The office of Clerk of Circuit Court dates from 1619. From those early days until the present, the Clerk’s duties have changed significantly, but the office remains vitally important to the residents of each county and city.

The Code of Virginia lists over 800 separate responsibilities for the Clerk, many of which are highly complex and challenging. The Clerk serves as the recorder of deeds and probate judge, issues marriage licenses and is the official court administrator for all civil and criminal court cases. In this latter capacity, the Clerk creates and maintains all court files and records, prepares court orders and jury lists, contacts jurors and issues summons and court processes.

Circuit Court Clerks in Virginia perform duties that in many states are divided among three or four separate offices. In keeping with tradition, therefore, Virginia has saved its citizens significant tax dollars by combining judicial and administrative functions into a single office.

Job Content:
•receiving, indexing, scanning and preserving deeds, surveys, deeds of trust, judgments, liens, leases, and any other records affecting the ownership of property in Bland County

•probate, record, index, scan and preserve wills and all records of testate or intestate estates including the qualifications of executors, administrators, trustees and guardians

•record, index and scan financing statements, fictitious names, partnerships, military discharge and a variety of miscellaneous writings

•maintain and administer court records, criminal and civil, preserve evidence, jury selection, subpoena of witnesses, transportation orders, preparation of criminal orders, warrants and capias, calculation and collection of fines and court costs and bonds, account for and maintain court held funds and coordinate all records with Commonwealth’s Attorney, Virginia State Police, Virginia Supreme Court, Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles, Virginia Department of Corrections and all other relevant state and federal agencies

•issue various and miscellaneous permits, licenses and oaths of office such as marriage, hunting, fishing, notary qualifications, and keep assorted records of Bland County Government