As you recall. the Virginia General Assembly voted on and passed a new two- year budget for the Commonwealth effective July 1, 2026. 

Included in the new two-year budget is an increase in the cost of vital records - including death certificates.  The fee has increased from $12 to $15 effective July 1, 2026.

The Office of Vital Records has circulated a memo clarifying that if you have preprinted any death certificate applications for deaths occurring between June 1, 2026, to June 30, 2026, that were generated from EDRS prior to July 1, 2026, that state, “Virginia statutes require a fee of 12.00 dollars be charged for each certification of a vital record…,” the Office of Vital Records (OVR) will honor the $12 fee.

Requests can be submitted through the OVR walk-in service Monday through Friday 7:00AM to 4:00PM or mail. Please mail the signed application, a copy of the funeral director’s identification, and payment (check or money order) directly to OVR. Both mail‑in and walk‑in services will be accepted at the Office of Vital Records through July 15, 2026. Please note that local health departments and DMVs are unable to process these requests. Request can be mailed to OVR at either address below:

Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you have any questions or need additional clarification, please contact the OVR Field Services Help Desk at OVR.FieldServices@vdh.virginia.gov or 804-662-6218.