Search for Death Records in Virginia

Free Virginia Death Records Lookup

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Our comprehensive guide to the death records in the state of Virginia will help you in finding death records as well as provide you with relevant information about the deceased and the life they lived.

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Death Records in Virginia -
The Ultimate Guide 2024

Virginia Death Databases

Statewide registration of deaths began in June 1912 in Virginia. The State and Counties have copies of these records.

Deaths before 1853. Before 1853, no deaths were recorded by the county or state. You must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place. Examples of substitute records include Newspapers, Probates, cemetery records, church records, tax records and census data.

Virginia Death Databases

Death Certificates in Virginia

Death records in the state of Virginia are initially only available to the public 75 years after the date on which the record was filed, after which they become publicly available. Individuals who have passed away within the last 75 years are subject to particular restrictions when collecting death certificates. There are numerous categories of people who are qualified to request a death certificate, as indicated below:

Death Certificates in Virginia

How to Find Virginia Death Records

The most dependable means of obtaining Virginia death records is through Archives.com. After completing the registration process for an account, you will have immediate access to all of the death records for the Commonwealth of Virginia as soon as you log onto the site. To get you started, here are a few easy actions you may take:

Step 1:  Visit the official Archive’s website at Archives.com and sign in using your email address and password.

How to Find Death Records Step 1

Step 2: Use the icons at the very top of the user page to navigate through the available options. When you click on the “Search” icon, the Virginia state death records page is loaded.

How to Find Death Records Step 2

Step 3: Check the box next to “Vital Records,” then click on the “Death” button just below it. Thus, the site eliminates all other records and only displays death records, which you can then download.

How to Find Death Records Step 3

Step 4: Key in as much information about the deceased as you can remember about them.

How to Find Death Records Step 4

Step 5: The state of Virginia should be entered in the ‘Location’ box. As soon as you begin typing, you will notice that the website will provide a match for you.

Step 6: You will be presented with a list of records; you will need to scroll through the list until you find the person whose records you are interested in viewing.

Step 7: Click on the name of the deceased to view the death record that is currently available online. In most cases, you will be able to obtain their full name as well as their maiden name if they were previously married. You can also find out about their burial arrangements, such as whether they were cremated or buried, and whether a biographical sketch is available.

Alternative Sources for Virginia Death Information

Virginia Death Records FAQs

What is an Official Death Certificate?

An official death certificate refers to a death certificate that is issued directly by the Virginia state government or any similar organization. This document contains information such as the individual’s name, physical address, date of birth, and date of death. 

What are death records?

Death records are official files that give any useful information about a deceased individual. If you’re doing genealogical research, these records come in handy as they contain most of the information you’d need to learn more about your ancestry. Most death records are held by the state the deceased lived or died in, but they lack the burial state of the deceased. Both cemeteries and churches hold death records, as with state governments. Information you can obtain from death records includes the full name, date of birth, date of death, and place of death.

Are Virginia Death Records Open to the Public?

According to the Virginia Revised Statutes, vital records such as birth records, divorce records, marriage records, adoption records, death records, and other life records are available to all eligible parties with a direct relationship to the person named on the record.

What Information Do I Need to Search for Virginia Death Records Online?

Requesters who wish to get a hold of a death record must be well acquainted with basic facts associated with it including:

Conclusion

The state of Virginia is extremely particular about the accuracy of its tax and voting records, and this is reflected in its state records. As a result, they strive to keep a comprehensive death record up to date. Following the death of a person, tax collectors contact family members or next of kin to collect any unpaid state taxes that may be owed to the state. In the event of a probate proceeding, these death records will be extremely useful because your family members or next of kin will not have any difficulties in obtaining any legal information. With our comprehensive guide to Virginia death record searches, you’ll be able to locate any type of record that you might require in a matter of minutes.

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