How to Get Virginia Vital Records (Start Here)

Vital records in Virginia — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records — are handled at the state level by Virginia Department of Health Division of Vital Records. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

What this page covers: Virginia vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).

Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Virginia Department of Health Division of Vital Records. For marriage licenses, contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.

Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.

Statewide vital-records agency
Office of Vital Records - Vital Records
Parent agency
Office of Vital Records - Vital Records
Records back to
Office of Vital Records - Vital Records
Online ordering
Office of Vital Records - Vital Records
Marriage license issued by
Marriage License Information | Circuit Court
Local intake
Vital Records » Henrico County, Virginia
Population
8,811,195
Households
3,324,700
Median Income
$87,249
Median Home Value
$339,800
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Virginia vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at www.vdh.virginia.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.

Virginia Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Virginia — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
Who can request a Virginia vital record
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.

What Changed in 2026 — Virginia Vital Records

2026
Virginia vital records portal active
The official Virginia portal at www.vdh.virginia.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements Virginia state records.
2026
Virginia access in 2026
For 2026, Virginia continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check www.vdh.virginia.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Virginia's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.

The 4-Step Virginia Vital Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in Virginia, start with the Virginia health department.
2
Step 2 — Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3 — Choose ordering method
Virginia typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4 — Genealogy fallback
Virginia records older than 75-125 years are usually public — try FamilySearch or NARA.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Virginia Vital Records

❌ Myth: "I can request anyone's Virginia birth certificate."
✓ Truth: False. Most states (including Virginia) restrict access to immediate family or legal representatives.
❌ Myth: "Vital records are federal."
✓ Truth: False. They are state-issued. The CDC compiles statistics but does NOT issue certificates.
❌ Myth: "VitalChek is the government."
✓ Truth: False. VitalChek is an authorized third-party vendor used by many states, NOT a federal or state agency.
❌ Myth: "Older Virginia marriage records are private."
✓ Truth: False. Marriages older than ~75 years are usually public and indexed by genealogy sites.
❌ Myth: "A Virginia death is recorded the day it happens."
✓ Truth: False. CDC NVSS data has a 1-2 year lag for final figures; provisional data takes 6+ months.

Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

Related Vital Records Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Sample Virginia counties: Accomack · Albemarle · Alleghany · Amelia · Amherst

Vital Records Databases

10 official Virginia vital records sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Vital Records

Chancery Records Index | Library of Virginia
Official Free
Each of Virginia's circuit courts produced chancery records, with the CRI containing scanned images or indexed information from over 100 of the state’s 133 localities. While many localities contain chancery records through the 20th century, the current focus of the CRI is to capture as complete a record as possible of pre-1913 chancery causes from across the state.
🌐 lva.virginia.gov
Rev 5/13/25 VIRGINIA: IN THE GENERAL DISTRICT COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY
Official Free
Such motion will be heard on ________________at __________ in the Pulaski County General District Court.
🌐 pulaskicounty.org
Civil War Ancestors - Genealogy - Library Research at Fairfax County Government
Official Free
A Roster of Virginia’s Civil War Casualties by Spratt, T. M., New Papyrus Publishing VREF 973.76 S In the first of the three series, the author accounts for all casualties incurred by men in Virginia regiments and, also, Virginia-born men who served in other regiments and commands. The work includes many who died after the surrender of general lee who were in prisoner of war camps at the time of death. The information includes death or wounding location, date of death and cause, and place of burial.
🌐 research.fairfaxcounty.gov
Databases & Electronic Resources | Town of Leesburg, Virginia
Official Free
list of and links to Thomas Balch Library electronic resources, including subscription databases, and useful external links
🌐 leesburgva.gov
Vital Records - Virginia: Local History & Genealogy Resource Guide - Research Guides at Library of Congress
Official Free
Library of Virginia Birth, Marriage, and Death Records External This link opens in a new window · Information about vital records (1853–Present) accessed through the Library of Virginia. Contact the Office of Vital Records, Virginia Department of Health to learn more about accessing state-level records and explore additional options for obtaining copies. Adoptee’s Application for Disclosure This link opens in a new window · Adoption Disclosure is the official ...
🌐 guides.loc.gov
Procedures for Civil Actions, Name Changes,… | City of Virginia Beach
Official Free
Virginia Beach Courts Electronic Device Policy · Chat - 311 Agent · VirginiaBeach.gov · Chat - 311 Agent · Circuit Court · Back · Circuit Court · Daily Docket · Jury Duty · Motion & Duty Judge Docket · Circuit Court Forms · Procedures for Civil Actions, Name Changes, Annulment, Divorce and Criminal Cases · Policies · Circuit Court Clerk's Office · Back · Circuit Court Clerk's Office · Real Estate Records (Deeds) Military DD-214 · Marriage ·
🌐 courts.virginiabeach.gov

Virginia Counties

95 Virginia counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Fairfax Prince William Loudoun Chesterfield Henrico Arlington Stafford Spotsylvania Accomack Albemarle Alleghany Amelia Amherst Appomattox

Frequently Asked Questions

Certified birth certificates for events in Virginia are issued by the Official Virginia Vital Records at www.vdh.virginia.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.

Virginia death certificates are issued by the Official Virginia Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at www.vdh.virginia.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.

Virginia marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official Virginia Vital Records (www.vdh.virginia.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.

Standard Virginia vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official Virginia Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at www.vdh.virginia.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.

The Official Virginia Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at www.vdh.virginia.gov.