Alleghany County

Alleghany County is located in the western portion of Virginia, situated in the Allegheny Mountains along the border with West Virginia. Alleghany County seat is Covington, an independent city that is geographically surrounded by Alleghany County but administratively separate. Alleghany County itself has a population of approximately 15,000 residents and covers roughly 446 square miles of mountainous terrain. Alleghany County was formed in 1822 from parts of Bath, Botetourt, and Monroe counties. Major landmarks include the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Douthat State Park, the Jackson River Scenic Trail, and Lake Moomaw. Alleghany County's economy has historically been tied to manufacturing, particularly paper and chemical production, as well as forestry and outdoor recreation. Alleghany County Courthouse is located at 266 West Main Street, Low Moor, Virginia 24457, where the Circuit Court Clerk maintains land records, court documents, and vital records. The Commissioner of the Revenue is the primary assessment official for property tax purposes, located at the same courthouse complex. Alleghany County Treasurer's office, also at 266 West Main Street, collects property taxes and maintains tax payment records. Alleghany County's unique character stems from its Appalachian Mountain heritage, strong sense of community, and transition from industrial manufacturing to tourism and outdoor recreation economies. Alleghany County offers exceptional opportunities for hiking, fishing, hunting, and scenic exploration along the Virginia-West Virginia border.

The Alleghany County is home to the Alleghany County Circuit Court serves the county and is located at 1 East Main Street in Covington. The court handles civil, criminal, family, and probate cases for this county. Court records and case filings can be requested in person or through the Virginia online court portal.

When it comes to public records, Alleghany County is home to the Alleghany County Circuit Court, which handles civil, criminal, family, and probate cases.

Law Enforcement & Arrests

• Citizens may request arrest records by submitting a written FOIA request to the Sheriff's Office or the appropriate municipal police department.
• Mugshots and booking photos are generally available through the jail facility, though there is no centralized online database for Alleghany County mugshots.
• Requests for booking photos should be directed to Alleghany-Covington Regional Jail with specific information about the arrestee and date of arrest.
• Processing times and any applicable fees for copies vary depending on the scope of the request.
• Virginia law does not require agencies to create new records or conduct research on behalf of requesters, but existing arrest and booking records must be made available under FOIA provisions.

Criminal Records

• Access to these records is governed by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, for public access while protecting individual privacy rights.

• Virginia Code § 17.1-208 establishes the fee schedule for court records.

• Certified copies of recorded documents are available for the statutory fee of $2.00 for the first two pages and $0.50 for each additional page.
• Virginia law requires all land records to be made available for public inspection under Virginia Code § 17.1-257, though offices may charge reasonable fees for copies and research time exceeding certain thresholds.

Vital records for this county include birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued under state vital statistics law.

• Processing time for vital records requests is typically 2-4 weeks when submitted by mail, though in-person requests may be fulfilled the same day if the record is readily available.
• Marriage licenses are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Alleghany County, with a fee of $30.00 for the license.
• Online ordering includes additional convenience fees but may provide faster processing for urgent requests.