair market value may ask the Assessor’s Office for a review. Hanover County starts with an informal review, usually involving a phone call with an appraiser or an in-person meeting.

If the issue is not resolved by the informal review, the owner may file a formal appeal with the Board of Equalization. The application must be returned to the Assessor’s Office by March 15. The Board may leave the assessment unchanged, or order a reassessment. If the owner remains dissatisfied with the Board of Equalization’s decision, the next step is to take their case to the Hanover County Circuit Court.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

Hanover County provides a public mapping tool to locate parcels and view property information, such as boundaries and GPINs.

The county’s GIS resources also provide information about zoning, voting districts, school districts, and other geographic features. For mapping information that extends beyond Hanover County, researchers may use the Virginia GIS clearinghouse.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

Virginia property sales following a default generally fall into two categories that you must understand when researching a property.

Trustee foreclosure

Virginia commonly uses deeds of trust to secure real estate loans. When a borrower defaults, the trustee named in the deed of trust may conduct a foreclosure sale without filing a regular foreclosure lawsuit. The trustee must follow the required notice and advertising rules before the property is offered at public auction.

Judicial tax sale

When real estate taxes remain unpaid for the period set by Virginia law, the property may become subject to a judicial sale. Under Virginia Code § 58.1-3965, real estate may generally be sold when taxes remain delinquent on December 31 following the second anniversary of the date the taxes became due. The owner may redeem the property before the sale by paying the accumulated taxes, penalties, interest, attorney fees, and other costs required by law.

Costs to Access Property Records

Hanover County provides free access to search land-record indexes through its Self-Service system only. You may also purchase copies of recorded documents directly on this platform.

Virginia law governs state grantor and grantee taxes, and the amount due may depend on the value or consideration used for the transaction. Always confirm the current Virginia court fee schedule before recording a document.

How to Record a Document

Follow these steps to record a document in Hanover County:

1. Check the document to ensure it includes all required information. This usually includes the signatures, notary stamp, legal description of the property, cover sheet, and correct paper size.
2. Pay any required taxes and recording fees.
3. Submit the document to the Circuit Court Clerk in person at 7530 County Complex Road in Hanover, by mail, or through an approved e-recording service.
4. Once the document is recorded, the Clerk returns the original to the person who submitted it. The document is then added to the county's online index.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Hanover County Property Records Checklist

Contacts and Official Portals