How to Get a Death Certificate in Virginia

Getting a death certificate is one of the first practical steps after a death in Virginia, and the details of who issues it and what it costs are specific to Virginia.

Who issues death certificates in Virginia?

Certified copies come from the Virginia Department of Health’s Division of Vital Records in Richmond, which has death records from 1912, and the local health departments. In practice, the funeral home usually files the certificate and orders an initial batch of certified copies for you.

How much does a certified copy cost in Virginia?

Virginia charges $12 for each certificate, copy, or search, so every copy costs the same. VitalChek adds its own fee, and DMV customer service centers charge a $14 records search fee.

Who can order a copy in Virginia?

Certified copies go to eligible next of kin (mother, father, current spouse, child, brother or sister, and in some circumstances others) with a valid photo ID.

How do I order more copies in Virginia?

• At any local health department: you can get a death certificate from any local health department in Virginia regardless of where the death occurred, except that within 30 days of filing you must use the city or county where it was filed.
• At the state office: the Division of Vital Records offers same-day walk-in service ($12, photo ID required). By mail, send the application, a copy of your ID, and a $12 check or money order payable to the Virginia Department of Health to VDH Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218.
• At a DMV customer service center: complete form DL 82, show acceptable identification, and pay the $14 records search fee.
• Express: through VitalChek, which the state lists at about 2 to 5 days by courier for an extra fee.

What else should I know before I order?

The $12 fee is charged for each certification and also for a search that finds nothing, so double-check the name and date of death before you order.

What should I do next?

Confirm with the funeral home how many copies it is ordering for you, then decide how many more you need; see how many death certificates you need in Virginia and our general guide to death certificates.

Add this to your Final Day Plan: your Social Security number, birthplace, and parents’ full names - the death certificate application asks for these, and they’re often surprisingly hard for a family to track down under pressure.

Fees and rules change - confirm current details with the Virginia Division of Vital Records or a local health department before you send payment.