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Disclaimer: Usbirthcertificates.com is a private, independent website owned by Travel Document Systems LLC, not affiliated with any government agency. We provide vital records application assistance services. Blank forms can be obtained for free at the relevant state office.
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Apply for your Death Certificate Order your death certificate by completing the application form in just 5 minutes and avoid long lines and government offices.
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Expert review and quick turnaround Receive your mistake-free revised application and all the documents to mail your application and get your certificate.
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Get your Death Certificate Once you submit your application you will get your death certificate delivered to your home.
Virginia Death Certificate Application
Getting a copy of a Virginia death certificate is often essential after a loved one dies. You may need official copies to handle legal or financial matters, like making insurance claims or settling the person’s estate.
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) issues official death record copies. It’s possible to make an in person application at some types of vital records offices, but many people prefer to apply online for convenient home delivery.
Once the office receives a request, they search the archives and produce an official copy of the death certificate. Our service helps you complete your application online, so you can get the vital record copies you need hassle-free. Apply for a Death Certificate now
How to Get a Virginia Death Certificate
To order a VA death certificate, follow these steps:
- Complete the application form online.
- Make a copy of your ID (for example, a driver’s license, passport, or State ID).
- Prepare payment for the state processing fee.
To apply by mail, print out your completed PDF application form and include it with a clear photocopy of your ID. You must also add a personal check or money order made payable to ‘State Health Department’.
Once your application pack is ready, mail it to:
Virginia Department of Health
Office of Vital Records
P.O. Box 1000
Richmond, VA 23218-1000
If you’re using a courier or express delivery service, you cannot use the P.O. Box address. Instead, give the delivery address as:
Virginia Department of Health
8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100
Richmond, VA 23227
Alternatively, you can visit a Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records or a participating local health department in person to make your request. Make sure to call ahead to check if a death certificate service is available at your nearest location.
Some local offices and full-service DMV locations can issue certified copies the same day if the record is available.
Who Can Request a Virginia Death Certificate?
Virginia law limits who can get a copy of a person’s full death certificate within 25 years. This protects the privacy of the deceased and their family.
You’re eligible to order a copy of a person’s death certificate in Virginia if you are their:
- Spouse
- Parent
- Child
- Sibling
- Grandparent
The following people can also apply for a certified copy:
- Legal representative, power of attorney, or court-appointed guardian of the estate
- Government agency or court with a certified copy order
- Any person with a court order or a valid inheritance claim
After 25 years, all death records become public in Virginia. After this time has elapsed, anyone can apply for a certified copy.
Types of Virginia Death Certificates
The State of Virginia issues different types of VA death records for different purposes, including:
- Certified death certificate
- Verification of death document
- Stillbirth certificate
A certified death certificate is needed for legal, administrative, and financial matters. In Virginia, this document contains all the relevant details of the deceased person and their passing. Only certain people can request this type of record, as detailed above.
A verification of death document is available to any person, including those not eligible for a more detailed death certificate. It provides the basic information about the deceased person, but it’s not accepted in legal or official processes.
The State of Virginia issues stillbirth certificates for fetal deaths. This document is only available to parents or legal guardians in charge of registering the event.
Virginia Death Certificate Cost
The State of Virginia charges $12 per death certificate copy. The fee is non-refundable, even if no record is found.
If you need more than one copy, make sure to include the correct fee payment.
Virginia Death Certificate Processing Times
How long it takes to get a death certificate in Virginia depends on how you apply. Mail applications usually take 2-4 weeks to process, plus mailing time
In-person requests at a Vital Records Office or local health department can sometimes be completed more quickly. Call ahead to find out the current wait times at your closest office that offers death certificate copies.
Virginia Vital Records Offices
In Virginia, you don’t need to visit the county where the death occurred to get a copy of the certificate. Requests can be made in person at the state Office of Vital Records in Richmond, at participating local health departments, or at selected full-service DMV locations.
Below is a list of VA offices that offer death record services:
Virginia Vital Records Offices
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Albemarle County Clerk
401 McIntire Road
Charlottesville, VA 22901-4579 -
Arlington County Clerk
1400 North Courthouse Road
Arlington, VA 22201-2622 -
Chesterfield County Clerk
P.O. Box 40
Chesterfield, VA 23832-0040 -
Fairfax County Circuit Court
4110 Chain Bridge Road
Fairfax, VA 22030 -
Hanover County Clerk
Courthouse
Hanover, VA 23069 -
West Henrico Health Dept
P.O. Box 27032
8600 Dixon Powers Drive
Richmond, VA 23273 -
East Henrico Health Department
Glen Echo Building
3810 Nine Mile Road
Richmond, VA 23223 -
Loudoun County Clerk
P.O. Box 550
Leesburg, VA 22075-0550 -
Middlesex County Clerk
Courthouse
Saluda, VA 23149 -
Montgomery County Clerk
PO Box 6126
Christiansburg, VA 24068-6126 -
Prince William County Clerk
P.O. Box 191
Prince William, VA 22192 -
Spotsylvania County Clerk
P.O. Box 99
Spotsylvania, VA 22553-0099 -
Stafford County Clerk
P.O. Box 339
Stafford, VA 22554-0339 -
Virginia Beach Death Certificate
Virginia Beach Department of Public Health
Pembroke Corporate Center III
4452 Corporation Lane
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Get your state-issued certified record
If you need an official copy of a vital record, it only takes a few minutes to apply securely from the comfort of home.
Start any vital record application from only $59
FAQs
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Death certificates are not public records in Virginia for the first 25 years after the date of death. During this time, only eligible family members and people with a legal reason can request a certified copy.
After 25 years, the record becomes public. The Virginia Department of Health holds records of deaths that occurred from 1912 onwards.
Death records from 1912 to 1939 are available through the Library of Virginia for research and genealogy.
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The time it takes to receive a death certificate depends on how you apply. Mail requests typically take 2-4 weeks, plus mailing time. In-person requests at a vital records office may be faster. Processing also depends on demand, so call ahead for current wait times.
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Death certificates are issued by the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Vital Records. Local offices may also help you submit a request. Our platform helps you submit your application to the correct state office, so you receive an official copy without delays.
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To request a Virginia death certificate copy online, you need:
- Completed and signed application form
- Copy of your valid government-issued photo ID
- Payment of the state fee
- Proof of relationship or legal interest in obtaining the record
Having all of this ready before you apply helps prevent delays in getting your official copy of a death record. If you don’t provide evidence of your eligibility, you’ll be issued with a verification document, rather than a full certified copy.
Most popular Death Certificate searches
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