Craig County Death Records

Craig County obituary and death records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in New Castle and the Virginia Department of Health. This page covers how to find death certificates, pre-1912 registers, and obituary sources for Craig County, one of Virginia's smallest and most rural counties in the Alleghany Highlands region.

Craig County Circuit Court Clerk

The Craig County Circuit Court Clerk maintains land records, probate records, and older death registers for the county. Historical death registers from 1853 to 1896 are on microfilm through the Library of Virginia. The probate records at the clerk's office can help trace death dates and name survivors when formal death certificates are not available.

Craig County was formed in 1851 from parts of Botetourt, Giles, Roanoke, and Montgomery counties. New Castle, the county seat, is a small community in a remote mountain valley. The Craig County Circuit Court is part of the 25th Judicial Circuit. Staff at the clerk's office can assist with record searches in person.

Craig County Death Certificates

The Virginia Department of Health holds Craig County death certificates from June 1912 to the present. Certified copies cost $12 per copy. The 25-year privacy rule under Code of Virginia Title 32.1, Chapter 7 means only immediate family can get certified copies for deaths within that window. After 25 years, records are public.

You can request copies at the VDH office at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227. Phone (804) 662-6200. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Mail requests, in-person visits, and online applications are all accepted. Include a copy of your photo ID and the $12 fee per certificate.

Craig County is served by the Alleghany Health District for local public health services. For death certificate requests, contact the state office in Richmond or use the VDH online portal.

The image below shows the VDH vital records portal where Craig County death certificate applications are submitted.

The portal includes guidance on what documents to include and how to pay online using a card or mobile payment method.

Craig County Historical Death Registers

The Library of Virginia holds Craig County death registers from 1853 to 1896 on microfilm. These records include the name, race, sex, date and place of death, cause of death, age, birthplace, occupation, marital status, and names of parents. Microfilm can be requested through Interlibrary Loan at no cost through your local library.

Between 1897 and 1911, Craig County likely did not maintain death records. Most rural Virginia counties stopped recording deaths during that period. The Library of Virginia holds Craig County death certificates from 1912 to 1939. The Library of Virginia death records guide explains how to access these materials and submit an Interlibrary Loan request.

For Craig County researchers, the Library of Virginia's microfilm collection is often the only source for deaths before 1912. Many Craig County residents in the 1800s were connected to families in Botetourt, Giles, and Roanoke counties, so checking those records may also be useful.

The image below shows the Library of Virginia death records guide page, which lists the Craig County microfilm holdings and access instructions.

The guide helps researchers identify whether specific years and counties have surviving records and how to order them.

Craig County Obituary Newspapers and Resources

Craig County's small size means local newspaper coverage has been limited over the years. The Roanoke Times and other regional papers have covered Craig County news and may include obituary notices for residents. The Henley Marriage and Obituary Index, covering 1736 through 1982, may include Craig County entries found in Roanoke-area newspapers.

You can search the Henley Index through the Library of Virginia at no charge. The index includes more than 150 Virginia newspapers. Coverage of Craig County may be found through papers from Salem, Roanoke, and the surrounding mountain region. The Virginia Genealogy Obituaries page lists other statewide obituary resources that may include Craig County names.

Craig County's rural nature means church records and cemetery records can be especially important for death research. Many families are buried in small community cemeteries or church graveyards throughout the county. The Library of Virginia's collections include some cemetery survey materials for Virginia counties.

Search Craig County Death Records Online

Virginia residents can search Craig County death records at no charge through Find It Virginia. You need a Virginia public library card and a free Ancestry.com account. The service gives access to the full Ancestry.com index of Virginia death records from 1912 to the present. You can download digital copies through the service.

The Virginia Museum of History and Culture's Searching for People resources also lists useful tools for Craig County genealogy. The Museum holds family papers, Bible records, and other materials that can supplement formal death records for southwestern Virginia families.

Virginia's open records law under Section 2.2-3700 of the Code of Virginia gives residents the right to request public records from state agencies. Death records beyond the 25-year privacy window can be requested under FOIA. For questions about making a FOIA request, the Freedom of Information Advisory Council can be reached at (804) 698-1810.

Cities Near Craig County

Craig County has no independent cities within its borders. The nearest qualifying cities are Roanoke and Salem, located in adjacent Roanoke County to the southeast. Craig County residents use the New Castle courthouse for local records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Craig County. Each maintains its own death records through the state vital records system and local court.