Chesterfield County Genealogy Records
Chesterfield County genealogy records are among the oldest in central Virginia, with land records going back to 1749 and marriage records starting in 1771. The Circuit Court Clerk holds the full collection of original documents, and the county offers several online access options for researchers who cannot visit in person. Chesterfield County was formed from Henrico County in 1749 and named for Philip Dormer Stanhope, fourth Earl of Chesterfield. Records from the mid-18th century through the present day make this county a strong resource for Virginia family history research.
Chesterfield County Overview
Chesterfield County Circuit Court Clerk
The Chesterfield County Circuit Court Clerk maintains marriage records from 1771, land records from 1749, and divorce, probate, and court records. The office is located at P.O. Box 125 in Chesterfield. For walk-in research, individuals with a valid government-issued photo ID may visit the Records Office Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding public holidays. Bring specific information about the records you need to make your visit as productive as possible.
Mail-in requests are also accepted. You must call the Circuit Court Clerk first to get a copy fee quote, then provide the name, document type, and date of the record you need. Mail your request with the appropriate fee (cash, check, or money order), a copy of your government-issued photo ID, and a self-addressed envelope. Send to Circuit Court Clerk, P.O. Box 125, Chesterfield. Copy fees are $0.50 per page for plain copies and $2.00 per document for certified copies.
| Office | Chesterfield County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 125, Chesterfield, VA |
| Walk-In Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Plain Copy Fee | $0.50 per page |
| Certified Copy Fee | $2.00 per document |
| Payment Methods | Cash, check, or credit card |
Online Access to Chesterfield County Records
Chesterfield County offers multiple online platforms for accessing genealogy and court records. Non-restricted civil and criminal case records are available free of charge through the Circuit Court Online Case Information System. You do not need a subscription or an account to use this tool. It is a good starting point for locating case records before you request copies from the clerk's office. The Virginia court system portal at vacourts.gov also provides online case information for both circuit and general district court cases.
For probate and land records, the Chesterfield County Circuit Court Clerk Remote Access Site gives subscribers access to deed books and will books. This is the online equivalent of visiting the courthouse to look through the original volumes. Users must register for an account and pay a subscription fee of $600.00 per user to the Circuit Court Clerk's office. Subscription payments may be made by cash, check, or money order payable to the Chesterfield Circuit Court Clerk. This subscription level is most useful for researchers who need extended access to older records or for professionals doing multiple searches.
The information portal at virginiacourtrecords.us describes access options and explains the different systems available for Chesterfield County court and land records. Review this resource before deciding which access method fits your needs.
Note: The $600 annual subscription is per user, so it makes sense if you are doing extensive research or multiple transactions. For a single record, a mail-in request is more cost-effective.
Chesterfield County Record Types for Genealogy
Land records from 1749 are the oldest genealogy records in Chesterfield County and document property ownership from the very beginning of the county's existence. These include deeds, deeds of trust, plats, and mortgage instruments. Grantor and grantee indexes allow you to search by name across all deed books. Finding your ancestor in a deed from the 1760s or 1770s confirms they were living in Chesterfield County and can point you to neighbors who might have been relatives.
Marriage records from 1771 cover more than 250 years of Chesterfield County marriages. Early marriage bonds name the bride, groom, and a bondsman, who was often a close relative. The FamilySearch collections for Chesterfield County marriage records include Virginia County Marriage Records 1771-1989 and Virginia Bureau of Vital Statistics County Marriage Registers 1853-1935, both of which are searchable online at familysearch.org.
Probate records include wills and estate administrations from the mid-18th century. Court records begin as early as 1746, predating the county's official 1749 founding date, and include both civil and criminal proceedings. Birth records from 1853 are available in FamilySearch collections including the Virginia Slave Birth Index 1853-1866, which documents enslaved children born in the county. Death records from 1855 are also available through FamilySearch collections.
Divorce records are held by the clerk as part of the circuit court case collection. Virginia divorce records from 1918 to 1988 are also available through FamilySearch. Court records may include family law cases with divorce petitions, custody orders, and settlement agreements. Some of these records are restricted under Virginia law.
Civil War Record Losses in Chesterfield County
Chesterfield County did experience some record loss during the Civil War. One marriage register and some loose court papers were lost. This is a more limited loss than many Virginia counties experienced, so the overall collection from 1749 onward is largely intact. The missing marriage register affects a specific time period, and researchers for that period may need to supplement with church records, census data, or other sources to document a marriage that would have been in the lost register.
When you run into a gap in Chesterfield County records, alternative sources include the Library of Virginia microfilm collection, the Virginia Memory portal for land tax and chancery records, and the FamilySearch online collections for Virginia vital records. The Find A Grave database has cemetery entries for Chesterfield County that can document deaths and sometimes family relationships.
Chesterfield County Images
The Chesterfield County circuit court records information portal at virginiacourtrecords.us describes the access options, fees, and record types available for this county. The image below was captured from that site.
The site outlines both free online access for case records and the subscription-based remote access for probate and land records.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Chesterfield County. Each has its own Circuit Court Clerk with genealogy records.