Virginia Death Records

Virginia death records are official records of all documented human deaths in the state. An average of 77,229 people die in the state annually, indicating a mortality rate of 774.8 per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national average of 793.7 per 100,000 total population.

In April 1853, the Virginia General Assembly passed a law requiring the statewide recording of deaths, and between 1853 and 1896, counties kept death registers. However, an Act of the Assembly halted the recordings of deaths in March 1898, following which only a few counties and cities recorded deaths between 1897 and 1911. The statewide recording of death events was not reinstituted in Virginia until June 1912.

A Virginia death record can either be a death certificate or a Verification of Death:

• Death Certificate - A death certificate is an official document issued by a government agency stating the time of death, location of death, cause of death, decedent's personal information, and other important details. In Virginia, an original death certificate is prepared by a certified physician, medical examiner, or coroner and is typically filed with the State Registrar of Vital Records.

On the other hand, a certified copy of a death certificate is a duplicated but verified version of the original certificate issued by the State Office of Vital Records. In Virginia, only immediate family members may receive full certified copies of death certificates.

• Death Verification Certificate - This document is issued to individuals who are not immediate relatives of a decedent but have a direct and tangible interest in the death certificate. A typical Verification of Death in Virginia contains the decedent's name, place of death, date of birth, the last four digits of the Social Security Number, and the date of death.

How Do I Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in Virginia?

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) issues eligible persons certified copies of death certificates in the state. The department has records of deaths from 1853 to 1896 and from June 1912 to the present. Any qualified individual may submit their request for a certified copy of a death certificate in the Commonwealth through any of the following means:

• Online Application - Take the following steps to request a certified copy of a Virginia death certificate online:

  • Launch the Online Application for Certification of a Vital Record.
  • Select "Death" as the certificate type.
  • Complete the online form with the relevant information, including the decedent's name, the location of the death event, the requester's name and contact information, and their relationship with the decedent. Also, state the reason for making the request.
  • Upload and eSign all the required documents, including a valid ID.
  • Pay a certificate search fee of $12 online with a credit card. This is non-refundable.
  • Complete the application process by submitting the already filled-out online form.

• Mail-In Application - Do the following to get a certified copy of a Virginia death certificate by mail:

  • Complete the Application for Certification of a Death Record Form
  • Prepare any required supporting documentation, including a copy of a valid ID. (Acceptable primary and secondary identification documents are listed on the application form.)
  • Pay a $12 certification fee. Make the money order or check payable to State Health Department.

  • Mail the completed and signed application form, required documentation, and payment to the state's Office of Vital Records at:

    Virginia Department of Health

    Office of Vital Records

    P.O. Box 1000

    Richmond, VA 23218-1000

• Drop-Off Application - The state's Office of Vital Records offers a drop-off option for individuals who wish to request certified copies of Virginia death certificates. Generally, requesters who use this option may have the Office of Vital Records mail requested copies of a death certificate to their address, or they may be informed to pick them up once the copies of the certificate are ready. An interested person may drop off their completed application at the front desk of the Office of Vital Records at:

  Virginia Department of Health

  Office of Vital Records

  2001 Maywill Street, Suite #101

  Richmond, VA 23230

  A drop-off application must include the requester's, a $12 fee for each requested copy (check, money order, cash, mobile pay, or payment card accepted), and a legible copy of a valid ID. The Office of Vital Records encourages requesters to drop off their applications on or before 2:00 pm.m., as requests dropped after this time are considered received the next working day.

  The processing time for mailed applications for Virginia death certificates is about 4 weeks, while it takes 2 weeks for online applications from the time the Office of Vital Records receives the applications.

Are Virginia Death Records Public?

In Virginia, death records become public information 25 years after the death event. In other words, they are not available for public disclosure during this period but may be accessed by immediate family members of the deceased persons named on the records.

Who Can Request an Original Death Certificate in Virginia?

Original death certificates in Virginia are maintained by the Office of Vital Records. They are kept permanently on file and cannot be issued. However, eligible individuals may request certified copies of an original death certificate that is still protected from the public (under 25 years). These persons are largely immediate family members of the deceased, and they include the father, mother, child, spouse, grandparents, and siblings. Other members of the family, like cousins, in-laws, uncles, and aunts, cannot request certified copies of a death certificate before it becomes public.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in Virginia?

Depending on the method of request, applications for certified copies of death certificates in Virginia are typically processed in under 4 weeks and delivered to requesters afterward. However, this timeline may be extended if a death happens under unusual or suspicious circumstances that warrant an autopsy. In such cases, laboratory tests and investigations are required to determine the cause and manner of death.

When an autopsy is required to determine the cause of death, the issuance of the final and original death certificate is usually delayed pending the outcome of the investigation and the completion of the autopsy report. However, how long it takes varies depending on the case complexity. Highly complicated cases may take several months. Other factors that may contribute to the delay in completing an autopsy report include personnel shortage, volume of cases being handled, and the need for toxicology analysis.

Once the cause and manner of death are ascertained, the original death certificate is filed with the local health department. Afterward, eligible persons may obtain certified copies of the certificate from the Registrar in the county or city of death or at the Office of Vital Records in Richmond, Virginia.

Can I View Virginia Death Records online for free?

Public Virginia death records from 1912 to the present are available in index form on Ancestry.com. The state's Library, as part of the public library database set, offers members of the public free access to these records, provided they have their local public library card number and a free Ancestry.com account. Some historic Virginia death records are also available in digital forms on FamilySearch.org for free to a point before they start charging. In addition, the Library of Virginia has death registers from 1853 to 1896 in microfilm.

Furthermore, third-party databases like Virginiapublicrecords.us offer online platforms for eligible individuals who wish to access Virginia death records at their convenience. However, users are usually required to pay a small fee to access such services. In certain instances, some death events in the state do not have official records. Where no official records of deaths exist, it is possible to use substitute records to find information about such deaths. These records generally include newspapers, cemetery records, obituaries, church records, tax records, probate records, and census mortality schedules.

When Would You Require A Death Certificate in Virginia?

A death certificate is required for several administrative and legal purposes in Virginia. For instance, it is needed by immediate family members of a deceased person for burial or cremation. Other needs for a Virginia death certificate include the following:

• To legally claim a decedent's income taxes that may be due and other inheritance.
• To claim benefits such as life insurance benefits, Social Security benefits, Veterans Administration benefits, and other numerous government benefits.
• To settle a decedent's estate.
• To file employee benefit claims.
• To officially notify relevant government agencies of a person's death.
• To transfer a decedent's asset to another individual.
• To cancel a decedent's subscription to various utility services.
• To close a decedent's bank accounts and cancel their credit cards to prevent identity theft/fraud.

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Virginia?

When considering the number of copies of a death certificate to obtain in Virginia, it is best to determine the number of transactions and purposes for which they are needed. While the actual number varies by case, 8 to 12 copies would be enough in most situations for various legal and/or administrative purposes. The size of a deceased person's estate and income sources largely influence the exact number of copies of a death certificate required.