Search Chesapeake Death Index

The Chesapeake death index covers death records for the City of Chesapeake, Virginia, one of the largest independent cities in the state by land area. Death certificates for Chesapeake can be obtained through the Chesapeake Health Department Vital Records Office or the state Office of Vital Records in Richmond. The city has its own circuit court that handles probate and estate filings. This page covers where to request a certified copy of a Chesapeake death certificate, who qualifies to receive non-public records, what the circuit court maintains, and where to find older records from the Norfolk County era.

Chesapeake Health Department Vital Records

The Chesapeake Health Department Vital Records Office is the primary local source for certified death certificates in the City of Chesapeake. The office is at 748 Battlefield Boulevard North, 1st Floor Counter, Chesapeake, VA 23320. Email is CHDVitalRec@vdh.virginia.gov. The office issues certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for events that occurred in Virginia. Each certified copy of a death certificate costs $12, consistent with the statewide fee set under Virginia Code Title 32.1.

Death records in Virginia become public 25 years after the date of death. Until that point, access is restricted to immediate family members. For Chesapeake death records, eligible requesters include a grandchild, great-grandchild, spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased. This is slightly broader than what some other localities follow, so confirm your eligibility before visiting. You must provide a valid government-issued photo ID and complete an application form. Payment by cash, check, money order, or credit card is accepted. In-person requests may be processed the same day depending on volume.

For records not available locally or for faster service, the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond at (804) 662-6200 handles all Virginia death records. The state office holds records from June 1, 1912 to the present. You can also order online through VitalChek, the state's authorized third-party online ordering system.

Chesapeake Circuit Court Records

The Chesapeake Circuit Court Clerk's Office is at 307 Albemarle Drive, Suite 300A, Chesapeake, VA 23322, phone (757) 382-3000, email ccclerk@cityofchesapeake.net. The court maintains civil case records, criminal case records, probate records including wills and estate administrations, marriage licenses, land records, and divorce records. Death certificates are not kept here. Those come from the health department or the state.

For probate research tied to a Chesapeake death, the Circuit Court Clerk is the right office. Wills filed in Chesapeake are available through the Circuit Clerk's Remote Access Site for online searching. Divorce records are also maintained at the Circuit Court and are public records under Virginia law. To request divorce records, complete the Document Request Form available through the clerk's office. Fees include research costs, copy fees, and certification fees, plus a convenience charge for card payments.

Certified copies of marriage licenses cost $2.50 and can be requested in person or by mail using the spouses' names and the marriage year. The free OCIS online case search provides statewide criminal and civil case data without a fee or login.

Chesapeake Death Records: Historical Context

Chesapeake was formed in 1963 through the merger of Norfolk County and the independent City of South Norfolk. Norfolk County was established in 1691 and is one of the oldest jurisdictions in Virginia. Death records before 1963 are found in Norfolk County collections, not in Chesapeake city records. Researchers tracing deaths from the mid-20th century or earlier need to look under Norfolk County or South Norfolk depending on where the death occurred. The FamilySearch genealogy guide for Chesapeake explains this history and lists available records for both Norfolk County and South Norfolk.

The Chesapeake Public Library provides genealogical resources including Ancestry Library Edition, HeritageQuest Online, Fold3, and local history collections. The library maintains microfilm records and historical documents covering the area's agricultural heritage and suburban development. Library staff can help researchers navigate genealogy databases and local history materials. Programs and workshops on genealogical research are offered at various branches throughout the city.

The Library of Virginia death records research guide covers how to search the Virginia death index for older records. Death records that are 25 or more years old transfer to the Library of Virginia and are available to anyone. The Virginia Genealogical Society maintains early death records from the 1853-1896 period, which covers the Norfolk County era for this area. The Library of Virginia also holds Norfolk County probate records and land records that predate the 1963 merger.

The Chesapeake Circuit Court maintains an online records portal for case searches. Court records can be searched by party name or case number through the Virginia Online Case Information System, which covers all Virginia courts statewide. Probate records from after the 1963 merger appear under Chesapeake City; records from before that date are in Norfolk County or South Norfolk City files, depending on where the death occurred within the current city boundaries.

Nearby Virginia Cities

These independent Virginia cities are near Chesapeake. Each has its own vital records office and circuit court for death record requests.