Find Obituary Records in Colonial Heights

Colonial Heights obituary and death records are held by the city's own Circuit Court Clerk, the Central Virginia Health District, and state agencies. Colonial Heights is an independent Virginia city located near Petersburg in the Tri-Cities area. Because it is independent, the city manages its own records separate from Chesterfield County, which surrounds it. This page covers how to find death certificates, published obituaries, and related records for Colonial Heights.

Colonial Heights Circuit Court and City Records

Colonial Heights is an independent Virginia city, not part of Chesterfield County or any other county. The city has its own Circuit Court Clerk who manages probate filings, estate records, will books, land records, and court documents. When someone dies in Colonial Heights, the death certificate is filed with city authorities and the Virginia Department of Health, not with the county.

This is a common point of confusion because Colonial Heights sits within the geographic boundaries of Chesterfield County. The two jurisdictions share a border and the same area codes, but they are fully separate for all legal and records purposes. If a death occurred in Chesterfield County outside city limits, you need Chesterfield County records, not Colonial Heights city records.

The Circuit Court Clerk's office in Colonial Heights is the main contact point for court-related death records, including probate filings and estate inventories. These records are public and often contain the date of death, a list of heirs, and information about the decedent's assets. The office is located at the Colonial Heights Courthouse on Boulevard.

Colonial Heights Death Certificates and Obituary Records

The Central Virginia Health District provides vital records services for Colonial Heights. The health district handles death certificate requests for deaths that occurred within city limits. Certified copies cost $12 each and are restricted for 25 years under Virginia Code Title 32.1, Chapter 7. During that window, only immediate family members and certain qualified individuals can get a certified copy.

After 25 years, death records become available as public records. The Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond processes statewide mail and online requests. Their page at vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records has the forms and instructions for submitting a request. The phone is (804) 662-6200 and the fee is $12 per certified copy.

The Central Virginia Health District website at vdh.virginia.gov/central-virginia covers the health services provided in the Colonial Heights area. Local in-person requests through the health district may be processed faster than mail requests through the state office in Richmond.

The screenshot below is from the Colonial Heights city website at colonialheightsva.gov, which connects you to city departments including the Circuit Court Clerk and health services.

The city's website has links to the Circuit Court Clerk and other offices that hold death records and estate filings for Colonial Heights residents.

Central Virginia Health District Vital Records

The Central Virginia Health District serves Colonial Heights and several surrounding jurisdictions. The district's office can help with death certificate requests and can point you to the right state resources if the record you need was filed with the state office in Richmond. They are a good first call if you are unsure where to begin your search.

Death records from 1912 forward are the most accessible. The state began requiring consistent statewide death registration in 1912. Before that, records are less complete. For deaths before 1912, the Library of Virginia in Richmond holds some death registers from 1853 to 1896 on microfilm, but there is a gap from 1897 to 1911 where statewide records are largely missing.

The Central Virginia Health District page at vdh.virginia.gov/central-virginia lists the district's services and contact information. If you need to reach someone about a Colonial Heights death certificate specifically, calling the local district office is often faster than going through the state office in Richmond.

The screenshot below is from the Central Virginia Health District website at vdh.virginia.gov/central-virginia, which covers vital records and public health services for Colonial Heights.

The Central Virginia Health District provides vital records services including death certificate requests for Colonial Heights and nearby jurisdictions.

Finding Colonial Heights Obituaries

Published obituaries for Colonial Heights residents appear in the Richmond Times-Dispatch and other regional newspapers. These papers have covered the Colonial Heights area for many decades. Older obituary notices from the mid-twentieth century can often be found in library archives or through genealogy databases.

The Library of Virginia in Richmond maintains statewide records and genealogical collections. Their research guide at lva-virginia.libguides.com/bmd/death explains what death record collections are available and how to access them. For Colonial Heights residents researching family history, the library is an important resource.

The Henley Marriage and Obituary Index at lva-virginia.libguides.com/henley covers Virginia obituaries from 1736 through 1982. This index was compiled from newspapers across Virginia. Notices from the Colonial Heights and Petersburg area are included. If you're looking for a death from before 1983, this index is worth checking first.

Find It Virginia at finditva.com gives Virginia residents free access to Ancestry Library Edition using a library card. You can search death records and obituary data from home. The Virginia Genealogy Society at virginiagenealogy.org/obits has additional links for statewide obituary research.

Statewide Resources for Colonial Heights Obituary Research

The Library of Virginia is the main statewide repository for historical death records. Their collections include death registers from 1853 to 1896 and consistent statewide records from 1912 forward. The Chancery Records Index at lva.virginia.gov/collections/cri gives access to older court records from across Virginia, including estate and inheritance cases that often contain death information for the Colonial Heights area.

The Henley Index is one of the most useful tools for pre-1983 obituary research in Virginia. It covers newspaper notices from across the state and includes the Colonial Heights and Petersburg region. Access it at lva-virginia.libguides.com/henley.

For Colonial Heights researchers who want to dig further into the Tri-Cities area history, the Petersburg Public Library and Hopewell City Library also maintain local history and genealogy collections. These libraries may have obituary indexes for local newspapers that are not available in state databases.

Virginia Law and Colonial Heights Death Records

Virginia Code Title 32.1, Chapter 7 governs vital records across the state. It applies equally to Colonial Heights and every other Virginia city and county. Deaths within the last 25 years are restricted to qualified applicants. Deaths older than 25 years are public records. The $12 fee applies to certified copies statewide.

Probate records and estate filings at the Circuit Court are public. Court case records tied to deaths are also generally open unless sealed by order of the court. If you need city administrative records beyond vital records, a Freedom of Information Act request to the relevant Colonial Heights office is the way to go.

The Library of Virginia Chancery Records Index at lva.virginia.gov/collections/cri holds older court records. For the Colonial Heights area, which was historically part of Chesterfield County before the city formed, some older records may be filed under the county rather than the city. Checking both is worth the effort if you are doing deep genealogy research.

Which County Is Colonial Heights In?

Colonial Heights is an independent city and is not legally part of Chesterfield County. The city is surrounded by Chesterfield County and sits near Petersburg, but all records for deaths and estates within city limits go through Colonial Heights city offices. If a death occurred in Chesterfield County outside city limits, check Chesterfield County records instead. The nearby city of Petersburg is also independent and maintains its own separate records.

View Chesterfield County Records

Nearby Cities

These independent Virginia cities are near Colonial Heights. Each manages its own death and obituary records.