Accomack County Death Records

Accomack County obituary and death records are available through the Circuit Court Clerk, the Virginia Department of Health, and the Library of Virginia. If you need to find a death notice, confirm a date of death, or get a certified death certificate for someone who lived or died in this Eastern Shore county, this page covers the main sources, what each one holds, and how to request copies.

Accomack County Circuit Court Clerk

The Accomack County Circuit Court Clerk holds land records, probate files, marriage bonds, and historical court documents going back to the county's early years. For death records in the modern sense, the clerk's records overlap with the period when Virginia required local registration. Death registers from 1853 to 1896 exist on microfilm for many Virginia counties, and the Library of Virginia holds the Accomack County copies. These old registers list name, race, sex, date and place of death, cause of death, age, place of birth, and occupation.

The clerk also holds will books and estate inventories, which can fill in gaps when formal death certificates don't exist. Probate records name the deceased, list heirs, and often include death dates. These can be useful when tracing older Accomack County deaths from the 1800s or early 1900s. The court is located in Accomac, the county seat. Note the county name has two K's while the town seat drops one.

Accomack County Death Certificates

Death certificates for Accomack County deaths from June 14, 1912 to the present are maintained by the Virginia Department of Health. You can get copies from the state Office of Vital Records in Richmond or from the local health department serving the Eastern Shore. The fee is $12 per copy. Under Code of Virginia Title 32.1, Chapter 7, death records become public information 25 years after the event. Deaths within the past 25 years are restricted to immediate family members only, including spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent with valid ID.

When you request a death certificate, you'll need to provide the full name of the deceased, the date or approximate year of death, the county or city where death occurred, and your relationship to the deceased. For deaths more than 25 years old, anyone can request a copy. The state VDH office at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227 accepts walk-in requests Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Phone is (804) 662-6200.

The VDH also runs a fully online system for ordering death certificates. You can apply, pay, and track your request through their website at vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records. This is often the fastest option if you are not local to Richmond or Accomack County.

Visit the VDH vital records page to learn about current processing times and accepted payment methods.

The Virginia Department of Health vital records portal is the main way to get certified Accomack County death certificates online.

This page from the VDH shows the online ordering system, fee schedule, and contact details for the Office of Vital Records in Richmond.

Accomack Obituary Records and Historical Sources

For older Accomack County death records and obituaries, the Library of Virginia is the most important source. The Library holds death registers from 1853 to 1896 on microfilm, and these can be borrowed through Interlibrary Loan from your local public library. The registers record name, date and place of death, cause of death, age, birthplace, and other details. There is no statewide index for this period, but the Library staff can help you locate the right microfilm reel.

The Library of Virginia also holds death certificates on microfilm from 1912 to 1939. These are arranged by year and month, and prior to 1932 cities are filed with their surrounding counties. For Accomack County deaths from 1939 to the present, you go to the VDH Office of Vital Records. The Library's death records page at lva-virginia.libguides.com/bmd/death has a full guide to what they hold and how to search it.

The Henley Marriage and Obituary Index, covering Virginia newspapers from 1736 through 1982, is another resource worth checking. It draws from more than 150 newspapers across the state and includes obituary notices from Eastern Shore papers. You can search it through the Library of Virginia's online catalog.

The Library of Virginia's death records guide explains what years are covered and how to search microfilm collections for Accomack County death registers.

This guide covers death registers from 1853 to 1896, microfilm certificates from 1912 to 1939, and links to the statewide Ancestry database for more recent records.

Search Accomack Death Records Online

Find It Virginia, available at finditva.com, offers free access to death records from 1912 to the present through Ancestry.com. You need a Virginia public library card to log in. Once logged in, you can search the full Ancestry index of Virginia vital records and download digital images of death certificates at no charge. This is one of the best free tools for searching Accomack County death notices and records.

The Virginia Genealogy website at virginiagenealogy.org/obits compiles obituary resources from across the state. It includes links to newspaper obituary indexes, funeral home databases, and regional collections that may cover Accomack County obituaries. Many obituaries from Eastern Shore newspapers have been transcribed and posted by volunteers.

For broader research, the Virginia Museum of History and Culture at virginiahistory.org holds family papers, Bible records, and manuscript collections that sometimes include death notices and obituaries for Accomack County families. The collection is searchable online and staff can assist with research requests.

Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-3700, most government-held records are presumed open to the public. Death records more than 25 years old are public. Newer records require proof of family relationship.

The Virginia Genealogy obituaries page lists obituary indexes, funeral home databases, and newspaper archives that include Accomack County obituary records.

This resource aggregates obituary sources from across Virginia, including Eastern Shore newspapers and regional genealogical collections relevant to Accomack County research.

Virginia Death Record Laws

Virginia's vital records law under Code of Virginia Title 32.1, Chapter 7 sets the rules for who can get death certificates and when. Section 32.1-272 says the State Registrar must issue a certified copy of any vital record upon written request. Copies cost $12 each. Deaths within the last 25 years are restricted to immediate family, which means spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. The law requires a valid photo ID and a signed request form.

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act at Section 2.2-3700 covers government records broadly. Death records older than 25 years are public records under the vital records statute, so they fall within the general open-records principle. If you believe a record request was wrongly denied, the Freedom of Information Advisory Council at (804) 698-1810 can help.

Certified copies of death certificates are legal documents. They serve as proof of death for estate purposes, life insurance claims, property transfers, and name changes. Plain uncertified copies may work for genealogical research but won't satisfy legal requirements. Ask the VDH or health department whether you need certified or uncertified when you place your request.

Cities Near Accomack County

Accomack County is on Virginia's Eastern Shore. There are no independent cities within the county that meet the qualifying population threshold for this site.

Communities in Accomack County include Accomac, Chincoteague, Onancock, Parksley, and Onley. All death records for these communities are handled through the Accomack County Circuit Court and state VDH resources.

Nearby Counties

Accomack County sits at the northern end of Virginia's Eastern Shore. Northampton County lies to the south on the peninsula. These are the only two Virginia counties on the Delmarva Peninsula.