Roanoke County Death Records and Obituaries

Roanoke County obituary and death records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk in Salem, the Virginia Department of Health, and the Library of Virginia. This page covers where to find death certificates, historical registers, and obituary notices for people who lived or died in Roanoke County, and explains how to request copies from each source.

Roanoke County Circuit Court Clerk

The Roanoke County Circuit Court Clerk maintains vital records, land records, and court records. The office sits at 305 East Main Street in Salem, which serves as the county seat. Records go back to 1838, including marriage records and land records from that year. For anyone tracing Roanoke County death records from the 1800s, the clerk's probate files and will books are an important starting point. Estate inventories and will books name the deceased and often include death dates, making them useful when formal death certificates don't exist.

Death registers from 1853 to 1896 for Roanoke County are available on microfilm through the Library of Virginia. These old registers list name, race, sex, date and place of death, cause of death, age at death, place of birth, and occupation. The Circuit Court also holds old deed books and court order books that can help confirm a person's presence in the county at various points in time.

The Roanoke County courthouse is at the same address as the Salem Circuit Court Clerk, since Salem is an independent city and also houses county functions. Staff can assist with record lookups and copies. Bring a valid photo ID when visiting in person.

The Roanoke County government website provides contact details for the Circuit Court Clerk and information about county records services.

This page from the Roanoke County government site covers department contacts and links to court and records resources in Salem.

Roanoke County Death Certificates

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

The VDH serves Roanoke County through the Alleghany Health District. That office can certify death certificate applications and issue copies for deaths in the county. You can also go directly to the state Office of Vital Records at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227, open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Customer Care phone number is (804) 662-6200. The VDH also runs an online ordering system at vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records where you can apply, pay, and track requests.

When requesting a death certificate, have ready the full name of the deceased, the date or approximate year of death, the county where death occurred, and your relationship to the person. Certified copies are legal documents accepted for estate purposes, insurance claims, and property transfers.

The Virginia Department of Health Alleghany Health District page serves Roanoke County and covers death certificate services and local health department contacts.

This VDH page shows the local health district that handles death certificate requests for Roanoke County residents and provides service location details.

Historical Roanoke County Obituaries and Death Records

The Library of Virginia is the main source for older Roanoke County death records. The Library holds death registers from 1853 to 1896 on microfilm that can be borrowed through Interlibrary Loan from your local public library. From 1912 to 1939, the Library holds death certificates on microfilm arranged by year and month. For deaths from 1897 to 1911, Roanoke City kept records during those years, but county records for that gap are limited. The Library's guide at lva-virginia.libguides.com/bmd/death explains what is available and how to locate the right records.

The History Museum of Western Virginia maintains local history collections for Roanoke County and the surrounding region. The museum holds archives of local newspapers and family papers that may include obituary notices for county residents. Research assistance is available through the museum. Their collection complements the state records and is especially useful for obituaries published in Roanoke Valley newspapers from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s.

The Henley Marriage and Obituary Index covers Virginia newspapers from 1736 through 1982, drawing from more than 150 papers statewide. Roanoke Valley papers are included. You can search this index through the Library of Virginia's online catalog or in person at the Library in Richmond. The Roanoke County Public Library also provides access to genealogical databases including Ancestry Library Edition, which is useful for searching death records and obituaries from the area.

The Library of Virginia death records guide explains the microfilm collections and digital databases available for Roanoke County historical death research.

This guide covers the LVA microfilm holdings, including the 1853 to 1896 death registers and the 1912 to 1939 certificate microfilm series relevant to Roanoke County research.

Search Roanoke County Death Records Online

Find It Virginia at finditva.com gives free access to Virginia death records from 1912 to the present through Ancestry.com. You need a Virginia public library card to log in. Once you are in, you can search and download death certificate images at no cost. This tool is one of the best free options for Roanoke County obituary and death record searches from home.

The Virginia Genealogy site at virginiagenealogy.org/obits lists obituary resources from across the state, including newspaper indexes and funeral home databases that may cover Roanoke County. Many notices from Roanoke Valley papers have been transcribed by volunteers and posted online.

The Virginia Museum of History and Culture at virginiahistory.org holds family papers, Bible records, and manuscript collections. Some of these include death notices and obituaries for Roanoke County families. The collection is partially searchable online and staff can assist with research requests by mail or in person at the Richmond facility.

Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-3700, most government-held records are presumed open to the public. Death records older than 25 years are public under the vital records law. For records within 25 years, you must show proof of family relationship.

The Find It Virginia portal offers free Ancestry access for Virginia library cardholders searching Roanoke County death records and related vital statistics.

This free resource lets Virginia residents search and download official death records through Ancestry without a paid subscription, using a local library card.

Virginia Law and Roanoke County Death Records

Virginia's vital records law under Code of Virginia Title 32.1, Chapter 7 controls access to death certificates in Roanoke County. Section 32.1-272 says the State Registrar must issue a certified copy of any vital record upon written request. The fee is $12 per copy. Deaths within the last 25 years are restricted to immediate family: spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. A valid photo ID and a signed request form are required.

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act at Section 2.2-3700 sets out the public's right to access government records. Death records older than 25 years are public records and generally available to any requester. If a request is denied and you believe it should not have been, you can contact the Freedom of Information Advisory Council at (804) 698-1810 for guidance.

Certified copies are needed for legal purposes such as estate settlement, life insurance claims, pension applications, and property transfers. Plain uncertified copies may work for genealogical research but are not accepted as legal proof. The VDH and local health departments can tell you which type of copy fits your need when you place a request.

Cities Near Roanoke County

Roanoke County surrounds two independent cities that have their own death record systems but share the same general region. Both cities have pages on this site.

Other communities in Roanoke County include Vinton, Cave Spring, Hollins, and Bent Mountain. Deaths in unincorporated county areas are handled through the Roanoke County Circuit Court and the VDH Alleghany Health District.

Nearby Counties

These counties border or sit near Roanoke County in southwestern Virginia. Each has its own Circuit Court Clerk and health department for death records.