Westmoreland County Death Index

Westmoreland County death records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk in Montross and by the Virginia Department of Health's Office of Vital Records. The Westmoreland County death index covers deaths from 1853 through the present. The county sits on the Northern Neck peninsula between the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers and has a record-keeping history going back to 1653. This page covers where to find death records in Westmoreland County and how to request copies.

Westmoreland County Circuit Court Clerk

The Westmoreland County Circuit Court Clerk's Office is in Montross, the county seat. The Clerk maintains probate records, wills, estate inventories, land records, marriage licenses, and court case files that support death index research. The Circuit Court does not issue certified death certificates. Those come from the Virginia Department of Health. Probate records filed after a death, however, often include the date of death, names of heirs, and estate details, and are publicly accessible through the Clerk's office.

Westmoreland County is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Lancaster, Northumberland, and Richmond County. Online case searches for Westmoreland County records are available through the Virginia Online Case Information System at no charge. You can search by party name or case number. The system covers civil, criminal, and probate cases. Land records for Westmoreland County may also be accessible online through the Virginia Judiciary's land records portal.

Westmoreland County is one of the older Virginia counties and holds records going back to the colonial era. The county has produced several notable Virginia families and is birthplace of Presidents George Washington and James Monroe, both of whom were born in Westmoreland County. Historical records from the county span a very long period, and researchers working on Westmoreland families often find materials at the Library of Virginia alongside more recent records at the Circuit Court.

Virginia Death Records for Westmoreland County

The Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records holds certified death certificates for Westmoreland County deaths from June 1912 to the present. The state 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 go to P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000. Phone: (804) 662-6200.

Each certified copy costs $12. Payment options include check, money order, credit card, mobile pay, or cash in person. Under Virginia Code Title 32.1, Chapter 7, death records become public 25 years after the date of death. Before that, only immediate family members may request a copy. Eligible family members are the spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent of the deceased. A legible copy of a government-issued photo ID is required with any request.

Westmoreland County is served by the Northern Neck Health District, one of Virginia's regional health districts. The local district offices may be able to assist with vital records questions and refer you to the correct state office. VitalChek is the authorized online ordering service for Virginia death certificates. An extra processing fee applies beyond the $12 state fee.

Search the Westmoreland County Death Index Online

The Virginia Online Case Information System (OCIS) lets you search Westmoreland County court records by name or case number at no cost. Probate cases connected to deaths in Westmoreland County appear in this system and can help confirm death dates when certificates are still restricted. The OCIS covers civil, criminal, and probate cases for all Virginia courts.

The Library of Virginia holds Westmoreland County death registers from 1853 to 1896 on microfilm. These are available through interlibrary loan. The registers include name, race and sex, date and place of death, cause of death, age, occupation, marital status, and parents' names for each entry. For the gap period from 1897 to June 1912, researchers should check church records, cemetery surveys, and newspaper records, which are especially rich for a county with Westmoreland's long history.

Ancestry for Virginians is free for Virginia residents with a library card and includes Virginia Death Records 1912-2014 and Death Registers 1853-1911, both of which cover Westmoreland County. FamilySearch includes free Virginia Deaths and Burials 1853-1912 and Virginia Death Certificates 1912-1987. The Virginia Genealogical Society Death Index of Virginia, 1853-1896, covers Westmoreland County entries and can help narrow a search before ordering from the Library of Virginia.

The Northern Neck of Virginia presents unique research challenges because the same family lines often appear in Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond County, and Westmoreland County records. Boundaries in this region shifted over the centuries, and families moved among the four Northern Neck counties. Researchers tracing Westmoreland County families should plan to check all four counties when the trail goes cold in one jurisdiction. Colonial-era records from Westmoreland County are extensive and include some of the oldest surviving Virginia land grants and court records.

Westmoreland County Death Records: Historical Research

Westmoreland County was formed in 1653 from Northumberland County. It sits on the Northern Neck, a peninsula bounded by the Potomac River to the north and the Rappahannock River to the south. The county has one of the longest unbroken record-keeping histories in Virginia, and surviving records go back to the colonial period. Several of the most prominent families in Virginia history originated in Westmoreland County, including the Lees, Washingtons, and Monroes.

Death records in Westmoreland County follow Virginia's statewide pattern. Official registration ran from 1853 to 1896, then stopped from 1897 through May 1912. The modern system resumed in June 1912. Before 1853, no official state death registration existed. Researchers working on earlier Westmoreland County deaths should look at church records, which are well preserved for many Northern Neck congregations. Anglican and later Episcopal church registers are especially detailed and date back to the colonial era. Several have been transcribed and published by genealogical societies.

The Westmoreland County courthouse at Montross has survived relatively intact, and many original records are held there and at the Library of Virginia. The county has not suffered the courthouse fires and record losses that affected some other Virginia counties. Federal mortality census schedules from 1850 to 1880 at the Library of Virginia list Westmoreland County residents who died in the twelve months before each census. These are available on microfilm and can be searched alongside the official death registers.

For deaths after 1954, the Library of Virginia's death index by year and certificate number is searchable through Ancestry for Virginians and covers deaths through 2014. Once you have the year and certificate number, you can order a copy from VDH with that information included in the request. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and the Virginia Historical Society also hold manuscript collections related to Westmoreland County families that can supplement death research in the earliest periods.

Nearby Counties

These counties border or sit near Westmoreland County. Each has its own Circuit Court and vital records resources.