Bland County Obituary Search and Death Records

Bland County obituary and death records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Bland and through Virginia's statewide vital records system, giving researchers and family members access to death documentation from this small Southwest Virginia county in the Ridge and Valley region.

Bland County Circuit Court Clerk

The Bland County Circuit Court Clerk holds probate records, land records, and marriage records for the county. Bland County was formed in 1861 from parts of Wythe, Giles, and Tazewell counties. Records before 1861 may be found in those parent county files at the Library of Virginia.

Estate files at the circuit court are a good source for death and obituary research. When a person died with property in Bland County, their estate was filed with the court. The file documents the death date and lists heirs. These records are public and can be reviewed in person at the courthouse.

Obtaining Bland County Death Certificates

Certified death certificates for Bland County deaths from 1912 to the present are available through the Virginia Department of Health. The cost is $12 per copy. Under Code of Virginia Title 32.1, deaths in the last 25 years are limited to immediate family members. Deaths older than 25 years are open to all requesters.

Order by calling (804) 662-6200 or by mail through vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records. For in-person service, contact the Mount Rogers Health District, which serves Bland County and surrounding Southwest Virginia counties. Bring valid photo ID with all requests.

When submitting a request, include the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and the county. If you are requesting a restricted record (death within the last 25 years), also include documentation of your family relationship such as a birth certificate or marriage license.

The screenshot below shows the Virginia VDH vital records site for ordering certified death certificates including Bland County records.

The VDH Office of Vital Records handles statewide requests for certified death certificates, covering all 95 Virginia counties including Bland.

Historical Death Registers for Bland County

Bland County was formed in 1861, so death register coverage begins later than for older Virginia counties. State-required death registration began in 1853 in Virginia's original counties. For Bland County, the earliest state death registers date from 1861 and run to 1896. These are on microfilm at the Library of Virginia.

There is a gap in all Virginia death records from 1897 to 1911. For Bland County deaths in those years, local church records and cemetery surveys are the best alternative. The county's churches kept burial records, and several local cemeteries have been indexed by genealogical volunteers.

The Library of Virginia death records guide at lva-virginia.libguides.com/bmd/death describes what is available for Bland County by time period. The parent county records from Wythe, Giles, and Tazewell are also relevant for families with long histories in the area before Bland was formed.

The Henley Index at the Library of Virginia covers Virginia newspaper obituary notices from 1736 to 1982. Access it at lva-virginia.libguides.com/henley. Southwest Virginia newspapers that covered Bland County are included in this index.

Online Resources for Bland County Obituaries

Find It Virginia at finditva.com is the primary free online tool for Bland County death records from 1912 to the present. Virginia library cardholders can search the database for free. Results include death index entries and can help confirm a death date or find a certificate number.

The Virginia Genealogical Society obituary database at virginiagenealogy.org/obits indexes obituaries from Virginia newspapers including Southwest Virginia publications. Bland County families appear in this database, especially those with ties to the Wythe and Giles county area.

The Virginia Museum of History and Culture at virginiahistory.org holds family papers and compiled genealogies covering Southwest Virginia families. The VMHC library provides research assistance and access to their collections.

The screenshot below shows the Find It Virginia portal, which provides free access to Bland County death records from 1912 onward using a Virginia library card.

Find It Virginia aggregates death records from multiple sources and is the best free starting point for searching Bland County deaths from 1912 to present.

Public Access Rights in Bland County

Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act at Code of Virginia Section 2.2-3700, death records that are more than 25 years old are public. Anyone may request these records from the health department or the state vital records office.

Bland County Circuit Court records are also open to the public. Probate files, deed books, and will books can be reviewed at the courthouse in Bland. If you cannot visit in person, written requests for copies are accepted. The clerk's office can provide certified copies of court records for a fee.

Genealogy Resources for Bland County

Bland County genealogy research often involves tracing families that predated the county's formation in 1861. Wythe, Giles, and Tazewell county records at the Library of Virginia are essential. The LVA catalog at lva.virginia.gov can help you identify which collections cover Bland County families.

The Library of Virginia collections index at lva.virginia.gov/collections/cri lists holdings that include deed books, will books, and tax records for Bland County. These complement death and obituary records by showing property owners and their family relationships.

Local library branches in Bland County provide access to Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest for cardholders. The Southwest Virginia region has strong genealogical society activity, and regional groups have indexed many local cemeteries and church records that fill in gaps in official death records.

Cities Near Bland County

There are no qualifying independent cities immediately adjacent to Bland County. The nearest qualifying cities are in neighboring counties.

Nearby Counties

Bland County borders Wythe, Smyth, Tazewell, and Giles counties in Southwest Virginia.