Virginia · Document Recording
Recording a Deed or Document in James City County, VA
James City County (population 83,326) records real-property documents through the Clerk of the Circuit Court, James City County. Below is what it costs and how to submit. Filing a memorandum of contract? We record it with the county for $199, notary included — no trip to the courthouse.
James City County recorder — contact
- Recording office
- Clerk of the Circuit Court, James City County
- Mailing address
- 5201 Monticello Avenue, Suite 6, Williamsburg, VA 23188
- Phone
- 757-564-2242 (also listed as 757-259-4024)
- Electronic recording
- Available via Simplifile, CSC
James City County recording fees
- First page / base fee
- VA statewide tiered clerk fee ($14.50 for 1-10 pages per state Deed Calculation Tool, ccdeedcalc.courts.state.va.us)
- Additional pages
- Tier increases to $28.50 (11-30 pages), $48.50 (31+ pages)
- Other fees
- Maximum 4 documents per check when paying by check
Counties change fees without notice. Check with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, James City County before you mail a check.
What James City County requires
- Page formatting
- Top margin 1-1/4 inch; bottom/left/right margins minimum 3/4 inch; letter (8.5x11) or legal (8.5x14) paper, single-sided only; minimum 9-point font; original signatures in black or dark blue ink; tax map/parcel ID and legal description (jurisdiction) required on first page; consideration and assessed/actual values must appear on first page; names underlined or capitalized; pages numbered; return address required
- Submission & return
- Return address required on document (mailed back to address provided)
Can you e-record in James City County?
Yes. James City County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC, so a properly formatted document can be recorded the same or next business day without mailing paper.
How to record a document in James City County, Virginia
- Prepare the document so it meets James City County's formatting rules (above): legal description, grantee address, signature block, and the blank space the recorder reserves for its stamp.
- Notarize it if the instrument requires acknowledgment. Most deeds and affidavits do.
- Submit electronically through Simplifile, CSC, or by mail to Clerk of the Circuit Court, James City County.
- Pay the recording fee.
- Receive the recorded instrument back with its book/page or instrument number as proof of record.
Looking up a James City County property
Owner names, parcel numbers and legal descriptions for James City County property are searchable at James City County Real Estate Assessments (CivQuest Atlas Property Information System). A deed or memorandum needs the exact legal description, so pull it from there or from the last recorded deed.
Filing with Jurably in Virginia
Virginia isn't available quite yet — it's coming soon. See the states we file in.