In Virginia, certified death certificates are issued by Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records. The state fee is $15 for the first certified copy and the same for each additional copy.
Here is who can order a certified copy, how to order it, and how long it takes, taken from the office’s own pages. Fees and times change, so check the office’s page before you pay.
How much a death certificate costs in Virginia
| Item | State fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $15 |
| Each additional copy | $15 |
Effective July 1, 2026, $15.00 'for each certified copy of a vital record that is issued, or for each search … where a certified copy … is not made' (Chapter 616 of the 2026 Acts of Assembly). The CDC page still shows the older $12.00.
Who can order a certified copy
Immediate family only: mother, father, spouse, child, brother, sister, and grandparents, with valid ID; 'Aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and any other person cannot obtain a person's vital record.'.
How to order
- Online (state site)
- In person
The state's fee notice names both VDH and the Department of Motor Vehicles, but the page does not describe DMV or local issuance of death certificates.
How long it takes
VDH: standard processing 'Normal processing time: 2 weeks'; express option offers 'Next day processing with express delivery options'.
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The funeral home’s role
The office’s pages do not describe the funeral home’s role. Many families ask the funeral director to order the first copies when arrangements are made.
The Richmond lobby (8701 Park Central Drive) takes walk-ins Monday-Friday 7:00am-4:00pm, with a drop-off option for pick-up requests received by 2:00pm. VDH runs its own online application system.
How many copies to order
Most banks, insurers, pension plans and government agencies each want their own certified copy. Count the accounts and policies before you order, because ordering more later means another application and fee. How many death certificates you need has a worksheet.
Who decides the funeral in Virginia
State law sets who has the right to make funeral arrangements. See who has the right to make funeral decisions in Virginia.
Related guides
- What to do when someone dies: the first 24 hours
- Who to call when someone dies, and in what order
- How much a funeral costs, line by line
- Help paying for a funeral: Social Security, VA and FEMA
- Official funeral resources for every state
Sources
- Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
- CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records (Virginia)
Checked 2026-09-24. General information, not legal advice.