Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Louisa County, with the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps; it doesn't mean every year in between survives.
Land and deeds
- Deed Book1742–1965
- General Index to Deeds, Grantees1742–1967
- General Index to Deeds, Grantors1742–1978
- Surveys and Plats1742–1860
- Deeds, Etc. Book1759–1765
- Processioners' Book1796–1812
- Plat Book1805–1981
- Surveyors' Book1805–1870
Wills
- General Index to Wills1742–1947
- Will Book1745–1967
- Wills1757–1902
- Index to Devisees, Heirs, etc1858–1967
- Index to Wills1858–1967
Estates and guardianships
- Inventory Book1743–1766
- Guardians' Bond and Accounts1767–1819
- Guardians' Bonds1767–1849
- Fiduciary Accounts1851–1903
- Fiduciary Settlement Book1877–1964
- List of Fiduciaries1939–1967
- General Receivers' Orders1975–1984
Marriages, births and deaths
- Index of Marriage Register1766–1861
- Marriage Bonds1766–1851
- Marriage Register1766–1967
- Ministers' Returns1780–1853
- Marriage Consents1851–1859
- Ministers' Returns and Marriage Licenses1852–1870
- Register of Births1864–1871
- Register of Deaths1864–1870
- Index to Marriage Register1865–1941
- Marriage Licenses1865–1912
Tax lists
- Land Use Tax Assessment Book1977–1983
Court orders and minutes
- Fee Book1742–1743
- Order Book1742–1810
- Judgments1769–1785
- Minute Book1770–1870
- Common Law Order Book1773–1904
- Court Records [Sheriff's Debtors Book1785–1791
- Orders1792–1797
- Court Minutes1802–1813
- County Court Minutes1818–1822
- Chancery Order Book1844–1907
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- Free Negro Register1837–1865
Military and pensions
- Court of Militia1814
- Muster Roll1861–1919
- Induction1941–1966
County government and the poor
- Sheriffs' Accounts1824–1882
- Board of Supervisors' Minute Book1976–1980
See every volume and reel number at the Library of Virginia
Source: Library of Virginia, County and City Records on Microfilm. Reels marked for interlibrary loan can be borrowed through your local library.
Where to find the records
- Louisa County official website
Hours, addresses and phone numbers for the circuit court clerk's office, and any online record search the county offers.
- The circuit court clerk's office
Virginia's deed, will and marriage books are usually kept by the clerk of the circuit court for the county or city, though many older records have been moved to the Library of Virginia. Call before you visit; hours and access to older volumes vary.
- Library of Virginia: Louisa County records on microfilmfree
Every filmed volume with its years and reel number. Use the reels in Richmond; many can be borrowed through interlibrary loan.
- Library of Virginia: Chancery Records Indexfree
Search equity court suits by name. They're rich in family detail: estate divisions, heirs and land disputes. Many localities' suits are scanned and free to view.
- FamilySearch Catalogfree
Search by place for "Virginia, Louisa" to find filmed and digitized records, many viewable free online with a FamilySearch account.
Offices change their hours and access rules; call before you visit.
Boundaries and parent counties
Formed from: Hanover County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Hanover County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1742, search the parent county. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries shows each boundary change.
Research tip
Start with the deed and will books: they name relatives, neighbors and land. Then try the court order books, which mention almost everyone in the county sooner or later, as witnesses, jurors, road workers or parties to a suit.