Search Henrico County Genealogy

Henrico County is one of the oldest counties in America, and its genealogy records reflect that deep history. Established in 1611 as one of Virginia's original eight shires, the county maintains marriage, probate, land, and court records going back to 1781 at the Circuit Court Clerk's office. If your family history connects to central Virginia, Henrico County records are a strong starting point for tracing those lines.

Henrico County Circuit Court Clerk

The Henrico County Circuit Court Clerk's Office is located at 4309 East Parham Road, PO Box 90775, Henrico, VA 23273-0775. The phone number is 804-501-4723. This is the main office for marriage, probate, land, and court records starting from 1781. The clerk's office is where you go to request copies, search indexes, and view original records during business hours.

Probate records have a separate location within the county. The probate division is at 4301 East Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23228, on the 2nd Floor in Room 230. If you are searching estate files, wills, or administration bonds, you will want to go to that address specifically. Probate records from the 1990s forward are in an internal indexed, searchable database. Earlier records are bound in volumes and require manual searching. Staff can help you navigate both systems.

The clerk's office holds divorce records and civil court records in addition to the standard genealogy record types. These records can be especially useful when marriage bonds or probate files leave gaps. Court cases sometimes contain family testimony, asset lists, and witness names that help fill in missing pieces of a family tree.

Note: For birth and death certificates after 1912, contact the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond rather than the clerk's office.

Genealogy Records Available in Henrico

Henrico County was established in 1611 as one of the original eight shires of Virginia. Records from the early period were largely lost, but the current collection begins in 1781 and is quite complete from that point forward. Marriage records, land records, probate records, and court records all start in 1781. Divorce records are also available through the clerk's office. Statewide birth and death registration in Virginia began in 1912, so for events before that date, you rely on local clerk records and church registers.

Henrico County had one of the largest enslaved populations in Virginia from 1790 through the Civil War era. The county counted 5,819 enslaved individuals in the 1790 census and 20,041 by 1860. By 1870, Henrico had the largest African American population in Virginia, recorded at 31,031 people. For researchers tracing African American family history in central Virginia, Henrico records from the post-Civil War period are particularly significant. Freedmen's Bureau records, church registers, and post-1865 land transactions can help bridge the gap between slavery-era records and later family documentation.

The Library of Virginia's Chancery Record Index covers Henrico County chancery records for 1770 to 1955. These records are searchable online and include digital images. Chancery cases dealt with inheritance disputes, debt settlements, and family property matters, making them a rich source for genealogy research beyond what deeds and wills alone provide.

How to Search Henrico County Records

The most direct approach is to visit the clerk's office at East Parham Road in person. Staff can walk you through the indexes for land and marriage records. For probate work, head to the separate probate location on the 2nd floor of the East Parham Road address. Bring the names and approximate date ranges you are working with, as the older bound volumes are organized by time period.

The Library of Virginia in Richmond is a short drive from Henrico and holds extensive microfilm and digital collections covering Henrico records. Their online catalog at lva.virginia.gov lets you see what is available before you visit. For chancery records specifically, the Library's online index is a powerful search tool that covers nearly two centuries of Henrico family disputes and property transfers. Many researchers find the chancery records yield more family detail than any other single record type.

FamilySearch also has Henrico County material. The FamilySearch wiki for Henrico County outlines available collections and date ranges. Some records are fully digitized and free to search. Ancestry and other subscription platforms may have additional indexed Henrico content. Using both free and paid platforms together gives you the best coverage.

Libraries and Research Resources

Henrico County's proximity to Richmond means researchers have access to some of Virginia's top genealogy institutions without long travel. The Library of Virginia at 800 East Broad Street in Richmond holds Virginia's largest genealogy collection, including Henrico records on microfilm and in digital form. Their reading room is open to the public and staffed by genealogy specialists who know the Henrico collection well.

The Virginia Memory portal maintained by the Library of Virginia provides free online access to digitized records from across the state. For Henrico County specifically, you can search digitized newspapers, land records, and court documents without leaving home. The Virginia Genealogical Society also has publications and an index collection covering Henrico families, and their library in Richmond is open to members and visitors.

The Virginia Museum of History and Culture on Arthur Ashe Boulevard in Richmond holds manuscript collections related to Henrico County families. Personal papers, family Bible records, and business ledgers that ended up in museum archives can sometimes add detail that no court record captures. For cemetery research, Find A Grave has documented a large number of Henrico County burials across many church and public cemeteries.

Henrico County Record History and Context

The Library of Virginia provides statewide context for understanding why Henrico records begin in 1781 rather than at the county's founding in 1611. Like many Virginia counties, Henrico suffered record losses during periods of conflict and courthouse damage. The surviving records from 1781 forward are intact and well preserved.

Henrico County has a complex geographic history. The city of Richmond was carved from Henrico County and became an independent city, meaning some records for what is now the city were originally Henrico County records. Researchers working on families from the Richmond area before incorporation should check both Henrico County and Richmond City records, as jurisdiction shifted over time. The Library of Virginia can help clarify which record set applies to a specific address or property.

Virginia's vital records framework under Code Title 32.1 sets the rules for access to birth and death records. The clerk's older records in Henrico are open to the public. If you need a certified copy for legal use, fees apply under state law and the clerk's office can advise you on the current schedule.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Henrico. Each holds its own genealogy archive at the local Circuit Court Clerk's office.