Henry County Death Index
The Henry County death index covers records from 1853 through the present for this Piedmont Virginia county bordering North Carolina. Deaths filed in Henry County are held by the Virginia Department of Health from June 1912 forward and in historical registers at the Library of Virginia from 1853 to 1896. You can search Henry County death records online, request a certified copy by mail, or visit the Circuit Court Clerk in Martinsville, the independent city that serves as the county's court hub, to find probate records related to a death.
Henry County Overview
Henry County Circuit Court
The Henry County Circuit Court handles probate, land records, and court case files for the county. The Clerk's Office is a key resource for researchers because probate filings after a death reveal details about the deceased, their heirs, and the approximate date of death. Henry County probate records go back to the late 1700s, giving researchers access to historical family records that complement the death index. The Circuit Court does not issue death certificates, but its records serve as a strong supplement.
The Henry County Courts public records page provides information on accessing court records. Case searches for Henry County can also be done through the Virginia Online Case Information System (OCIS), which covers probate, civil, and criminal matters. This is a free statewide tool available without a login.
| Office | Henry County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Location | Henry County Courthouse, Collinsville, VA 24078 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, regular business hours |
| Public Records | henrycountycourts.org/public-records |
Henry County Death Certificates at VDH
Certified death certificates for Henry County deaths from June 1912 forward are held by the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records. The state office is at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227. Walk-in service runs Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You can also apply online, mail a request to P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000, or drop off a completed application at the front desk. Phone for questions: 804-662-6200.
Each certified copy is $12. Under Virginia Code Title 32.1, Chapter 7, death records go public after 25 years. Only the spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent of the deceased can access restricted records. A government-issued photo ID is required. Payment can be made by check payable to State Health Department, money order, credit card, mobile pay, or cash in person.
For online ordering, VitalChek is the authorized service. There is an additional processing fee on top of the $12 state fee. VitalChek handles Henry County deaths from June 1, 1912 to the present.
Henry County Death Index: Historical Records
Henry County death registers from 1853 to 1896 are on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. These registers were compiled under the 1853 Virginia law that required every county Commissioner of Revenue to record deaths annually. Each entry lists the name of the deceased, their age, sex, race, cause of death, place of birth, and occupation, along with the name of the person reporting the death. The Virginia Genealogical Society indexed these registers for the 1853-1896 period, making them searchable at the Library of Virginia.
No official death records were kept in Henry County between 1897 and June 1912. Virginia had no mandatory registration law during that period, and the county did not maintain its own system. Deaths during that gap are generally found only in church records, cemetery lists, newspaper notices, and family records. The federal mortality census schedules from 1880, available at the Library of Virginia, cover deaths in the year ending June 1, 1880 and list name, age, cause of death, and occupation.
Virginia residents can access the full death records index, including Henry County entries for 1912-2014, through Ancestry for Virginians with a free library card. The Library of Virginia also holds microfilm copies of Henry County death certificates from 1912 through 1939 and the statewide death index through 1954. In-person research is available at 800 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Phone: 804-692-3888.
Search Henry County Death Records Online
FamilySearch offers free access to Virginia death databases covering 1853 through 2014. The Virginia Deaths and Burials 1853-1912 collection includes Henry County entries and provides name-based searches without an account. For deaths from 1912 to 1987, the Virginia Death Certificates collection on FamilySearch provides images for records over 25 years old. These databases are especially useful for researchers who cannot visit Richmond in person.
The Virginia Genealogical Society is another solid resource. Their Death Index of Virginia 1853-1896 is searchable through the Library of Virginia and includes Henry County entries. VGS also maintains research publications and member tools focused on Virginia records. For Henry County specifically, checking the VGS's indexed records alongside FamilySearch can help confirm details from historical registers that may be hard to read on microfilm.
Nearby Cities
The independent city of Martinsville sits within Henry County and has its own court and records offices for deaths that occurred within the city limits.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Henry County. Each has its own Circuit Court and vital records resources.