Home Fake vital records websites charging fees for application forms
Local News

Fake vital records websites charging fees for application forms

Contributors
economy business
Photo Credit: lilcrazyfuzzy

The State Health Commissioner is warning Virginians not to use any third party services to obtain vital records and not to pay any fee for vital records application forms, which have always been and always will be free.

Although the forms are free, there are fees for searches.  Please ensure that any required payment goes directly to the Office of Vital Records. Official information and application forms are available at any Vital Records office in Virginia and the VDH website.  The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is also an official resource for vital records information.

“The Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records and the DMV are always available to provide low or no cost resources to all Virginians.  Use of an unauthorized, outside entity is costly and completely unnecessary,” said Dr. M. Norman Oliver, State Health Commissioner.  “When Googling information, please make sure to only use official VDH and DMV websites.”

Many forms and transactions can be downloaded or performed on the Office of Vital Records’ website.  Before proceeding with any download or transaction, VDH advises Virginians to make sure www.vdh.virginia.gov is in the address bar.

The VDH Office of Vital Records has received complaints from customers who have mistakenly ordered and paid for vital records application forms from third party websites.  These online services have no affiliation with the VDH Office of Vital Records or any state government entity. These unaffiliated websites are also charging consumers unnecessary and inflated fees for vital records, and this trend appears to be a nationwide problem.

Information regarding how to acquire a certified Virginia vital record can be found here.

Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.

Latest News

robert f. kennedy jr.
Virginia News

Doctor: Higher infection rates of flu, COVID, RSV, norovirus in areas with lower vaccination rates

Sgt. Bill Mikolay Augusta County Sheriff's Office
Local News

Augusta County sheriff’s deputy resolves assault charge with Alford plea

An Augusta County sheriff’s deputy entered an Alford plea to a misdemeanor assault and battery charge on Thursday, resolving his legal exposure from a 2023 arrest of a Gordonsville man that ended up putting the arrested subject in the hospital. Sgt. William Mikolay, who has been on paid administrative leave for the past 14 months,...

staunton
Local News, Politics

Staunton encourages residents to participate in 2026 budget process

The Fiscal Year 2026 budget process is underway for Staunton City Council and city residents are encouraged to participate.

health care
Local News

Harrisonburg: Velocity rebranded as Sentara Urgent Care

closed business sign hospital
Virginia News

Funding freeze forcing Virginia health centers to close doors, cancel appointments

donald trump maga
Politics, U.S. & World News

Alon Ben-Meir: Forcing the Palestinians out of Gaza is a recipe for disaster

tony elliott
Football, Sports

UVA Football: Tony Elliott acknowledges ‘impact’ of investments in NIL