Henrico County Death Records and Obituaries

Henrico County obituary and death records are held at two Health Department locations and the Circuit Court in Henrico, Virginia. The county is one of eight original Virginia shires established in 1634, and its records span several centuries of local history. You can get certified death certificates from either Health Department office, and older historical records are available through the Library of Virginia and the Henrico County Public Library.

Henrico County Health Department - Vital Records

The Henrico County Health Department issues certified death certificates at two locations. Both offices serve anyone who needs a copy of a death record for a death that occurred in Virginia. Each copy costs $12. You need to show valid ID and prove you are an immediate family member or have a qualifying legal need.

Death records from 1912 to the present are on file with the state. Older records from 1853 to 1896 are held on microfilm at the Library of Virginia in Richmond. There was no statewide system between 1897 and 1911, so some Henrico records from that period may be missing. The two Health Department offices each handle requests on a walk-in basis during normal business hours.

The Henrico County Health Department vital records page has details on what to bring when you apply in person. You can also request a death certificate by mail through the state Office of Vital Records in Richmond. Mail requests take longer, but the cost is the same.

The following screenshot shows the Henrico vital records portal where you can find current hours, forms, and service information.

The Henrico vital records service page lists both office locations with contact details and guidance on eligibility and fees for certified copies.

Henrico County Circuit Court

The Henrico County Circuit Court holds probate records, marriage licenses, and court case files that often appear in death-related research. Probate files are especially useful. They show when a person died, who their heirs were, and what property they left behind. These records go back well before statewide death registration began.

The Circuit Court clerk handles estate filings and keeps records of wills proved in Henrico County. If you are looking for a death record and the Health Department does not have it, the Circuit Court is the next place to check. Many older estates were filed with the court, and those files list the deceased person by name and date of death.

The following screenshot shows the Henrico County government site where you can find court services and contact information.

The Henrico County government portal includes links to the Circuit Court clerk, public safety, and vital records services.

Historical Death Records in Henrico County

Henrico County has one of the oldest record sets in Virginia. The county was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, son of King James I. Laws requiring the recording of births and deaths were enacted in Virginia as early as 1632, though coverage was uneven for many years. The Library of Virginia holds Henrico County Birth and Death Records from 1912 to 1933. These are stored at the State Records Center Archives Annex.

Death registers from 1853 to 1896 are on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. You can borrow these through Interlibrary Loan. The registers list the name, race, sex, date and place of death, cause of death, age, birthplace, occupation, and names of parents. There is no statewide index for this era, but county clerks sometimes made their own indexes, and Henrico is among the counties that had some indexing done.

For deaths between 1897 and 1911, coverage is incomplete statewide. Some Henrico records from that gap may exist, but they are not guaranteed. After June 14, 1912, Virginia began consistent statewide death registration, and Henrico records from that point forward are much more complete.

The Henrico County Public Library also holds local genealogy resources. Staff at the library can help you search for obituary notices in old newspapers and guide you to Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest, both of which are free to use with a library card.

The Henrico County Public Library website provides details on genealogy databases and local history collections available at branch locations.

Virginia State Resources for Henrico Records

Several state-level tools help you search Henrico death records and obituaries. The Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond has statewide death records from 1912 to present. You can apply in person at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227, or submit a mail request. The customer care line is (804) 662-6200.

The Library of Virginia offers free access to digitized death records through FindItVA.com. This service uses Ancestry.com records but is free to Virginians with a public library card. You can search death records from 1912 to the present and download digital copies. The Library of Virginia is at 800 East Broad Street in Richmond.

The Henley Marriage and Obituary Index at the Library of Virginia covers 1736 through 1982. This index pulls obituary and marriage notices from more than 150 Virginia newspapers, with emphasis on the years 1780 to 1910. It is one of the best tools for finding old Henrico obituaries that predate formal death registration. The Henley Index is searchable through the Library of Virginia website.

For recent obituary searches, the Virginia Genealogy Society maintains an obituary database at virginiagenealogy.org/obits. This includes several local newspaper collections and funeral home records from across the state.

The Virginia Museum of History and Culture at virginiahistory.org holds family papers, Bible records, photographs, and genealogical notes. These can fill gaps when formal records are missing. Staff can assist with research visits.

Access Rules and Privacy Laws

Virginia death records are public after 25 years from the date of the event. Birth records are closed for 100 years. During the restricted period, only immediate family members can get certified copies. Immediate family includes a spouse, parent, child, sibling, and grandparent.

The rules for death certificate access come from Code of Virginia Title 32.1, Chapter 7. Under Section 32.1-272, the State Registrar issues certified copies to eligible requesters. Each copy is considered legal evidence of the facts on the document. Certified copies are used to settle estates, change names, and apply for survivor benefits.

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-3700, covers public body records more broadly. Under FOIA, you can request records from public agencies, but vital records have their own specific rules under Title 32.1. For FOIA questions, the Freedom of Information Advisory Council is at (804) 698-1810. More information is at virginiaresources.gov.

Death certificates show the name, date of death, place of death, cause of death, age, and sometimes occupation and birthplace. Certified copies from the Health Department are the only documents accepted by courts, insurers, and government agencies for legal purposes. Plain copies may be useful for genealogy but are not legal documents.

Cities in Henrico County

Henrico County is adjacent to the independent city of Richmond. Death records for city residents are handled through city health departments and the state Office of Vital Records.

Other communities in Henrico County include Sandston, Glen Allen, and Short Pump. These areas file death records through the Henrico County Health Department.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Henrico County. Each has its own Circuit Court and Health Department for death records and obituary research.