What are the ID requirements for getting a vital record?
What is your mailing address and telephone number?
Office of Vital Records
P.O. 1000
Richmond, VA 23218-1000
General Information Number: 804-662-6200
What is the cost of a vital record?
The Code of Virginia requires a cost of $12.00 per certificate/search. There is no refund if the certificate is not found. If no record is found for a birth certificate request, a "No Record" letter will be issued. Make checks or money orders payable to: The State Health Department. DO NOT SEND CASH through the mail. METHOD OF PAYMENT - CHECK or MONEY ORDER ONLY. Please note: birth cards are no longer issued.
I am adopted and seeking original birth information.
Adoption records are sealed in the Commonwealth of Virginia and you should contact the Virginia Department of Social Services - Report of Adoption Unit, www.dss.state.va.us , click on Forms and Applications - click on Adoptee Application for Disclosure, as there you will find the necessary information and the form to be completed and submitted.
What hours are you open?
We are open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday. Check for schedule changes around holidays. We are closed on major holidays.
What records do you have?
Births and Deaths: 1853-1896 and June 1912 to present. Birth cards are no longer available.
Marriage Records: 1853 to the present.
Divorce Records: 1918 to the present.
Birth records are public information 100 years after the date of the event; death, marriage, and divorce records, 50 years after the event. Vital Records are available to immediate family members only- mother, father, husband, wife, child, brother, sister with valid ID. Aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, grandparents, etc. cannot obtain a Vital Record.
Due to limited resources we are unable to conduct geneology searches. Contact the Library of Virginia for assistance at http://www.lva.lib.va.us/.
What are the requirements to get a child enrolled in Virginia public schools?
In order to enroll a child in the public school system in Virginia, state law requires a parent or guardian of a child to provide certain information to the child's school division.
I need my birth & marriage certificates authenticated. What do I do?
You must request your birth and marriage certificates from the Office of Vital Records. The cost is $12.00 per certificate, payment is payable to the State Health Department. The cost for each authentication is $12.00 payable to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. In your request, please list the country the authentication is needed for as they vary from country to country. Your request will be mailed to you with the required documentation.
The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth is not located in the Office of Vital Records. For more information contact that Office at 804-786-2441 or http://www.soc.vipnet.org/.
How do you correct information on a certificate?
There are several provisions in the Virginia statutes whereby changes may be made on a vital record. We encourage you to write us with your correction request and we will advise you on what needs to be done to make the correction.
Submit your requests to Attn: Special Services Dept.
How long does it take to get a certificate?
For all birth records requiring no amendments (adoptions, paternity establishment, name changes, etc.), please allow 10 business days.
All marriage records, death records, divorce records, non-automated birth records and documents requiring amendments, please allow a delivery time of 4 to 6 weeks. Marriage and divorce records are available at the Circuit Court in which the event took place. Recent death records are available at the local health department where the death certificate was filed.
Delayed birth registrations will have no delivery time frame due to the process of obtaining documentation to support the facts of birth.
Our peak season is April through September so allow ample time to receive your request.
I waited until the last minute to request my birth certificate. How can I get it faster?
There is an expedited service that you can reach by calling 1-877-572-6333 (press option 2). You will need a major credit card to use this service. They can also be found at http://www.vitalchek.com/.
Do you have records for other states?
No, we only have records for events that occurred in Virginia. However, we have set up a page listing every state's Vital Records information. Please be advised that we can not guarantee the accuracy of the fee schedules that are posted for the individual states.
I was born outside the U.S. but a child of the U.S. parent(s). Where do I get a birth record?
U.S. Dept. of State
Passport Services, Correspondence Branch
1111 19th Street NW, Suite 510
Washington, DC 20522-1705
(202)955-0307