Ordering From the State Instead
You can also order from the state office. Ordering methods, fees and wait times are on our Virginia death certificate guide.
Who Can Order a Certified Copy
Virginia limits full certified copies to people with a close connection to the person who died. Based on the state's application form, statute and regulation, these people can order:
- Immediate family: mother, father, current spouse, adult child, adult brother or sister, and grandparents
- Grandchildren and great-grandchildren (Code of Virginia 32.1-271)
- The funeral service licensee (funeral home)
- A legal representative with proof. Virginia's regulation (12VAC5-550-470) lists the deceased's attorney, a person with power of attorney for the deceased's affairs, an insurance company that insured the deceased, a government agency acting for the deceased or family, a court-appointed guardian, and a court-appointed administrator
VDH's FAQ page says only immediate family can get full copies, but the statute, regulation and the application form also include the people above. If you are unsure whether you qualify, call VDH at 804-662-6200.
Family members check their relationship on the application and sign it. Legal representatives check "Legal Representative (submit proof)" and include proof of their role. The regulation does not name executors. If you are an executor and not also immediate family, contact VDH to confirm what proof it accepts.
Other relatives and non-family members cannot get a full copy. Someone with a direct and tangible interest can get a Verification of Death instead. After 25 years from the date of death, Virginia death records become public.
What to Bring or Send
- The application. At VDH, use form VS6D. At DMV, use form DL 82. Online, you fill out the application on screen and sign electronically.
- Your ID. Everyone must show ID in person or send a legible photocopy. Bring one document from VDH's primary list or two from its secondary list. See VDH's ID requirements for what counts.
- Proof of your role, if you are applying as a legal representative.
- Payment: $15 per copy at VDH and health departments, $17 per copy at DMV. A $50 charge applies to returned checks.
Making a false application for a vital record is a felony under state and federal law.
Certified vs. Informational Copies
Virginia offers two certified products on the same application, and both cost $15:
- Certificate of Death: the full death certificate. Only eligible requesters (family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, the funeral home and legal representatives) can get it.
- Verification of Death: shows only the deceased's name, date of death, place of death, date of birth and the last four digits of the Social Security number. Non-family members with a direct and tangible interest can get it.
Banks, courts and insurers settling an estate usually ask for the full certified death certificate.
Virginia certified copies issued since February 1, 2001 do not have a raised seal. VDH says the paper meets state law, and it offers a letter for agencies that question it.
When Certificates Are Available
The funeral home (the licensed funeral director who first takes custody of the body) completes the death certificate. It gathers personal details, usually from the family, gets the cause of death from the doctor, and files the certificate electronically with the state.
By law, the doctor or nurse practitioner must file the cause of death within 24 hours, unless the Medical Examiner investigates. The full certificate must be filed within 3 days after the death and before burial or removal of the body from Virginia (Code of Virginia 32.1-263).
VDH does not give a statewide number of days before you can order. It warns that some certificates have not reached its office when people apply, which can delay a request. Deaths under Medical Examiner investigation can take longer.
The funeral home can also order certified copies. Ask yours whether it will order your first copies. For a veteran, the funeral home can get one free certified copy for service-connected benefits at the surviving spouse's request.
How Many Copies You Need
Many banks, insurers and agencies want their own certified copy, and some keep it. Because Virginia charges the same $15 for every copy, there is no savings in ordering extras at once, but ordering a few together saves trips. See our guide on how many copies to estimate your number.
Fixing an Error
Only the VDH Office of Vital Records in Richmond can change a death certificate. Local health departments and DMV cannot.
The immediate family, the informant, the funeral service licensee or a legal representative can ask for a change. For most errors, send a written request that lists the item to be fixed and the correct information, along with a copy of your ID and the fee. Court-ordered changes need a certified copy of the court order.
On cost, official sources differ. The application form lists a $15 fee for an amendment request. VDH's FAQ says that if you want a copy of the amended certificate, the total is $25. Call 804-662-6200 to confirm the amount before you send payment.
Mail requests to Office of Vital Records, Attn: Special Services Department, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218. VDH says to allow up to 6 weeks for records that need amendments. See the VDH FAQ for details.
Only Order From Official Sources
Order Virginia death certificates only through official channels:
- Local health departments and DMV customer service centers (walk-in locations)
- The VDH Office of Vital Records, in person, by mail or through its online application
- VitalChek, VDH's contracted express partner, reached through VDH's VitalChek page
Websites that are not run by VDH or its partner may offer to submit the application for you and add their own fees. Watch for look-alike addresses: the official partner is spelled VitalChek, so reach it through VDH's link above rather than a search result.