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Grayson County Clerk of Circuit Court
PO Box 130
Grayson County Courthouse
Courtroom is on the 3rd floor
Independence, Virginia 24348
Local Phone: 276-773-2231
Fax: 276-773-3338
Clerk of Court
Susan Herrington, Clerk of Court
Debbie Hensley, Deputy Clerk
Sharon Hale, Deputy Clerk
Evelyn Osborne, Deputy Clerk
Things you can do at the Clerk’s Office
Marriage License
Record Deeds
Genealogy Research
Research Deeds, land transfers and Deeds of Trust
Research Wills
Research Court Records
Research Surveys
Research Minutes of the Board of Supervisor Meetings
Research Minutes of the Planning Commission Meetings
Probate Wills
Qualify as Administrators or Executors for Wills
Apply for Concealed Weapon Permits
Apply for Notary Public Commission
Apply for Passports
Obtain Social Security Administrator Forms
Obtain Birth, Death and Marriage Application Forms
The clerk is the Administrator of Oaths of Office
Receive payments for Circuit Court Cost
Record Military Discharges
File a Civil Suit
Obtain Change of Name Forms
Deeds, wills, marriages, civil suits are obtainable online by paid subscription--please contact office directly for more information
Duties of the Clerk of the Circuit Court
The duties of the clerk of the circuit court fall into three categories. There are, first of all, those associated with judicial proceedings in the circuit court. Second, the clerk serves as general record keeper for the county, recording all documents relating to land transfers, deed, deeds of trust, mortgages, births, deaths, wills, and divorces-as well as recording election results and issuing marriage license. Third, the clerk serves as record keeper for the board of supervisors in counties that do not have a county administrator. Although the general duties of the clerk of the board of supervisors are prescribed by law, the board may establish additional duties by official resolution.
Circuit Courts
Circuit courts are the principal trial courts of the state and exercise both original and appellate jurisdiction. They have appellate jurisdiction in criminal as well as civil cases in which an appeal is authorized by law from the judgment or proceedings of the general district court or of the juvenile and domestic relations district court. Circuit courts have original jurisdiction over indictments for felonies and over “presentments, informations, and indictments for misdemeanors.” These courts generally have exclusive original jurisdiction over civil cases in which the amount of money involved exceeds $7,000. They also exercise exclusive jurisdiction over all equity matters such as adoptions, divorces, and land title disputes. Circuit courts have concurrent jurisdiction with general district courts in civil cases where the amount at issue is more than $1,000 but less than $7,000.
In addition, circuit courts have jurisdiction over proceedings by quo warranto (i.e. an inquiry into the misuse of a particular right or authority) or information in the nature of quo warranto. Circuit courts also are authorized to issue writs of mandamus (compelling the performance of specific acts), writs of prohibition (ordering the cessation of certain proceedings), and writs of certiorari (directing the forwarding of the records of a case for review) to all the general districts courts or to the juvenile and domestic relations district courts. Further, these courts are empowered to issue writs of mandamus in all matters or proceedings arising from or pertaining to actions by boards of supervisors, and in other cases in which it may be necessary to prevent the failure of justice and in which such a writ may be used according to the principles of common law.
Each Virginia County is located entirely within one of thirty-one judicial circuits, and every county has its own circuit court. The General Assembly sets the boundaries of the circuits and determines the number of judges to be assigned to each, based upon the study and recommendations of the Judicial Council. The judges of each circuit select one of the own number to act as chief judge. |