Many people want to know what types of records are available for Virginia genealogical research. Most Virginia counties and cities kept birth, marriage and death records from 1853 until 1896 and from 1912 until the present. Many records before 1853 exist but no law actually required that they be kept. Wills, deeds, directories, newspapers, marriage bonds, order books and many additional records may be available, dating well into the 1600s. You need to contact the Library of Virginia or local government for more information. Also note that due to privacy laws, public access is limited to state birth records between 1853 and 1896, marriage records from 1853 until 1956 and death records from 1853 until 1956.Another frequent question involves West Virginia and its records. During the Civil War, West Virginia broke off from the Commonwealth of Virginia and became an official state in 1863. Local county governments maintained possession of their records. Therefore, West Virginia records are maintained in modern-day West Virginia. The Virginia state archives has copies of many pre-1863 West Virginia records in both microfilm and book format. However, most records after 1863 have to be obtained from the actual state of West Virginia.
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