Using the Chancery Records Index

General Information

The Chancery Records Index provides several individual search methods. These may also be combined into a more complex search strategy.  Please keep in mind, the more fields that you fill in on the search page, the fewer returns you will receive. Often, it is more effective to begin with a broad search.

Do not use punctuation.

Minimum Search Requirements

You must fill in one of the following fields to execute a search: Plaintiff or Defendant Last Name, Index Number, or Surname

Basic Field Information

Indexed information available for individual causes in the Chancery Records Index

Some city and counties have more enhanced indexing than others as indexing standards have changed over the past several decades. Certain city and counties may not have wills identified or free and enslaved names indexed.

Field	Information
Locality	where the case was recorded
Index number	4-digit year in which the case was ended (or the latest known year) and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases are found.   Example: 1932-012 - indicates the case ended in 1932 and was the 12th case from that year indexed by the processor.
Plaintiff(s)	Name of the primary person or party bringing the case before the court
Defendant(s)	Name of the primary person or party
Surnames	Surnames others involved in a case, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, deponents, family members, and others, if applicable.   Also includes names of businesses, societies, organizations, and schools.
Free and Enslaved Names	Largely in pre-1865, includes the given name of enslaved Black and Multiracial individuals and the full name of Free Black and Multiracial individual
Format of the case	- Original, housed at the Library of Virginia or circuit court clerk's office - If available on microfilm, Library of Virginia microfilm reel number, locality reel number and image number - Scanned images linked to the Chancery Records Index
Wills	[if applicable] Are indicated if present in a case
Local Case Number	[if applicable] This is the original drawer or case number previously assigned to the record by the locality.
Plats	[if applicable] Are indicated if present in a case

Search Qualifiers

There is no "wildcard" capability in the database. Use the EQUALS, STARTS WITH, and INCLUDES drop down box to help you refine your search. EQUALS is the default search value.

If you are sure of a spelling, use the EQUALS selection: a search on "JOHN" will return only "JOHN".

If you are sure how a name begins, but not how it ends, use the STARTS WITH option: a search on "JOHN," will return "JOHN" "JOHNSON," "JOHNSTON," and "JOHNSVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH."

If you are only sure of a letter combination within a name, use the INCLUDES option: a search on "JOHN" will return "JOHN," "JOHNSON," "ST JOHNS," and "VALJOHNSON."[M(1] [LM2] 

Field Specific  Searches

Field	Information
Locality	The default search is "All Localities"   You may select multiple localities by using the Ctrl key; Hold the Ctrl key and use the mouse to select individual localities.
Year Range	The default search is all years for the Locality or Localities selected. You may choose to limit your search using a range by selecting a beginning and ending year. If you have refined your search by year, you will not find cases with unknown years (indicated by 1111). To find such cases, do not limit your search by year OR enter 1111 in the beginning year field.

CITING CHANCERY CAUSES

The standard for citing chancery causes is:

• [Locality Name] (Va.) Chancery Causes, [date range]. [Cite style of suit and chancery index no.]. Local Government Records Collection, [Locality] Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

For example: 

• Westmoreland County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1753-1911. Admr. of William Anderson v. John Anderson, 1842-009. Local Government Records Collection, Westmoreland Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

It is possible as more papers are processed for any given locality that index numbers, or even styles of suit, may change.

For additional information and locality specific citation formatting, please see the finding aid for the city or county's chancery records you are researching. These finding aids are available through the Archival Resources of the Virginias (ARVAS) 

Additional Resources