Surry County

Surry County, Virginia is a rural county located in the southeastern portion of the Commonwealth, situated along the south bank of the James River across from Jamestown and Williamsburg. Established in 1652, it is one of Virginia's oldest counties and was named after Surry County of Surrey in England. Surry County seat is located in the town of Surry, which houses the historic Surry County Courthouse. Covering approximately 279 square miles with a population of around 6,500 residents, Surry County maintains its agricultural heritage while hosting significant modern industrial facilities. Surry County is home to the Surry area Nuclear Power Station operated by Dominion Energy, one of Virginia's major power generation facilities, and the historic Chippokes Plantation State Park, one of the oldest continuously farmed lands in America dating to 1619. Surry County's historic attractions include Bacon's Castle, built in 1665 and recognized as the oldest documented brick dwelling in North America built in the High Jacobean style. Surry County is also famous for its Smithfield ham and peanut production. Surry County Courthouse is located at 45 School Street in Surry County, Virginia 23883. The Circuit Court Clerk's Office maintains land records, vital records, and court documents. The Commissioner of the Revenue and County Treasurer offices handle property assessments and tax records. Surry County is accessible via the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry, Virginia's oldest continuously operating ferry service, and State Route 10, connecting it to the historic triangle area and southeastern Virginia.

The primarily the Surry County Virginia Circuit Court serves Surry County and is located at 45 School Street. The court handles civil, criminal, family, and probate cases for the area. Court records and case filings can be requested in person or through the Virginia online court portal.

This court handles a range of cases, including civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. The primarily the Surry County Virginia Circuit Court also processes requests for court records, case filings, and legal documents under Virginia public records law.

Law Enforcement & Arrests

• Virginia State Police Troop D also provides law enforcement coverage throughout Surry County for highway patrol and major criminal investigations.
• Written requests should be submitted to the Sheriff's Office identifying the specific records sought.
• Mugshots and booking photographs are considered public records in Virginia and may be obtained through formal FOIA requests to the Sheriff's Office, though response times and any applicable copying fees will vary.

Jail & Inmate Records

• In Virginia, the bond or bail process allows for the release of detainees under certain conditions, and information on recently arrested individuals can be accessed through the Sheriff's Office.

• Surry County General District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, preliminary hearings for felonies, and civil cases up to $25,000, operating from the same courthouse complex.
• Virginia provides online case search capabilities through the Virginia Judicial System's Case Information System at https://eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis, though some older records may require in-person searches.
• Fees for certified copies of court documents are established by Virginia Code § 17.1-275 and typically run $2.00 per page plus a $2.00 certification fee.
• Research requests can be made in writing to the Circuit Court Clerk, and staff assistance is available during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding court holidays.

• The Circuit Court Clerk's office provides access to land records during regular business hours and maintains indexed grantor-grantee records for research.
• Certified copies of recorded documents are available for statutory fees.
• Recording fees are established by state statute and include a $25 state recordation tax per deed plus applicable grantor's tax.

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

• The marriage license fee is $30.00, and there is no waiting period in Virginia.
• VDH offers online ordering through VitalChek for birth and death certificates at increased fees.
• Surry County Clerk staff can provide application forms and process requests in person during business hours.

Business records, licenses, and permits for this county are processed by the County Clerk and local government offices.

• The SCC maintains a free online business entity search tool at https://cis.scc.virginia.gov allowing users to search registered businesses, view status, registered agents, and filing history.