Certified Copies in Virginia: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in Virginia
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in Virginia, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $12.00
- Death certificate
- $12.00
- Marriage
- $12.00
- Divorce
- $12.00
Vital records
Issued by: Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Post to: Office of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000
Verify current fees: (804) 662-6200
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $12.00 |
| Death | $12.00 |
| Marriage | $12.00 |
| Divorce | $12.00 |
What Virginia requires
- Birth, death and marriage from after 14 June 1912; divorce from after 1918.
- Online, expedited, telephone and mail ordering are all available.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a Virginia entity come from Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth, Authentications, normally online and often the same day.
Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth, Authentications
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in Virginia goes through Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth, Authentications, at $10.00 per document, and $5.00 for each additional document signed by the same public official on the same date for the same country.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a Virginia birth certificate?
From Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records. Post to Office of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000. A certified copy is $12.00.
Does the Virginia Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
What will Virginia reject?
Birth, death and marriage from after 14 June 1912; divorce from after 1918.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
