Virginia, Death Certificates - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection contains images of death certificates from the Virginia State Department of Health. Certificate images courtesy of Ancestry.com.

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the deceased
 * Residence of the deceased
 * Approximate date of death

Sample Images
Information found in death records may include:


 * Name of deceased
 * Date and place of birth
 * Date and place of death
 * Date and place of burial
 * Gender
 * Race
 * Marital status
 * Age
 * Occupation
 * Parent's names
 * Parent's birth place
 * Genealogical Society of Utah microfilm number
 * Volume, page, and certificate number

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the death date or age along with the place of death to find or verify their birth records and parents' names
 * Use the death date or age along with the place of death to find the family in census records
 * Use the residence and names of the parents (if the deceased is a child) to locate church and land records
 * The name of the informant may be a relative. This can be helpful in identifying your ancestor
 * The name of the undertaker or mortuary could lead you to funeral and cemetery records which often include the names and residences of other family members
 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives of the deceased who may have died or been buried in the same county or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family or even the second marriage of a parent. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Look for another index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties
 * Be aware that, as with any index, transcription errors may occur
 * Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Virginia.
 * Virginia Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.
 * Collection Citation: "Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987." Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 21 August 2018. From "Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850." Database and images. Ancestry. http://www.ancestry.com : 2012. Citing Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.

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