Nonjudicial Duties

Other Responsibilities

On the nonjudicial side, the circuit court clerk serves as the probate judge in admitting or denying wills to probate and in qualifying executors, administrators, guardians, and/or conservators. The clerk also serves as the county's register of deeds and, as such, is responsible for recording all deeds, deeds of trust, powers of attorney, and real estate liens and releases. Other transactions and recordings processed by the clerk's office include judgments, financing statements, fictitious names for businesses, marriage licenses, concealed handgun permits, and a variety of appointments including ministers, notaries, local commission and board members, and law enforcement officers.

Archives

Yet another role of the clerk is that of county archivist. The clerk is required by statute to permanently preserve and archive the official records of the court, in addition to probate (estate), real estate, and a vast array of other county records. The clerk's office maintains records dating back to 1890, the year of the county's inception. Given the volume and types of records it maintains, records management is an immense and critical responsibility of the clerk's office. Furthermore, because of the nature of the court's records, the office is a hub for information for use by commercial entities. Efficient operation of the clerk's office is critical to a growing business climate in Dickenson County.

Fiscal Responsibilities

Fiscal responsibilities of the clerk's office include the maintenance and investment of trust and condemnation funds as well as the collection of court fines and costs, real estate transfer fees, recordation taxes, and a myriad of other fees authorized by statute. The clerk's office generates revenue for the state and county annually. Such monies are used to fund citizen services of all types, while fines and costs collected in criminal cases produce significant revenue for funding the prosecution and incarceration of criminal defendants.

Commitment to the Community

The Clerk of the Circuit Court, as an elected official, is directly accountable to the citizens who elected him. If additional information is needed, please do not hesitate to contact the clerk's office at (276) 926-1616 or 1617.