Greene County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Greene County in 2026

Members of the public seeking publicly available information related to Greene County, Virginia may access a range of government-maintained documents through official county and state channels. This site, GreeneVARecords.us, aggregates publicly available data to assist individuals in locating records that may include court filings, property documents, vital records, and other government-generated materials. Access to specific records depends on the record type, the custodial agency, and applicable state law; not all records are available in every format or to every requestor.

Records that may be accessible through official channels include:

Civil and criminal court records
Property deeds, liens, and assessment records
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates)
Business licenses and permits
Tax and financial records
Voting and election records
County board meeting minutes and agendas
Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted)
Land use and zoning records

Online Access: Members of the public may search court case information through the Virginia Court Case Information portal, which provides online access to circuit and district court records statewide. The Greene Circuit Court and the Greene General District Court maintain case records accessible through this system. Some records require in-person review and are not available digitally.

In-Person Requests: Requests for court records may be submitted in person at the Greene County Circuit Court Clerk's Office, located at 22 Court Street, Stanardsville, VA 22973. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Requestors should present a written description of the records sought and a valid form of identification where required.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted by mail to the Greene County Circuit Court Clerk's Office at 22 Court Street, Stanardsville, VA 22973. Requests should include the full name of the subject, the type of record sought, the approximate date range, and the requestor's contact information. Under Virginia Code § 2.2-3704, public bodies are required to respond to requests within five working days.

Phone/Email: The Greene County Circuit Court Clerk's Office may be reached by telephone at (540) 985-5208. Contact information for additional offices is listed in the contact section below.

What Are Public Records in Greene County?

Public records in Greene County are defined under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA), codified at Virginia Code § 2.2-3700 et seq., as all writings, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, and other documentary materials prepared, owned, or in the possession of a public body. The following record types are maintained by various county and state agencies:

Record Type	Custodial Office
Civil and criminal court records	Greene County Circuit Court Clerk
Probate and estate records	Greene County Circuit Court Clerk
Property deeds and mortgages	Greene County Circuit Court Clerk
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	Virginia Department of Health
Business licenses and permits	Greene County Commissioner of Revenue
Property tax and assessment records	Greene County Treasurer / Commissioner of Revenue
Voting and election records	Greene County Electoral Board
Meeting minutes and agendas	Greene County Board of Supervisors
Law enforcement records	Greene County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	Greene County Planning and Zoning Department

Court records for both circuit and district court proceedings may be accessed through the Greene Circuit Court and the Greene General and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

Is Greene County an Open Records County?

Greene County operates in full compliance with Virginia's statewide open records framework. Under Virginia Code § 2.2-3700, the Virginia Freedom of Information Act establishes that "the affairs of government are not intended to be conducted in an atmosphere of secrecy since at all times the public is to be the beneficiary of any action taken at any level of government." This provision applies to all public bodies within the Commonwealth, including Greene County agencies, boards, and offices.

The VFOIA mandates that all public records be open to inspection and copying by any citizen of the Commonwealth, except where specific exemptions apply. The Virginia Attorney General's Office provides guidance on VFOIA compliance and has stated that "the provisions of VFOIA shall be liberally construed to promote an increased awareness by all persons of governmental activities." Greene County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; the state statute governs all public records access within the county.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Greene County?

The fee structure for public records in Greene County is governed by state law and varies by record type and custodial office. Under Virginia Code § 2.2-3704, public bodies may charge reasonable fees not to exceed the actual cost incurred in accessing, duplicating, supplying, or searching for the requested records.

Standard copy and certification fees include:

Photocopies: $0.50 per page (standard rate for most county offices)
Certified copies of court records: $2.00 per document (plus $0.50 per page)
Certified copies of vital records (birth, death, marriage): $12.00 per copy, as set by the Virginia Department of Health
Electronic records: Fees may apply based on actual cost of duplication
Search fees: May be assessed when a request requires more than 30 minutes of staff time

Accepted payment methods at most Greene County offices include cash, check, and money order made payable to the specific office. Some offices accept credit or debit cards; requestors should confirm accepted payment methods with the relevant office prior to submitting a request.

Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or in cases where disclosure is determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the custodial agency.

Does Greene County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Greene County pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, which requires that public records be made available for inspection without charge. The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: members of the public may inspect records at no cost, but fees apply when copies are requested.

The following resources provide free access to certain public records:

The Virginia Court Case Information portal provides free online access to court case status and basic case information for circuit and district courts statewide, including Greene County.
The Greene County Circuit Court Clerk's Office provides free in-person inspection of land records, court filings, and other documents maintained in the clerk's office during regular business hours.
The Greene County Commissioner of Revenue's office allows public inspection of property assessment records at no charge.
The Virginia Department of Health's Office of Vital Records provides access to vital records indexes; certified copies carry a fee.

Free inspection does not extend to records that are exempt from disclosure under state law.

Who Can Request Public Records in Greene County?

Any citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia is entitled to request and inspect public records under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Under current law, requestors are not required to be residents of Greene County specifically; Virginia residency is the applicable standard for VFOIA requests. Non-Virginia residents may request records, though public bodies are not obligated to fulfill requests from non-citizens of the Commonwealth under VFOIA; however, many offices extend access as a matter of practice.

Requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request for most public records. Identification is not required for inspection of records, though it may be requested for certain sensitive record types. Individuals requesting their own records—such as personal court records or vital records—may be required to provide proof of identity and, in some cases, proof of eligibility (e.g., direct family relationship for vital records).

Restrictions apply to specific record categories. Juvenile court records, sealed court records, and adoption records are subject to access limitations regardless of the requestor's identity. Pursuant to Virginia Code § 2.2-3705, certain categories of records are exempt from mandatory disclosure and may be withheld at the discretion of the custodial agency.

What Records Are Confidential in Greene County?

Certain records maintained by Greene County agencies are exempt from public disclosure under Virginia law. Virginia Code § 2.2-3705 enumerates specific categories of records that public bodies may withhold from disclosure. The following record types are currently treated as confidential or restricted:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the public.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juveniles in the court system are confidential under Virginia Code § 16.1-301.
Ongoing criminal investigation records: Law enforcement records related to active investigations may be withheld to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from disclosed records.
Medical and health records: Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific court order.
Child welfare and protective services records: Maintained as confidential by the Department of Social Services.
Personnel records: Employee records of public bodies are exempt from disclosure, with limited exceptions for certain employment actions.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Submitted to government agencies under confidentiality agreements.
Security plans and infrastructure details: Records related to the security of public facilities or critical infrastructure.

Where a record contains both disclosable and exempt information, the custodial agency is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder.

Greene County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The primary office responsible for land records, court filings, and related documents in Greene County is the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. Vital records are maintained separately by the Virginia Department of Health.

Greene County Circuit Court Clerk's Office
22 Court Street
Stanardsville, VA 22973
(540) 985-5208
Greene Circuit Court – Virginia's Judicial System

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.

Greene General and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
22 Court Street
Stanardsville, VA 22973
(540) 985-5224
Greene General and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Greene County Health Department (Vital Records)
50 Stanard Street
Stanardsville, VA 22973
(540) 985-5174
Vital Records: Birth, Marriage, Divorce, and Death Certificates

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates for events occurring in Virginia may also be requested through the statewide Office of Vital Records at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227. The walk-in customer service lobby is open to the public during posted business hours.

Greene County Board of Supervisors / County Administration
40 Celt Road
Stanardsville, VA 22973
(540) 985-5201
Greene County, Virginia – Official County Website

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM