Virginia

Open Public Record Act:

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act provides citizens the right to access public records. These records may be open to inspection and copying except if otherwise stated by law. Any request for public records must be addressed within five working days after receipt.

Birth Records:

Births that occurred in the state of Virginia from 1912 to present are stored with the Division of Vital Records. All birth records are not considered public information unless they are more than 100 years old. Only immediate family members are eligible to receive copies of birth records as long as they are able to provide valid ID as proof of identity. Legal guardians with proof of custody papers are also eligible.

You can obtain a birth certificate from this office by mail or in person. You can also request for a copy through a third party vendor, VitalChek, online. In addition, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles also issues certified copies of birth records.

Marriage Records:

Marriages that took place in the state of Virginia from 1936 to present are indexed with the Division of Vital Records. All marriage records are not considered public information unless they are more than 25 years old. Only immediate family members are eligible to receive copies of marriage records as long as they are able to provide a clear copy of a valid ID as proof of identity. Legal guardians with proof of custody papers are also eligible.

You can obtain a marriage certificate from this office by mail or in person. You can also request for a copy through a third party vendor, VitalChek, online. In addition, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles also issues certified copies of birth records.

Divorce Records:

Divorces that were granted in the state of Virginia from 1918 to present are filed with the Division of Vital Records. Unless it has been more than 25 years after the event, divorce records are not considered public information. Only immediate family members are eligible to receive copies of divorce records as long as they are able to provide a clear copy of a valid ID as proof of identity. Legal guardians with proof of custody papers are also eligible.

You can obtain a divorce certificate from this office by mail or in person. You can also request for a copy through a third party vendor, VitalChek, online. In addition, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles also issues certified copies of birth records.

Death Records:

All deaths that occurred in the state of Virginia from 1912 to present are recorded by the Division of Vital Records. Unless it has been more than 25 years after the event, death records are not considered public information. Only immediate family members are eligible to receive copies of death records as long as they are able to provide a clear copy of a valid ID as proof of identity. Legal guardians with proof of custody papers are also eligible.

You can obtain a death certificate from this office by mail or in person. You can also request for a copy through a third party vendor, VitalChek, online. In addition, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles also issues certified copies of birth records.

Missing People:

The Virginia State Police maintains a list of all missing persons reported in the state. The list is arranged alphabetically according to last name. You can filter through the list by selecting the first letter of the last name. Each listing shows the missing person’s photo, name, physical description, missing from, missing since, other details regarding his/her disappearance, and the law enforcement agency handling the case.

Elected Officials:

The official state website of Virginia provides information about the various elected officials serving the public under each branch of government. Each branch will have a list of elected officials with links to their websites as well as contact information. There are also resources provided explaining the duties and responsibilities of each office. For example, under the Executive Branch, you’ll find the incumbent governor Ralph Northam listed along with a link to a webpage explaining his constituent services and links to his administration, website, and contact information.

Public Records

Court Records

Recorder