Get your Certified Virginia Divorce Certificate

A certified copy of your Virginia divorce certificate serves as official proof of your marital status change. Whether you’re updating legal documents or handling financial matters, a certified record is often required.

Here are common reasons you may need one:

Divorce certificates are often helpful or required for:

Applying for a driver's license

Applying for a new passport

Issuing or obtaining a Social Security Card

Applying for Social Security benefits

Claiming pension or insurance benefits

Genealogy research

Claiming family inheritance

Applying for a new job

Remarriage

Enlisting in the military

Obtaining a marriage license

A Virginia divorce certificate is an official document issued by the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records that verifies the legal dissolution of a marriage. While its design may differ depending on the year of issuance, it always includes key security and authentication features.

The design and security elements of these certificates can differ significantly from state to state.

• Full Name of the Person: The full legal names of the spouses.
• Date of Birth: The exact date of divorce of the spouses.
• State Seal: A raised, embossed, or printed multicolor or black and white seal of the issuing authority, which validates the document.
• Signature of State Registrar: The signature of the state registrar or authorized official responsible for issuing the divorce certificate.
• Printed on Security Paper: Printed on specialized paper to prevent counterfeiting.

In some instances, a certified divorce certificate may also include:

If you lose your divorce certificate:

1. Apply for a certified replacement copy in person, by mail, or online through VRO. You must complete the application, gather the required identification and documents, and pay the fees determined by the VDH, Office of Vital Records.
2. 1. For in-person applications: Present the completed application and required documents to a county health department. The VDH-OVR does not accept walk-ins at their location.
   2. For applying by mail: Send your application, documents, and a check or money order for the replacement fee to the VDH-OVR at:
      VDH, Office of Vital Records
      P.O. Box 1000
      Richmond, Virginia 23218-1000
   3. For online submissions: Complete the application and upload your documents through the VRO website (payable by credit card online).
2. VDH-OVR will mail the certified copy(s) after processing.

Corrections or amendments to a Virginia divorce certificate are allowed when errors were made in the original document. The VDH-OVR oversees this process and requires specific documentation based on the nature of the correction.

To request a correction, applicants must:

1. Complete the Amendment Request Form provided by VDH-OVR**.**
2. Provide supporting documentation verifying the correct information, such as:
3. • A certified copy of a court order (for significant changes).
   • Government-issued identification showing the correct name.
   • Marriage or birth certificates to support corrections to personal details.
3. Pay the amendment processing fee, which varies based on the complexity of the change.

When filing a vital record with a foreign government, an apostille certification is often required. In Virginia, the Secretary of the Commonwealth is responsible for issuing apostilles for vital records that were initially created by the VDH-OVR.

To obtain an apostille for a vital record in Virginia, you can go through the Secretary of the Commonwealth or use Vital Records Online. VRO offers online apostille services that are accepted by governments and organizations in over 100 countries. Their service includes professional assistance for obtaining apostilles for divorce certificates in all 50 states, starting at $149, plus government fees.

Once the apostille is issued, it will be sent to you by FedEx or DHL for global delivery. This ensures that your documents arrive at your doorstep regardless of location, whether in the US or internationally.

If you request by mail, you will need to provide the following information:

• A completed Cover Letter.
• Certified vital records certificate – must have been issued by the Department of Health – Vital Records Division or your local Department of Motor Vehicles within the past 12 months.
• $10.00 per document (not per page), payable to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. If several documents are signed by the same public official (notary public, deputy clerk, etc.) on the same date for the same country, the fee is $10.00 for the first document and $5.00 for each additional document.
• A self-addressed envelope for return delivery.

Standard Mail/Express Courier Submissions:

Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
Authentication Division
1111 East Broad Street 1st Floor
Richmond, VA 23219