Prince Edward County Death Index
Prince Edward County death records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk in Farmville and by the Virginia Department of Health's Office of Vital Records in Richmond. The county's clerk holds historical death registers from 1853 to 1969 on file, along with probate records, land records, and court case files going back to the county's founding in 1753.
Prince Edward County Overview
Prince Edward County Circuit Court Clerk
The Prince Edward County Circuit Court Clerk's Office is at 111 South Street, 1st Floor, Farmville, VA 23901. The clerk is Lynnette Coe. Phone: (434) 392-5145. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Circuit Court does not issue certified death certificates. Those come from the Virginia Department of Health. However, the clerk's office holds historical death registers from 1853 to 1969 on file, which is notable. This means that for deaths in Prince Edward County during those years, the clerk's office may be a useful contact beyond VDH. The office also maintains land records with images available from January 1, 1940, and online records (land records, wills, judgments, and UCCs) from January 1, 2001 to the present. A Secure Remote Access (SRA) system is available for real estate records.
Prince Edward County is in the 10th Judicial Circuit. Probate records in the clerk's office include wills and estate inventories going back to the county's formation in 1753. Land records with images from January 1, 1940, are accessible online. For older records, an in-person visit or written request to the clerk's office is necessary.
| Office | Prince Edward County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Lynnette Coe |
| Address | 111 South Street, 1st Floor Farmville, VA 23901 |
| Phone | (434) 392-5145 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Online Records | Land records from 1/1/1916 (images from 1/1/1940); wills, judgments, UCCs from 1/1/2001 |
Virginia Death Records for Prince Edward County
The Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records holds certified death certificates for Prince Edward County deaths from June 1912 to the present. The office is at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227. Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mail requests to P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000. Phone: (804) 662-6200.
Certified copies cost $12 each. Accepted payment forms include check, money order, credit card, mobile pay, and cash. Make checks payable to State Health Department. Under Virginia Code Title 32.1, Chapter 7, death records become public 25 years after the date of death. Before that, only immediate family can request: spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent of the deceased. Photo ID is required.
The Piedmont Health District office is located at 111 South Street, Farmville, VA 23901, phone (434) 392-8187. This local health department office can assist with vital records questions and direct you to the right request process for Prince Edward County deaths.
For online ordering, VitalChek is the state's authorized third-party service. An additional fee applies beyond the $12 state charge. VitalChek handles records from June 1, 1912 forward. Certified copies are also available at any full-service Virginia DMV location with a $2 convenience fee.
Search the Prince Edward County Death Index Online
The Virginia Online Case Information System (OCIS) lets you search Prince Edward County court records free of charge. Search by party name or case number. This covers civil, criminal, and probate filings. The clerk's office also offers online access to land records, wills, judgments, and UCCs from January 1, 2001 to the present through the SRA system.
The Library of Virginia holds death registers from 1853 to 1896 on microfilm, including Prince Edward County records. These can be borrowed through interlibrary loan. The registers list name, race, sex, date and place of death, cause, age, occupation, marital status, and parents' names. The clerk's office also holds historical death registers from 1853 to 1969, which may be consulted directly in Farmville.
Virginia residents can access Ancestry for Virginians at no cost. This program provides free access to Virginia Death Records from 1912 to 2014 and Virginia Death Registers from 1853 to 1911. A free Library of Virginia card or a participating library card is required.
FamilySearch has free Virginia death databases covering 1853 to 1912. Searching FamilySearch before contacting VDH can help confirm the right certificate number for your request.
Prince Edward County Death Records: Historical Research
Prince Edward County was formed from Amelia County in 1753. It sits in the southside Virginia Piedmont, with Farmville as the county seat. Death records follow the statewide Virginia pattern: no systematic registration before 1853, registers from 1853 to 1896, a gap from 1897 through May 1912, and continuous state registration from June 1912 forward. The clerk's office in Farmville holds historical death registers from 1853 to 1969 on file, which is an unusual resource that may help supplement state records.
The death registers from 1853 to 1896 are held on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. The Virginia Genealogical Society sponsors the Death Index of Virginia, 1853-1896, which covers Prince Edward County entries. Federal mortality census schedules from 1850 to 1880 are at the Library of Virginia and can provide supplementary death data for the county.
The Library of Virginia holds a death index through 1954. Use that index to find the right certificate number before ordering from VDH. Before 1853, the county's probate records at the Farmville courthouse are the primary source for death information. The county's long history since 1753 means a substantial set of early estate records is available for research.
Nearby Counties
These counties border or sit near Prince Edward County. Each has its own Circuit Court and vital records resources for deaths in those jurisdictions.