Covington Death Index

The Covington death index covers death records for the City of Covington, Virginia, an independent city in the Alleghany Highlands surrounded by Alleghany County. Death certificates for Covington are ordered through the Alleghany/Covington Health District or the state Office of Vital Records in Richmond. There is an important detail about Covington: the local health department does not keep certificates on file. All requests go to Richmond. This page explains how to obtain Covington death records, what probate records the circuit court holds, and where historical records are available for family research.

Covington Death Certificates: How to Get One

The Alleghany/Covington Health District is at 321 Beech Street, P.O. Box 747, Covington, VA 24426, phone (540) 962-2173. The health department provides public health services including vital records. There is a critical point that many requesters miss: no death certificates are kept on file at the Covington health department. Certificates must be ordered from the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond. The health department can assist with completing the application, but the certificate itself comes from the state.

The Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records is at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227, phone (804) 662-6200. Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Requests can also be submitted by mail. Each certified copy costs $12.00, set by the state under Virginia Code Title 32.1. Payment can be made by check, money order, credit card, or cash if visiting in person. Checks should be made payable to the State Health Department.

Death records less than 25 years old are restricted to immediate family members. Eligible requesters include the spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent of the deceased. A valid government-issued photo ID is required. Records 25 or more years old become public and can be requested by anyone from the state Office of Vital Records or the Library of Virginia.

Covington Death Index: Circuit Court and Probate

The Covington Circuit Court serves as the court of general jurisdiction for the city. The Clerk of Circuit Court maintains civil and criminal case records, land records including deeds and mortgages, marriage licenses, probate records including wills and estate administrations, and judgment records. Death certificates are not available here. But probate filings tied to Covington deaths are found at the circuit court.

Probate in Covington requires the original will, a certified copy of the death certificate, and documentation on heirs and the approximate value of the estate. The court also handles estates without a will through administration proceedings. Fees vary by estate size. Marriage licenses are issued by the Circuit Court. Both parties must appear with valid ID. There is no waiting period in Virginia, and licenses are valid for 60 days.

The City of Covington website provides general information about city services. The City Clerk maintains FOIA-eligible city records but does not issue vital records. For online court case searches, the free OCIS system covers criminal and civil cases statewide.

Covington Death Index: Historical Research

Covington became an independent city in 1908. Before that, it was part of Alleghany County. Deaths before 1908 are recorded in Alleghany County collections, not city records. The FamilySearch genealogy guide for Covington notes this history and covers available records for both the city and county. Researchers tracing families from the late 19th century or earlier need to check Alleghany County alongside any city resources.

An additional historical complication involves Clifton Forge. That town was independent of Alleghany County until a relatively recent consolidation. For deaths in the Clifton Forge area, researchers should check both Alleghany County and Clifton Forge records. The Clifton Forge Courthouse can be reached at (540) 863-2508 for guidance on pre-consolidation records.

The Alleghany County Historical Society serves Covington, Clifton Forge, and Alleghany County. The society holds manuscript collections, photographs, maps, railroad history materials, and genealogical files documenting the Alleghany Highlands region. Archives are open by appointment. The Alleghany Highlands Genealogical Society is another local resource, contactable through the Covington library at 1011 North Rockbridge Avenue, Covington, VA 24426. The Library of Virginia death records guide and the Virginia Genealogical Society death index cover the 1853-1896 period for this region.

VitalChek at vitalchek.com is the authorized online ordering platform for Virginia death certificates if you prefer not to submit a mail request or visit Richmond. Federal mortality census schedules from 1850 to 1880 are held at the Library of Virginia and list Alleghany County residents, including those from the Covington area, who died in the twelve months before each census. These schedules include name, age, sex, occupation, and cause of death and are searchable through Ancestry for Virginians. They are one of the most useful sources for deaths from before 1853 and for the 1897-1912 gap period when no official registration occurred statewide.

Nearby Virginia Cities

These independent Virginia cities are near Covington. Each has its own vital records system and circuit court.

For county-level death records in the surrounding area, see Alleghany County.