{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/32.1-263.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/32.1-263.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/32.1-263.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/32.1-263.html"}],"law_id":68053,"edition_id":1,"section_id":68053,"structure_id":15293,"section_number":"32.1-263","catch_line":"Filing death certificates; medical certification; investigation by Office of the Chief Medical Examiner","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 32-353.20; 1960, c. 451; 1978, c. 308; 1979, c. 711; 1983, c. 240; 1993, c. 965; 1997, cc. 794, 898; 2003, c. 484; 2004, c. 124; 2008, c. 137; 2011, c. 613; 2012, c. 213; 2013, c. 799; 2014, c. 583; 2017, c. 784; 2018, cc. 207, 208, 776; 2019, cc. 213, 224; 2022, c. 184; 2023, c. 183.","full_text":"A\n\nA death certificate, including, if known, the social security number or control number issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to \u00a7 46.2-342 of the deceased, shall be filed for each death that occurs in the Commonwealth. Non-electronically filed death certificates shall be filed with the registrar of any district in the Commonwealth within three days after such death and prior to final disposition or removal of the body from the Commonwealth. Electronically filed death certificates shall be filed with the State Registrar of Vital Records through the Electronic Death Registration System within three days after such death and prior to final disposition or removal of the body from the Commonwealth. Any death certificate shall be registered by such registrar if it has been completed and filed in accordance with the following requirements:1\n\nIf the place of death is unknown, but the dead body is found in the Commonwealth, the death shall be registered in the Commonwealth and the place where the dead body is found shall be shown as the place of death. If the date of death is unknown, it shall be determined by approximation, taking into consideration all relevant information, including information provided by the immediate family regarding the date and time that the deceased was last seen alive, if the individual died in his home; and2\n\nWhen death occurs in a moving conveyance, in the United States of America and the body is first removed from the conveyance in the Commonwealth, the death shall be registered in the Commonwealth and the place where it is first removed shall be considered the place of death. When a death occurs on a moving conveyance while in international waters or air space or in a foreign country or its air space and the body is first removed from the conveyance in the Commonwealth, the death shall be registered in the Commonwealth but the certificate shall show the actual place of death insofar as can be determined.B\n\nThe licensed funeral director, funeral service licensee, office of the state anatomical program, or next of kin as defined in § 54.1-2800 who first assumes custody of a dead body shall complete the certificate of death. He shall obtain personal data of the deceased necessary to complete the certificate of death, including the social security number of the deceased or control number issued to the deceased by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to § 46.2-342, from the best qualified person or source available and obtain the medical certification from the person responsible therefor.\n\t\t\tIf a licensed funeral director, funeral service licensee, or representative of the office of the state anatomical program completes the certificate of death, he shall file the certificate of death with the State Registrar of Vital Records electronically using the Electronic Death Registration System and in accordance with the requirements of subsection A. If a member of the next of kin of the deceased completes the certificate of death, he shall file the certificate of death in accordance with the requirements of subsection A but shall not be required to file the certificate of death electronically.C\n\nThe medical certification shall be completed and filed electronically with the State Registrar of Vital Records using the Electronic Death Registration System within 24 hours after death by the physician or autonomous nurse practitioner in charge of the patient’s care for the illness or condition that resulted in death except when inquiry or investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is required by § 32.1-283 or 32.1-285.1, or by the physician or autonomous nurse practitioner who pronounces death pursuant to § 54.1-2972. If the death occurred while under the care of a hospice provider, the medical certification shall be completed by the decedent’s health care provider and filed electronically with the State Registrar of Vital Records using the Electronic Death Registration System for completion of the death certificate.\n\t\t\tIn the absence of such physician or autonomous nurse practitioner or with his approval, the certificate may be completed and filed by the following: (i) another physician or autonomous nurse practitioner employed or engaged by the same professional practice; (ii) a physician assistant supervised by such physician; (iii) an advanced practice registered nurse who is not an autonomous nurse practitioner practicing in accordance with the provisions of § 54.1-2957; (iv) the chief medical officer or medical director, or his designee, of the institution, hospice, or nursing home in which death occurred; (v) a physician or autonomous nurse practitioner specializing in the delivery of health care to hospitalized or emergency department patients who is employed by or engaged by the facility where the death occurred; (vi) the physician who performed an autopsy upon the decedent; (vii) an individual to whom the physician or autonomous nurse practitioner has delegated authority to complete and file the certificate, if such individual has access to the medical history of the case and death is due to natural causes; or (viii) a physician who is not licensed by the Board of Medicine who was in charge of the patient’s care for the illness or condition that resulted in death. A physician described in clause (viii) who completes a certificate in accordance with this subsection shall not be required to register with the Electronic Death Registration System or complete the certificate electronically.\n\t\t\tAs used in this subsection, “autonomous nurse practitioner” has the same meaning as provided in § 54.1-2972.D\n\nWhen inquiry or investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is required by § 32.1-283 or 32.1-285.1, the Chief Medical Examiner shall cause an investigation of the cause of death to be made and the medical certification portion of the death certificate to be completed and filed within 24 hours after being notified of the death. If the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner refuses jurisdiction, the physician last furnishing medical care to the deceased shall prepare and file the medical certification portion of the death certificate.E\n\nIf the death is a natural death and a death certificate is being prepared pursuant to § 54.1-2972 and the physician, autonomous nurse practitioner, or physician assistant is uncertain about the cause of death, he shall use his best medical judgment to certify a reasonable cause of death or contact the health district physician director in the district where the death occurred to obtain guidance in reaching a determination as to a cause of death and document the same.\n\t\t\tIf the cause of death cannot be determined within 24 hours after death, the medical certification shall be completed as provided by regulations of the Board. The attending physician or autonomous nurse practitioner, as defined in § 54.1-2972, or the Chief Medical Examiner, an Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, or a medical examiner appointed pursuant to § 32.1-282 shall give the funeral director or person acting as such notice of the reason for the delay, and final disposition of the body shall not be made until authorized by the attending physician, autonomous nurse practitioner, the Chief Medical Examiner, an Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, or a medical examiner appointed pursuant to § 32.1-282.F\n\nA physician, autonomous nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or individual delegated authority to complete and file a certificate of death by a physician who, in good faith, files a certificate of death or determines the cause of death shall be immune from civil liability, only for such filing and determination of causes of death on such certificate, absent gross negligence or willful misconduct.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":246406,"text":"A death certificate, including, if known, the social security number or control number issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to \u00a7 46.2-342 of the deceased, shall be filed for each death that occurs in the Commonwealth. Non-electronically filed death certificates shall be filed with the registrar of any district in the Commonwealth within three days after such death and prior to final disposition or removal of the body from the Commonwealth. Electronically filed death certificates shall be filed with the State Registrar of Vital Records through the Electronic Death Registration System within three days after such death and prior to final disposition or removal of the body from the Commonwealth. Any death certificate shall be registered by such registrar if it has been completed and filed in accordance with the following requirements:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":246407,"text":"If the place of death is unknown, but the dead body is found in the Commonwealth, the death shall be registered in the Commonwealth and the place where the dead body is found shall be shown as the place of death. If the date of death is unknown, it shall be determined by approximation, taking into consideration all relevant information, including information provided by the immediate family regarding the date and time that the deceased was last seen alive, if the individual died in his home; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":246408,"text":"When death occurs in a moving conveyance, in the United States of America and the body is first removed from the conveyance in the Commonwealth, the death shall be registered in the Commonwealth and the place where it is first removed shall be considered the place of death. When a death occurs on a moving conveyance while in international waters or air space or in a foreign country or its air space and the body is first removed from the conveyance in the Commonwealth, the death shall be registered in the Commonwealth but the certificate shall show the actual place of death insofar as can be determined.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"B"},"3":{"id":246409,"text":"The licensed funeral director, funeral service licensee, office of the state anatomical program, or next of kin as defined in § 54.1-2800 who first assumes custody of a dead body shall complete the certificate of death. He shall obtain personal data of the deceased necessary to complete the certificate of death, including the social security number of the deceased or control number issued to the deceased by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to § 46.2-342, from the best qualified person or source available and obtain the medical certification from the person responsible therefor.\n\t\t\tIf a licensed funeral director, funeral service licensee, or representative of the office of the state anatomical program completes the certificate of death, he shall file the certificate of death with the State Registrar of Vital Records electronically using the Electronic Death Registration System and in accordance with the requirements of subsection A. If a member of the next of kin of the deceased completes the certificate of death, he shall file the certificate of death in accordance with the requirements of subsection A but shall not be required to file the certificate of death electronically.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"C"},"4":{"id":246410,"text":"The medical certification shall be completed and filed electronically with the State Registrar of Vital Records using the Electronic Death Registration System within 24 hours after death by the physician or autonomous nurse practitioner in charge of the patient’s care for the illness or condition that resulted in death except when inquiry or investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is required by § 32.1-283 or 32.1-285.1, or by the physician or autonomous nurse practitioner who pronounces death pursuant to § 54.1-2972. If the death occurred while under the care of a hospice provider, the medical certification shall be completed by the decedent’s health care provider and filed electronically with the State Registrar of Vital Records using the Electronic Death Registration System for completion of the death certificate.\n\t\t\tIn the absence of such physician or autonomous nurse practitioner or with his approval, the certificate may be completed and filed by the following: (i) another physician or autonomous nurse practitioner employed or engaged by the same professional practice; (ii) a physician assistant supervised by such physician; (iii) an advanced practice registered nurse who is not an autonomous nurse practitioner practicing in accordance with the provisions of § 54.1-2957; (iv) the chief medical officer or medical director, or his designee, of the institution, hospice, or nursing home in which death occurred; (v) a physician or autonomous nurse practitioner specializing in the delivery of health care to hospitalized or emergency department patients who is employed by or engaged by the facility where the death occurred; (vi) the physician who performed an autopsy upon the decedent; (vii) an individual to whom the physician or autonomous nurse practitioner has delegated authority to complete and file the certificate, if such individual has access to the medical history of the case and death is due to natural causes; or (viii) a physician who is not licensed by the Board of Medicine who was in charge of the patient’s care for the illness or condition that resulted in death. A physician described in clause (viii) who completes a certificate in accordance with this subsection shall not be required to register with the Electronic Death Registration System or complete the certificate electronically.\n\t\t\tAs used in this subsection, “autonomous nurse practitioner” has the same meaning as provided in § 54.1-2972.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"5":{"id":246411,"text":"When inquiry or investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is required by § 32.1-283 or 32.1-285.1, the Chief Medical Examiner shall cause an investigation of the cause of death to be made and the medical certification portion of the death certificate to be completed and filed within 24 hours after being notified of the death. If the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner refuses jurisdiction, the physician last furnishing medical care to the deceased shall prepare and file the medical certification portion of the death certificate.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"6":{"id":246412,"text":"If the death is a natural death and a death certificate is being prepared pursuant to § 54.1-2972 and the physician, autonomous nurse practitioner, or physician assistant is uncertain about the cause of death, he shall use his best medical judgment to certify a reasonable cause of death or contact the health district physician director in the district where the death occurred to obtain guidance in reaching a determination as to a cause of death and document the same.\n\t\t\tIf the cause of death cannot be determined within 24 hours after death, the medical certification shall be completed as provided by regulations of the Board. The attending physician or autonomous nurse practitioner, as defined in § 54.1-2972, or the Chief Medical Examiner, an Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, or a medical examiner appointed pursuant to § 32.1-282 shall give the funeral director or person acting as such notice of the reason for the delay, and final disposition of the body shall not be made until authorized by the attending physician, autonomous nurse practitioner, the Chief Medical Examiner, an Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, or a medical examiner appointed pursuant to § 32.1-282.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"7":{"id":246413,"text":"A physician, autonomous nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or individual delegated authority to complete and file a certificate of death by a physician who, in good faith, files a certificate of death or determines the cause of death shall be immune from civil liability, only for such filing and determination of causes of death on such certificate, absent gross negligence or willful misconduct.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15293,"edition_id":1,"name":"Death Certificates and Out-Of-State Transit Permits","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14405,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:53:41","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:53:41","permalink":{"id":204239,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15293,"identifier":"4","token":"32.1\/7\/4","url":"\/32.1\/7\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14405,"edition_id":1,"name":"Vital Records","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12727,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:01","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:01","permalink":{"id":204163,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14405,"identifier":"7","token":"32.1\/7","url":"\/32.1\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12727,"edition_id":1,"name":"Health","identifier":"32.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":201099,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12727,"identifier":"32.1","token":"32.1","url":"\/32.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":68053,"structure_id":15293,"section_number":"32.1-263","catch_line":"Filing death certificates; medical certification; investigation by Office of the Chief Medical Examiner","url":"\/32.1-263\/","token":"32.1\/7\/4\/32.1-263","metadata":false},{"id":81244,"structure_id":15293,"section_number":"32.1-264","catch_line":"Reports of fetal deaths; medical certification; investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; confidentiality of information concerning abortions","url":"\/32.1-264\/","token":"32.1\/7\/4\/32.1-264","metadata":false},{"id":58218,"structure_id":15293,"section_number":"32.1-265","catch_line":"Transit permits; permits for disinterment and reinterment","url":"\/32.1-265\/","token":"32.1\/7\/4\/32.1-265","metadata":false},{"id":79746,"structure_id":15293,"section_number":"32.1-266","catch_line":"Extending time for filing death certificates and obtaining out-of-state transit permits","url":"\/32.1-266\/","token":"32.1\/7\/4\/32.1-266","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":81244,"structure_id":15293,"section_number":"32.1-264","catch_line":"Reports of fetal deaths; medical certification; investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; confidentiality of information concerning abortions","url":"\/32.1-264\/","token":"32.1\/7\/4\/32.1-264","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/32.1-263\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 18 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1960, chapter 451; in 1978, chapter 308; in 1979, chapter 711; in 1983, chapter 240; in 1993, chapter 965; in 1997, chapters 794<\/a> and 898<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 484<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 124<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 137<\/a>; in 2011, chapter 613<\/a>; in 2012, chapter 213<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 799<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 583<\/a>; in 2017, chapter 784<\/a>; in 2018, chapters 207<\/a>, 208<\/a>, and 776<\/a>; in 2019, chapters 213<\/a> and 224<\/a>; in 2022, chapter 184<\/a>; in 2023, chapter 183<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":79746,"section_number":"32.1-266","catch_line":"Extending time for filing death certificates and obtaining out-of-state transit permits","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-266\/"},{"id":79569,"section_number":"54.1-2818.5","catch_line":"Request for life insurance information; notification of beneficiaries","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2818.5\/"},{"id":80430,"section_number":"54.1-2915","catch_line":"Unprofessional conduct; grounds for refusal or disciplinary action","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2915\/"},{"id":59523,"section_number":"54.1-2972","catch_line":"When person deemed medically and legally dead; determination of death; nurses', licensed practical nurses', physician assistants', or advanced practice registered nurses' authority to pronounce death under certain circumstances","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2972\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":65973,"section_number":"32.1-282","catch_line":"Medical examiners","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-282\/"},{"id":84193,"section_number":"32.1-283","catch_line":"Investigation of deaths; obtaining consent to removal of organs, etc.; fees","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-283\/"},{"id":70536,"section_number":"32.1-285.1","catch_line":"Death of infants under eighteen months of age; autopsies required; definition of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-285.1\/"},{"id":79681,"section_number":"46.2-342","catch_line":"What license to contain; organ donor information; Uniform Donor Document","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-342\/"},{"id":76263,"section_number":"54.1-2800","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2800\/"},{"id":64164,"section_number":"54.1-2957","catch_line":"Licensure and practice of advanced practice registered nurses; certified nurse midwives; independent practice of certified nurse midwives","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2957\/"},{"id":59523,"section_number":"54.1-2972","catch_line":"When person deemed medically and legally dead; determination of death; nurses', licensed practical nurses', physician assistants', or advanced practice registered nurses' authority to pronounce death under certain circumstances","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2972\/"}],"permalink":{"id":204241,"object_type":"law","relational_id":68053,"identifier":"32.1-263","token":"32.1\/7\/4\/32.1-263","url":"\/32.1-263\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/32.1-263\/","token":"32.1\/7\/4\/32.1-263","dublin_core":{"Title":"Filing death certificates; medical certification; investigation by Office of the Chief Medical Examiner","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 32.1-263","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A death certificate, including, if known, the social security number or control number issued by the Department<\/span> of Motor Vehicles pursuant to \u00a7 46.2-342<\/a> of the deceased, shall be filed for each death that occurs in the Commonwealth. Non-electronically filed death certificates shall be filed with the registrar of any district in the Commonwealth within three days after such death and prior to final disposition<\/span> or removal of the body from the Commonwealth. Electronically filed death certificates shall be filed with the State Registrar of Vital Records<\/span> through the Electronic Death Registration<\/span> System within three days after such death and prior to final disposition<\/span> or removal of the body from the Commonwealth. Any death certificate shall be registered by such registrar if it has been completed and filed in accordance with the following requirements: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> If the place of death is unknown, but the dead body<\/span> is found in the Commonwealth, the death shall be registered in the Commonwealth and the place where the dead body<\/span> is found shall be shown as the place of death. If the date of death is unknown, it shall be determined by approximation, taking into consideration all relevant information, including information provided by the immediate family regarding the date and time that the deceased was last seen alive, if the individual died in his home; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> When death occurs in a moving conveyance, in the United States of America and the body is first removed from the conveyance in the Commonwealth, the death shall be registered in the Commonwealth and the place where it is first removed shall be considered the place of death. When a death occurs on a moving conveyance while in international waters or air space or in a foreign country or its air space and the body is first removed from the conveyance in the Commonwealth, the death shall be registered in the Commonwealth but the certificate shall show the actual place of death insofar as can be determined. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The licensed funeral director, funeral service licensee, office of the state anatomical program, or next of kin as defined in § 54.1-2800<\/a> who first assumes custody<\/span> of a dead body<\/span> shall complete the certificate of death. He shall obtain personal data of the deceased necessary to complete the certificate of death, including the social security number of the deceased or control number issued to the deceased by the Department<\/span> of Motor Vehicles pursuant to § 46.2-342<\/a>, from the best qualified person<\/span> or source available and obtain the medical certification from the person<\/span> responsible therefor.\n\t\t\tIf a licensed funeral director, funeral service licensee, or representative of the office of the state anatomical program completes the certificate of death, he shall file<\/span> the certificate of death with the State Registrar of Vital Records<\/span> electronically using the Electronic Death Registration<\/span> System and in accordance with the requirements of subsection A. If a member of the next of kin of the deceased completes the certificate of death, he shall file<\/span> the certificate of death in accordance with the requirements of subsection A but shall not be required to file<\/span> the certificate of death electronically. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The medical certification shall be completed and filed electronically with the State Registrar of Vital Records<\/span> using the Electronic Death Registration<\/span> System within 24 hours after death by the physician<\/span> or autonomous nurse practitioner<\/span> in charge of the patient’s care for the illness or condition that resulted in death except when inquiry or investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is required by § 32.1-283<\/a> or 32.1-285.1<\/a>, or by the physician<\/span> or autonomous nurse practitioner<\/span> who pronounces death pursuant to § 54.1-2972<\/a>. If the death occurred while under the care of a hospice provider, the medical certification shall be completed by the decedent’s health care provider and filed electronically with the State Registrar of Vital Records<\/span> using the Electronic Death Registration<\/span> System for completion of the death certificate.\n\t\t\tIn the absence of such physician<\/span> or autonomous nurse practitioner<\/span> or with his approval, the certificate may be completed and filed by the following: (i) another physician<\/span> or autonomous nurse practitioner<\/span> employed or engaged by the same professional practice; (ii) a physician<\/span> assistant supervised by such physician<\/span>; (iii) an advanced practice registered nurse who is not an autonomous nurse practitioner<\/span> practicing in accordance with the provisions of § 54.1-2957<\/a>; (iv) the chief medical officer or medical director, or his designee, of the institution<\/span>, hospice, or nursing home in which death occurred; (v) a physician<\/span> or autonomous nurse practitioner<\/span> specializing in the delivery of health care to hospitalized or emergency department<\/span> patients who is employed by or engaged by the facility where the death occurred; (vi) the physician<\/span> who performed an autopsy upon the decedent; (vii) an individual to whom the physician<\/span> or autonomous nurse practitioner<\/span> has delegated authority to complete and file<\/span> the certificate, if such individual has access to the medical history of the case and death is due to natural causes; or (viii) a physician<\/span> who is not licensed by the Board<\/span> of Medicine who was in charge of the patient’s care for the illness or condition that resulted in death. A physician<\/span> described in clause (viii) who completes a certificate in accordance with this subsection shall not be required to register with the Electronic Death Registration<\/span> System or complete the certificate electronically.\n\t\t\tAs used in this subsection, “autonomous nurse practitioner<\/span>” has the same meaning as provided in § 54.1-2972<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> When inquiry or investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is required by § 32.1-283<\/a> or 32.1-285.1<\/a>, the Chief Medical Examiner shall cause an investigation of the cause of death to be made and the medical certification portion of the death certificate to be completed and filed within 24 hours after being notified of the death. If the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner refuses jurisdiction<\/span>, the physician<\/span> last furnishing medical care to the deceased shall prepare and file<\/span> the medical certification portion of the death certificate. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> If the death is a natural death and a death certificate is being prepared pursuant to § 54.1-2972<\/a> and the physician<\/span>, autonomous nurse practitioner<\/span>, or physician<\/span> assistant is uncertain about the cause of death, he shall use his best medical judgment<\/span> to certify a reasonable cause of death or contact the health district physician<\/span> director in the district where the death occurred to obtain guidance in reaching a determination as to a cause of death and document the same.\n\t\t\tIf the cause of death cannot be determined within 24 hours after death, the medical certification shall be completed as provided by regulations of the Board<\/span>. The attending physician<\/span> or autonomous nurse practitioner<\/span>, as defined in § 54.1-2972<\/a>, or the Chief Medical Examiner, an Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, or a medical examiner appointed pursuant to § 32.1-282<\/a> shall give the funeral director or person<\/span> acting as such notice of the reason for the delay, and final disposition<\/span> of the body shall not be made until authorized by the attending physician<\/span>, autonomous nurse practitioner<\/span>, the Chief Medical Examiner, an Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, or a medical examiner appointed pursuant to § 32.1-282<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> A physician<\/span>, autonomous nurse practitioner<\/span>, physician<\/span> assistant, or individual delegated authority to complete and file<\/span> a certificate of death by a physician<\/span> who, in good faith, files<\/span> a certificate of death or determines the cause of death shall be immune from civil liability, only for such filing and determination of causes of death on such certificate, absent gross negligence<\/span> or willful misconduct. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nFILING DEATH CERTIFICATES; MEDICAL CERTIFICATION; INVESTIGATION BY OFFICE OF THE\nCHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER (\u00a7 32.1-263)\n\nA. A death certificate, including, if known, the social security number or\ncontrol number issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to \u00a7\n46.2-342 of the deceased, shall be filed for each death that occurs in the\nCommonwealth. Non-electronically filed death certificates shall be filed with\nthe registrar of any district in the Commonwealth within three days after such\ndeath and prior to final disposition or removal of the body from the\nCommonwealth. Electronically filed death certificates shall be filed with the\nState Registrar of Vital Records through the Electronic Death Registration\nSystem within three days after such death and prior to final disposition or\nremoval of the body from the Commonwealth. Any death certificate shall be\nregistered by such registrar if it has been completed and filed in accordance\nwith the following requirements:\n\n 1. If the place of death is unknown, but the dead body is found in the\n Commonwealth, the death shall be registered in the Commonwealth and the place\n where the dead body is found shall be shown as the place of death. If the date\n of death is unknown, it shall be determined by approximation, taking into\n consideration all relevant information, including information provided by the\n immediate family regarding the date and time that the deceased was last seen\n alive, if the individual died in his home; and\n\n 2. When death occurs in a moving conveyance, in the United States of America\n and the body is first removed from the conveyance in the Commonwealth, the\n death shall be registered in the Commonwealth and the place where it is first\n removed shall be considered the place of death. When a death occurs on a\n moving conveyance while in international waters or air space or in a foreign\n country or its air space and the body is first removed from the conveyance in\n the Commonwealth, the death shall be registered in the Commonwealth but the\n certificate shall show the actual place of death insofar as can be determined.\n\nB. The licensed funeral director, funeral service licensee, office of the state\nanatomical program, or next of kin as defined in § 54.1-2800 who first\nassumes custody of a dead body shall complete the certificate of death. He shall\nobtain personal data of the deceased necessary to complete the certificate of\ndeath, including the social security number of the deceased or control number\nissued to the deceased by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to §\n46.2-342, from the best qualified person or source available and obtain the\nmedical certification from the person responsible therefor.\n\t\t\tIf a licensed funeral director, funeral service licensee, or representative\nof the office of the state anatomical program completes the certificate of\ndeath, he shall file the certificate of death with the State Registrar of Vital\nRecords electronically using the Electronic Death Registration System and in\naccordance with the requirements of subsection A. If a member of the next of kin\nof the deceased completes the certificate of death, he shall file the\ncertificate of death in accordance with the requirements of subsection A but\nshall not be required to file the certificate of death electronically.\n\nC. The medical certification shall be completed and filed electronically with\nthe State Registrar of Vital Records using the Electronic Death Registration\nSystem within 24 hours after death by the physician or autonomous nurse\npractitioner in charge of the patient’s care for the illness or condition\nthat resulted in death except when inquiry or investigation by the Office of the\nChief Medical Examiner is required by § 32.1-283 or 32.1-285.1, or by the\nphysician or autonomous nurse practitioner who pronounces death pursuant to\n§ 54.1-2972. If the death occurred while under the care of a hospice\nprovider, the medical certification shall be completed by the decedent’s\nhealth care provider and filed electronically with the State Registrar of Vital\nRecords using the Electronic Death Registration System for completion of the\ndeath certificate.\n\t\t\tIn the absence of such physician or autonomous nurse practitioner or with his\napproval, the certificate may be completed and filed by the following: (i)\nanother physician or autonomous nurse practitioner employed or engaged by the\nsame professional practice; (ii) a physician assistant supervised by such\nphysician; (iii) an advanced practice registered nurse who is not an autonomous\nnurse practitioner practicing in accordance with the provisions of §\n54.1-2957; (iv) the chief medical officer or medical director, or his designee,\nof the institution, hospice, or nursing home in which death occurred; (v) a\nphysician or autonomous nurse practitioner specializing in the delivery of\nhealth care to hospitalized or emergency department patients who is employed by\nor engaged by the facility where the death occurred; (vi) the physician who\nperformed an autopsy upon the decedent; (vii) an individual to whom the\nphysician or autonomous nurse practitioner has delegated authority to complete\nand file the certificate, if such individual has access to the medical history\nof the case and death is due to natural causes; or (viii) a physician who is not\nlicensed by the Board of Medicine who was in charge of the patient’s care\nfor the illness or condition that resulted in death. A physician described in\nclause (viii) who completes a certificate in accordance with this subsection\nshall not be required to register with the Electronic Death Registration System\nor complete the certificate electronically.\n\t\t\tAs used in this subsection, “autonomous nurse practitioner” has\nthe same meaning as provided in § 54.1-2972.\n\nD. When inquiry or investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is\nrequired by § 32.1-283 or 32.1-285.1, the Chief Medical Examiner shall\ncause an investigation of the cause of death to be made and the medical\ncertification portion of the death certificate to be completed and filed within\n24 hours after being notified of the death. If the Office of the Chief Medical\nExaminer refuses jurisdiction, the physician last furnishing medical care to the\ndeceased shall prepare and file the medical certification portion of the death\ncertificate.\n\nE. If the death is a natural death and a death certificate is being prepared\npursuant to § 54.1-2972 and the physician, autonomous nurse practitioner,\nor physician assistant is uncertain about the cause of death, he shall use his\nbest medical judgment to certify a reasonable cause of death or contact the\nhealth district physician director in the district where the death occurred to\nobtain guidance in reaching a determination as to a cause of death and document\nthe same.\n\t\t\tIf the cause of death cannot be determined within 24 hours after death, the\nmedical certification shall be completed as provided by regulations of the\nBoard. The attending physician or autonomous nurse practitioner, as defined in\n§ 54.1-2972, or the Chief Medical Examiner, an Assistant Chief Medical\nExaminer, or a medical examiner appointed pursuant to § 32.1-282 shall give\nthe funeral director or person acting as such notice of the reason for the\ndelay, and final disposition of the body shall not be made until authorized by\nthe attending physician, autonomous nurse practitioner, the Chief Medical\nExaminer, an Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, or a medical examiner appointed\npursuant to § 32.1-282.\n\nF. A physician, autonomous nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or\nindividual delegated authority to complete and file a certificate of death by a\nphysician who, in good faith, files a certificate of death or determines the\ncause of death shall be immune from civil liability, only for such filing and\ndetermination of causes of death on such certificate, absent gross negligence or\nwillful misconduct.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 32-353.20; 1960, c. 451; 1978, c. 308; 1979, c. 711;\n1983, c. 240; 1993, c. 965; 1997, cc. 794, 898; 2003, c. 484; 2004, c. 124;\n2008, c. 137; 2011, c. 613; 2012, c. 213; 2013, c. 799; 2014, c. 583; 2017, c.\n784; 2018, cc. 207, 208, 776; 2019, cc. 213, 224; 2022, c. 184; 2023, c. 183.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}