Search New Kent County Death Records

New Kent County death records are split between the Virginia Department of Health, which holds certified death certificates from 1912 to the present, and the Library of Virginia, which maintains surviving historical registers. New Kent has a unique history of record loss due to courthouse fires in 1787 and 1864, which affects what is available for early periods. Despite these gaps, researchers can find death index entries through online tools, the state vital records office, and microfilm collections at the Library of Virginia. This page explains each source and how to use them.

New Kent County Death Index: Record Loss History

New Kent County has one of the most significant gaps in local records of any Virginia county. Two courthouse fires destroyed nearly all colonial-era documents. The first fire in 1787 wiped out most records from the colonial period. The second, which struck during the Civil War in 1864, destroyed additional records. What remains from before 1864 is sparse. Records since 1864 are generally intact and in good condition.

For the period from 1853 to 1864, some death register entries may exist in the Library of Virginia's microfilm collection, but coverage is incomplete. The Library of Virginia's death records guide explains what survived and how to access it. Researchers should expect gaps and should use substitute sources such as church records, cemetery inscriptions, Bible records, and estate files to piece together deaths during missing periods.

The bottom line: if you are searching for New Kent County deaths before 1864, plan for limited official records and broader substitute research. Deaths from 1864 onward have much better coverage, and deaths from 1912 to the present are fully available through the state vital records office.

Virginia Department of Health - Death Certificates

The Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records holds death certificates for New Kent County from June 1912 to the present. You can apply online through the VDH website, walk in to the Richmond office at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, or mail a request to VDH, Office of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000. Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Each certified copy costs $12. You can pay by check, money order, credit card, mobile pay, or cash. Make checks payable to State Health Department. You must include a legible copy of a government-issued photo ID. Under Virginia Code Title 32.1, Chapter 7, death records become public 25 years after the date of death. Before that, only the spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent of the deceased can get a copy.

VitalChek is the authorized online service for ordering Virginia death certificates. An extra processing fee applies beyond the $12 state cost. The Virginia DMV also issues certified death certificates at full-service locations for $12 plus a $2 service charge.

Library of Virginia Records for New Kent County

The Library of Virginia holds death registers from 1853 to 1896 on microfilm for Virginia counties, including what survived for New Kent County after the courthouse fires. These registers can be borrowed through Interlibrary Loan from the Library of Virginia at 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Phone for archives is 804-692-3888.

Virginia residents can access death registers and certificates through the Ancestry for Virginians program at no cost. This program requires a Virginia public library card and provides access to Virginia Death Records (1912-2014) and Virginia Death Registers (1853-1911). You can search, view, and download digital copies for free. The Library also holds a death index for 1912-1954 that shows the certificate year and number, which helps you locate the right document before ordering.

The Virginia Genealogical Society sponsors the Death Index of Virginia, 1853-1896, which indexes entries from county death registers including those that survived for New Kent County. The Virginia Memory platform from the Library of Virginia also provides access to chancery records, which often contain death-related information in estate and inheritance cases.

Online Search for New Kent County Death Records

The Virginia Online Case Information System (OCIS) is a free tool for searching New Kent Circuit Court cases by name or case number. Probate cases, which follow a death and involve estate administration, often appear here and can help confirm dates and next of kin. The system covers all Virginia circuit courts and is searchable by name or case number.

FamilySearch offers several free databases relevant to New Kent County deaths. These include Virginia Deaths and Burials (1853-1912), Virginia Death Certificates (1912-1987), and Virginia Vital Records (1715-1901). Some databases are available without logging in. Others require a free account. FamilySearch is a good starting point for both the historical period and the early 20th century.

Note: Deaths within the past 25 years are restricted to immediate family members and show as indexed data only on Ancestry and FamilySearch, not as images.

Nearby Counties

These counties are located near New Kent County. Each has its own Circuit Court and vital records office for deaths in those jurisdictions.