Pulaski County Death Index
Pulaski County death records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk in Pulaski and by the Virginia Department of Health's Office of Vital Records in Richmond. This guide explains how to find certified death certificates, historical registers, and probate records for deaths that occurred in Pulaski County from the 1800s through the present day.
Pulaski County Overview
Pulaski County Circuit Court Clerk
The Pulaski County Circuit Court Clerk's Office is located at the courthouse in Pulaski, the county seat. The clerk handles probate filings, land records, marriage licenses, wills, and court case files. Office hours are Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Call ahead to confirm hours and copy fees before visiting.
The Circuit Court does not issue certified death certificates. Those come from the Virginia Department of Health. The court does hold probate records tied to deaths in Pulaski County. Estate filings, wills, and inventories often include the date of death and names of heirs. Records go back to the county's formation in 1839, when it was carved out of Montgomery and Wythe counties.
Pulaski County is in the 27th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Montgomery and Floyd counties. The Town of Pulaski is the county seat and is located within the county. If a death occurred in an adjacent community that straddles a county line, check which county had jurisdiction for that address. The clerk's staff can help clarify.
| Office | Pulaski County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Location | Pulaski County Courthouse, Pulaski, VA |
| Judicial Circuit | 27th Circuit |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, regular business hours |
Virginia Death Records for Pulaski County
The Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records holds certified death certificates for Pulaski 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 a copy: spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. Photo ID is required with all requests.
For online ordering, VitalChek is the state's authorized third-party service. An additional fee applies beyond the $12 state charge. VitalChek covers records from June 1, 1912 forward. Certified copies are also available at full-service Virginia DMV locations with a $2 convenience fee added.
Search the Pulaski County Death Index Online
The Virginia Online Case Information System (OCIS) lets you search Pulaski County court records at no cost. Search by party name or case number. The system covers civil, criminal, and probate filings. Probate records often appear in OCIS when an estate is filed after a death, and they can help establish an approximate date of death when the certificate is still restricted under the 25-year rule.
The Library of Virginia holds death registers from 1853 to 1896 on microfilm, including Pulaski 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. For southwest Virginia research, these registers cover the New River Valley region that includes Pulaski County.
Virginia residents can use 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. Check here first before contacting VDH to confirm the right certificate number for your request.
Pulaski County Death Records: Historical Research
Pulaski County was formed from Montgomery and Wythe counties in 1839. It is in the New River Valley in southwest Virginia. Death records follow the statewide Virginia pattern: no formal registration before 1853, registers from 1853 to 1896, a gap from 1897 through May 1912, and continuous state registration from June 1912 forward. The gap from 1897 to 1912 affects all Virginia counties. In Pulaski County, church records and family papers are the best supplementary sources for that period.
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 Pulaski County entries and is searchable through the Library of Virginia.
The Library of Virginia holds a death index through 1954. Use that index to find the right certificate number before ordering from VDH. Federal mortality census schedules from 1850 to 1880 are also at the Library of Virginia and can supplement Pulaski County death research for those years. Before 1853, the county's probate records at the Pulaski courthouse are the primary source for death information in the county.
Nearby Counties
These counties border or sit near Pulaski County. Each has its own Circuit Court and vital records resources for deaths in those jurisdictions.