Find Death Records in Northampton County

Northampton County death records can be found through the Virginia Department of Health for deaths from 1912 to the present, and through the Library of Virginia for historical registers covering 1853 to 1896. Northampton County sits on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, which gives it a distinct geographic character but follows the same statewide vital records system as other Virginia counties. Whether you need a certified death certificate for legal purposes or are tracing family history, this page covers the key sources and how to use them.

Northampton County Death Certificates

The Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records is the official source for Northampton County death certificates from June 1912 to the present. You can apply for a certified copy 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. The walk-in office is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Each certified copy costs $12. Payment is accepted by check, money order, credit card, mobile pay, or cash. Checks should be made payable to State Health Department. A legible copy of a valid government-issued photo ID must be included with any request. Under Virginia Code Title 32.1, Chapter 7, death records become public 25 years after the date of death. Records that have not yet passed this mark are only available to the spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent of the deceased.

The Virginia DMV also provides certified copies of death certificates at full-service locations for $12 plus a $2 processing fee. VitalChek is the state's authorized online ordering partner and charges an additional processing fee on top of the standard $12.

Historical Northampton County Death Index Records

Virginia's first death registration law was passed in 1853. County commissioners of revenue recorded deaths each year and forwarded the data to the clerk of court. The system continued until 1896, when the legislature repealed the recording provisions. The resulting registers for Northampton County are held on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. These can be borrowed through Interlibrary Loan from 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219.

The historical death registers contain a rich set of details: name of deceased, race and sex, date and place of death, cause of death, age at death, place of birth, occupation, marital status, names of parents, and the name and description of the informant. For 19th century research in Northampton County, these registers are often the best primary source available during the 1853-1896 period.

There is a gap from 1897 to June 1912 when no statewide death registration was required. Deaths during that period must be located through substitute records such as church registers, cemetery surveys, Bible records, newspaper obituaries, and estate files. The Virginia Genealogical Society sponsors the Death Index of Virginia, 1853-1896, which indexes entries from the county death registers and can help narrow down a specific record before requesting the microfilm.

Online Search Options

Virginia residents can use Ancestry for Virginians to search and download Virginia Death Records (1912-2014) and Virginia Death Registers (1853-1911) for free with a public library card. This is one of the best free tools for finding Northampton County deaths across both the historical period and the modern era.

FamilySearch provides free access to Virginia Deaths and Burials (1853-1912), Virginia Death Certificates (1912-1987), and Virginia Vital Records (1715-1901). The Virginia Online Case Information System (OCIS) lets you search Northampton Circuit Court case records, including probate cases that often contain death information.

The Library of Virginia's death index covers 1912-1954 and can help you find a certificate year and number before ordering a copy. The Virginia Memory digital collections include chancery records that may contain death-related data from estate and inheritance cases in Northampton County.

Northampton County Circuit Court

The Northampton County Circuit Court Clerk handles probate matters, land records, marriage licenses, and court case files. The courthouse is located in Eastville, the county seat. The Clerk's office maintains records tied to estate administration and wills, which can supplement your death index research. Probate cases filed after a death appear in the OCIS system and can be searched by name at no cost.

Northampton County is one of Virginia's oldest counties, formed in 1634. Its land records and court files go back centuries. For deaths in the colonial period, wills and estate inventories filed with the court are often the only documentation of a person's death. The Library of Virginia's chancery records index covers Northampton County and is searchable through Virginia Memory.

Note: Birth and death certificates are not kept at the Circuit Court Clerk's office. Those must come from the Virginia Department of Health or the local health district office.

Nearby Counties

Northampton County shares the Eastern Shore peninsula with its neighbor to the north. These counties also have vital records resources for deaths in their jurisdictions.