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

Tazewell County is nestled in the heart of Virginia's Appalachian Mountains. The Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Commissioner of the Revenue, and the Treasurer manage property assessment and land records. These county-level offices manage over 30,000 parcels of land.

Single-family homes make up about 70% of Tazewell County’s housing inventory, with the highest concentration in the towns of Richland, Bluefield, and Tazewell. Homes spent about 40 days on the market before sale, which is slower than the statewide average of 26 days. Manufacturing, healthcare, and tourism sectors drive the local housing market.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $106,800 and median rent of $731, alongside a median household income of $43,631 and a median real estate tax rate of 0.65 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Tazewell County Property Records

Tazewell County property records are accessible through online portals, in-person visits, and other formal request methods. Use the Tazewell County property search to view assessment values, ownership, and parcel details.

The Circuit Court's Land Records Portal provides access to deeds, deeds of trust, liens, and plats. For tax bills and payment history, check the treasurer’s payment portal.

Who Keeps Tazewell County Property Records?

Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Tazewell County property records are open to the public. Many offices keep these records, and individuals can contact them freely to access property documents. Offices that manage property records in the county include:

• The Clerk of the Circuit Court records and maintains documents that affect land titles in Tazewell County. These documents include deeds, deeds of trust, plats, liens, and other land records.

• The Commissioner of the Revenue assesses all parcels, maintains assessment records, produces the county’s real estate books, and administers exemption programs. It processes Virginia income tax returns for individuals who need assistance.

• The Treasurer’s Office issues tax bills, collects property taxes, and disburses county funds that originate from tax levies and other fees authorized by the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors.

How to Search Tazewell County Property Records Online

To obtain Tazewell County property records online, follow these steps:

1. Begin your search for a required property by using a parcel number or property address through the property search platform.
2. Your search result will reveal the owner name, parcel details, acreage, legal description, valuation, and property characteristics.
3. Visit the Circuit Court land records portal to obtain a complete history of chain of title, active deeds of trust, and outstanding liens. To gain remote access to the portal, you must submit a completed application form to the clerk's office. Search the portal by using an owner’s name, book/page number, instrument number, or recording date.
4. Visit the treasurer's payment portal to view account information, confirm tax status, and check for any outstanding balances or interest.
5. To obtain a certified copy of recorded land documents, submit a formal request to the Circuit Court clerk's office.

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

The Tazewell County Clerk of the Circuit Court is the custodian of land records. In this role, the clerk receives, indexes, and preserves many legal instruments that include deeds, liens, deeds of trust, and plats. These records are usually indexed by name, recording date, document type, instrument number, and legal description.

Commissioner of Revenue: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

The Real Estate Department of the Commissioner’s Office is responsible for maintaining all real property records for assessment and taxation purposes. The Commissioner of the Revenue verifies this information and maintains these records in the office.

Treasurer: Tax Bills and Payments

The Tazewell County Treasurer is an elected official responsible for collecting, holding, and disbursing county funds. It issues real estate taxes on a semiannual schedule with deadlines on June 5 and December 5.

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

Property tax in Tazewell County is determined by dividing a property’s assessed value by $100 and multiplying that figure by the current tax rate of $0.58. The county Board of Supervisors sets the local tax rate.

Exemptions and relief

Appealing your assessment

To appeal an assessment in Tazewell County, submit your written complaint to the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office. If you disagree with the result of the Commissioner’s review, you may appeal to the Local Board of Equalization. If you are not satisfied with the Board’s decision, escalate the matter to the Tazewell County Circuit Court.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

Tazewell County Geographic Information System (GIS) data and maps are hosted on the ArcGIS platform. Individuals can find parcel details, zoning, aerial imagery, property information, sale, and assessment data on the platform. They may use the state-level Virginia GIS Clearinghouse to find unified, cross-jurisdictional spatial data for the county.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

Tazewell County foreclosures and tax sales for properties with delinquent taxes go through two separate processes.

Trustee foreclosure

In Tazewell County, failing to meet mortgage obligations may trigger foreclosure proceedings regulated by Title 55.1. This law empowers a trustee named in a Deed of Trust to sell a property without judicial intervention. A public notice is published in a local newspaper, and the property is sold at the public auction to the highest bidder, who receives a trustee’s deed.

Judicial tax sale

Tazewell County can sell your property to recover delinquent taxes if they remain unpaid for three years. The treasurer initiates this process by filing a Bill in Equity in the Tazewell County Circuit Court under state law. Once the court approves the sale, the property is sold to another party. The property owner, lien holders, and the public will be notified of the sale.

This sale is costly, and the delinquent property owner must pay all expenses or they are deducted from the sale proceeds. The original property owner can stop the foreclosure process before the sale is finalized by paying all past-due taxes, penalties, interest, and legal costs.

Costs to Access Property Records

To access property records in Tazewell County, individuals must pay specific fees, which are listed below:

How to Record a Document

To record a land document in Tazewell County, you must follow the procedures listed in state law:

1. Prepare the document to meet Virginia's formatting standards and ensure it includes original signatures, a notary acknowledgment, a proper legal description, and a cover sheet.
2. Use the Deed Calculator to determine your recording fees. The final amount depends on your document type, technology trust fund fee, state or local transfer taxes, page count, and property value.
3. Submit the completed document to the Tazewell County Circuit Court Clerk's Office by mail, in person, or through an authorized e-recording vendor.
4. Once the clerk accepts your document for recording, it is added to the county public index. You can verify or download copies of the record through the Secured Remote Access.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Tazewell County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals