Vital Records

Research

The search for vital records in Virginia depends a great deal on the time period you are researching. Virginia required registration of births, marriages and deaths from 1853 to 1896. No state registration was required from 1896 to 1912, but some counties and cities continued to collect information. Luckily, Warwick County and the city of Newport News are among those that did. Registrations were again required at the state level beginning in 1912. 

1853 Through 1896

  • The Virginia Department of Health - Office of Vital Records
  • We have these registers on microfilm for you to view in the Virginiana Room:
    • Birth PlaceYear
      Newport News1890 and 1896
      Warwick County1895 through 1854
    • MarriagesYear
      Newport News1896 through 1926
      1927 through 1935
      Warwick County1853 through 1899
    • DeathsYear
      Newport News1896
      Warwick County1853 through 1896 (missing 1855, 1860 through 1865, 1867 through 1870, 1873, 1881 through 1982)
  • All counties and cities for this time period are available within Virginia through interlibrary loan from the Library of Virginia at no cost. If you want to request an interlibrary loan through us, you need to have a Newport News library card.
  • Death Records Indexing Project (DRIP) - sponsored by the Virginia Genealogical Society and made available online via the Library of Virginia's Digital Library Program. This project is still in process - but there are several counties already available.  Check it out!

1896 Through 1912

For 1896 through 1912 births, marriages, and deaths in Warwick County and city of Newport News call 757-594-7314 or contact:
Newport News Health Department
Vital Statistics and Records
416 J. Clyde Morris Boulevard
Newport News, VA  23601

1912 Through Present

Birth, marriage, and death records from 1912 to the present and divorce records from 1918 to the present are available from the Virginia Department of Health - Office of Vital Records. Be aware that by law birth records of the last 100 years are available to immediate family members only, and death, marriage, and divorce records are only available 50 years after the event. Contact the Virginia Department of Health for current costs to obtain records.