Find Death Records in Colonial Heights

Death records for Colonial Heights are available through two sources: the Colonial Heights Circuit Court Clerk handles local probate and estate records tied to deaths, and the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond issues certified death certificates. Colonial Heights is an independent city in the 12th Judicial Circuit, bordered by Prince George County and neighboring the city of Petersburg. This page explains how to get death records from both sources, what fees apply, and where older historical records are held.

Colonial Heights Circuit Court

The Colonial Heights Circuit Court serves the 12th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. The clerk's office is the place to go for probate records, estate inventories, wills, and other court filings that may be connected to a death in Colonial Heights. If someone died while owning property or having debts in the city, related filings are likely on record with the clerk. Court records are different from certified death certificates but can provide important details about a person's death and estate.

Call or email the clerk's office before you visit to confirm what records are on file and what you need to bring. The court does not issue death certificates. For a certified death certificate, you must go through the VDH Office of Vital Records in Richmond.

Virginia's statewide case search tool at vacourts.gov lets you look up civil and criminal case records for Colonial Heights and every other circuit in the state. Use it to search by name or case number for any filed proceedings related to a deceased person's estate.

Chesterfield Health District

Colonial Heights is served by the Chesterfield Health District under the Virginia Department of Health. The district covers Chesterfield County, Powhatan County, and the city of Colonial Heights, serving a combined population of about 434,000 people. The local health department handles environmental health, immunizations, WIC services, and vital records inquiries, but it does not issue certified death certificates directly.

For vital records questions specific to Colonial Heights, you can call the Chesterfield and Colonial Heights Health Department at (804) 748-1691. Environmental health and vital records inquiries use the same number. For certified death certificate copies, all requests go to the state Office of Vital Records in Richmond. The local health office can help confirm what documentation you need and where to send your application.

The VDH Customer Care Center at (804) 662-6200 is the main contact line for statewide vital records questions. Staff there can answer questions about eligibility, processing times, and what forms to use. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

How to Request Death Records in Colonial Heights

All certified death certificate requests for Colonial Heights go through the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records. There is no local office in Colonial Heights that issues copies. You have three ways to request: online, by mail, or in person in Richmond.

Online is the fastest standard option. The OVR online system lets you apply, pay by credit card, and track your request status. Online applications take about 5 business days. If you need the certificate faster, use the VitalChek express delivery option when checking out. Full instructions are at the applications page.

For mail requests, print and fill out the VDH application, then mail it with payment to: Office of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000. Mail applications take about 8 business days from receipt at the state office. Make checks or money orders payable to the State Health Department. Do not send cash by mail.

Walk-in service is at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227, open Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Walk-ins are same-day service in most cases. The cash register closes at 3:45 PM, so arrive well before closing. You can also drop off a completed paper application at the front desk and either pick it up or have it mailed to you. Pick-up items must be received by 2:00 PM. Check walk-in locations for the most current hours.

Who Can Obtain a Death Certificate

Virginia restricts certified death certificates to authorized requesters for records less than 25 years old. Once 25 years have passed from the date of death, the record becomes public and anyone may request it.

Authorized parties include the spouse, parent, adult child, or sibling of the deceased. Legal representatives, attorneys acting for an estate, and government agencies with a valid need can also request records. You must provide a valid photo ID and state your relationship to the person who died. The ID requirements page has a full list of acceptable identification.

If you are researching family history and the death occurred more than 25 years ago, the record is open to you without showing a family connection. For genealogy purposes, the VDH genealogy index covers deaths from 1912 forward. The FAQ page explains the process for both family members and other researchers.

Fees and Processing Times

Virginia charges $12.00 per death certificate copy or search. The fee is the same whether or not the record is found. No refunds are given for unsuccessful searches. Payment is accepted by check, money order, credit card, mobile pay, or cash at the walk-in office in Richmond.

If you need to correct or update an existing death certificate, the amendment fee is $10.00. If you also want a certified copy of the updated record, the total comes to $22.00. These fees are set by the Code of Virginia and apply statewide. Colonial Heights uses the same fee schedule as every other city and county in the state.

Processing times: online requests take about 5 business days; mail requests take about 8 business days from the date received at the state office; walk-in requests in Richmond are same-day. Amendments may take longer depending on what needs to change. VitalChek express delivery is available for faster turnaround on online orders.

Historical Death Records in Colonial Heights

Older death records from Colonial Heights and the broader Tri-Cities area are held at the Library of Virginia in Richmond. The library keeps Virginia birth and death records on microfilm for the years 1853 to 1896. These records are free to view at 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Microfilm reels can also be borrowed through interlibrary loan and sent to your local library at no charge for up to 28 days.

There is a gap in Virginia's death records from 1896 to 1912. Statewide registration stopped in 1896 and did not pick back up until 1912. Deaths in those 16 years may not be in the state system. Local church records, newspaper death notices, and cemetery records are often the best source for that time frame. After 1912, records are indexed through VDH and searchable via the genealogy portal.

Colonial Heights became an independent city in 1948, having been part of Chesterfield County before that. If you are looking for death records from before 1948 for people in what is now Colonial Heights, those records would be filed under Chesterfield County. The Library of Virginia can help you find which collections cover that period and area.

The Colonial Heights area also shares history with neighboring Petersburg. Wills and estate records from older Colonial Heights deaths may be found at the Library of Virginia or in local court archives. VDH's genealogy index is the most direct route for deaths from 1912 onward once those records have passed the 25-year public access mark.

Nearby Cities and Counties

Colonial Heights sits between Petersburg and Chesterfield County. These nearby jurisdictions also use the VDH system for death certificate requests.