Virginia Public Records

The state of Virginia boasts a long and colorful history, as the 10^th state to join the Union in 1788. The state was considered one of the 13 Original Colonies and played a significant role during the Revolutionary War. During the Civil War, this state joined the Confederacy and Richmond was made the Confederate capital. Today, Virginia is one of the more populated states in the U.S. with a total population of more than eight million, according to estimates made in 2011. Finding information about the millions of people who have called this state home often begins with a Virginia public records search. 

Public records in Virginia are largely held at a single government office location, the Virginia Department of Health, making searches and retrieval of documents in the state a relatively easy process. For those interested in digging a little deeper into their family history, the Library of Virginia offers documents that date back much earlier and provides additional documentation and photographs that offer a glimpse of Virginia history. This second office is also available to conduct genealogical searches for interested individuals. Before you launch a vital records search in Virginia, there are a few things you need to know:

Eligibility for Virginia Public Records

Not all Virginia public records are considered open under state law. The state restricts access to certified copies of birth, death, marriage and divorce records for a set period of time. Virginia birth records become public information 100 years after the date of birth, while death, marriage and divorce records are open to the public 50 years after the event.

Until these time periods have passed, the only people who can request vital records in Virginia include the person or persons on the actual document, immediate family members of those individuals or legal representatives of any of these parties. Any person who is requesting a copy of a Virginia vital record during the closed period must show appropriate identification in order to gain access to the information. The application for vital records does require the applicant to check his relationship to the subject on the document; those who cannot show proper relationship to the individual will not receive requested information.

Beginning a Virginia Public Records Search

The majority of vital records in Virginia is held at the Office of Vital Records, which is a part of the Virginia Department of Health. This office has most of the current public records for the state in its collection, including Virginia birth and death records from 1912, marriage records from 1853 and divorce records from 1918. The agency also has a select collection of birth and death records that date between 1853 and 1896 in its archive. These records are accessible in person, at the Office of Vital Records, through the mail or online. The application to submit for copies of documents can be downloaded from the Office of Vital Records website.

In addition to the multitude of Virginia public records found at this office, there is more archived information available through the Library of Virginia. This office holds many of the VA vital records that are not on file with the Office of Vital Records. However, it should be noted that birth and death records are not available between the years 1896 and 1912, since no laws were in effect at this time to require public agencies to keep such records. Few records prior to 1853 exist either, leaving those in search of documents dating back this far to make educated guesses or search other resources for information, such as newspapers or census records.  

Virginia Online Public Records

Conducting a Virginia online public records search is the preferred method of research for many interested archivists and genealogists today. While the Office of Vital Records does not provide access to online public records directly, the agency has partnered with an outside source to offer this service. VitalChek provides online public records to states across the country, including Virginia, allowing researchers to search for information from any location. There is a fee for using the VitalChek service.