Find Birth Records in Amherst County
Amherst County birth records are official state documents held by the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond. The county was established in 1761 in central Virginia, and its courthouse in the town of Amherst maintains records from that year to the present. Certified birth certificates for births in Amherst County are available from the state by mail, online, or in person. The Central Virginia Health District and the county clerk's office provide local assistance with applications, historical research, and questions about what documents to include with your birth certificate request.
Amherst County Overview
Amherst County Circuit Court Clerk
The Amherst County Circuit Court Clerk maintains marriage licenses, land records, probate records, and court files dating to 1761. The clerk does not issue certified birth certificates. For births from June 14, 1912 onward, contact the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond. The courthouse holds historical birth and death registers from 1853 to 1896, the period of Virginia's first statewide registration law, on microfilm. These registers are the main source for Amherst County births from that era.
Amherst County borders the independent city of Lynchburg on its eastern side. If you are unsure whether a birth occurred within Lynchburg city limits or in Amherst County, check both records. The city and the county have separate circuit court clerks and separate record lines. The county courthouse is in the town of Amherst, a short drive north of Lynchburg on Route 29.
The clerk's staff can help you locate specific records during business hours but do not conduct genealogical research for visitors. Copy fees follow state law and are charged per page for plain copies and per document for certified copies. These are separate from the $12 state fee for certified birth certificates from the Office of Vital Records.
The Amherst County courthouse holds marriage, land, probate, and court records from 1761 that researchers use alongside birth registers to document Amherst County family histories.
| Office | Amherst County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 153 Washington Street Amherst, VA 24521 |
| Phone | (434) 946-9400 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Central Virginia Health District Birth Records
The Central Virginia Health District serves Amherst County, Appomattox County, Bedford County, Campbell County, and the city of Lynchburg. The district's main office is in Lynchburg. Staff can provide state birth certificate application forms and walk you through the process of submitting your request to the Office of Vital Records in Richmond. The district does not issue certified birth certificates directly.
The Central Virginia Health District provides public health services including immunizations, maternal and infant health programs, and family planning. For Amherst County residents who cannot easily access the state website, the health district office on Alleghany Avenue in Lynchburg is a convenient place to pick up a paper application form and get questions answered.
The Central Virginia Health District provides vital records application forms and assistance to Amherst County residents seeking birth certificates from the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records.
| Office | Central Virginia Health District |
|---|---|
| Address | 307 Alleghany Avenue Lynchburg, VA 24501 |
| Phone | (434) 947-6400 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Amherst County Birth Records History
Amherst County was established in 1761. Systematic birth registration in Virginia started in 1853 under a General Assembly law. Counties submitted annual birth returns to the state. Amherst County birth registers from 1853 to 1896 are available on microfilm at the Library of Virginia in Richmond. Records from before 1853 are not part of any official birth registration system. For the pre-1853 period, family Bibles, church records, estate inventories that list children by name, and early marriage bonds are the primary options.
Virginia repealed its birth registration law in 1896. From 1897 through June 13, 1912, no statewide system existed for recording births. Amherst County did not maintain consistent birth records during this gap. Researchers studying this period must work with church baptism registers, published family histories, newspaper birth announcements, and other unofficial sources. Local churches in the Amherst area may hold records that are not digitized or cataloged in any major database.
Statewide registration resumed on June 14, 1912, and records have been maintained continuously since then. The state holds Amherst County birth records from 1912 forward at the Office of Vital Records in Richmond. Note that births must be registered within seven days under current law, though some historically may have been recorded later or not at all.
Note: Lynchburg is an independent city with its own birth record line. If you are researching a birth that might have occurred in Lynchburg rather than Amherst County, check Lynchburg city records separately.
Research Tools for Amherst Birth Records
The Library of Virginia in Richmond holds Amherst County birth registers from 1853 to 1896 on microfilm. The birth index is alphabetical and can be searched in person at the Library or borrowed through Interlibrary Loan at your local public library. The Library is at 800 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219. The Archives reference desk is at (804) 692-3888.
FamilySearch provides free access to Virginia Birth Registers, 1853-1911, and Virginia Birth Records, 1912-2015, both of which include Amherst County. FamilySearch is available online at no cost. The Virginia Slave Birth Index, 1853-1866, is also available on FamilySearch, which may be relevant for researchers tracing African American Amherst County families from the antebellum period.
The Jones Memorial Library in Lynchburg, though located in an independent city, serves as a strong genealogy resource for the broader central Virginia region including Amherst County. The library holds local history collections, city directories, cemetery records, and access to online databases including Ancestry.com. Virginia public library cardholders can access Ancestry Library Edition free at any branch.
The Library of Virginia's genealogy guide provides detailed instructions for locating Amherst County records across multiple collections and time periods. For researchers working on Amherst County families from before 1853, the guide's sections on land records, church records, and estate records are particularly useful.
Fees and How to Request an Amherst County Birth Certificate
Certified birth certificates for all Amherst County births are issued by the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records. The fee is $12 per copy, set by state law under Virginia Code Title 32.1 and the same throughout Virginia.
Online ordering is available through the state system or through VitalChek. Online orders process in 2-5 business days before shipping. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, Virginia 23218-1000, and take 2-4 weeks. Walk-in service at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond is available Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with same-day processing for in-person requests.
Virginia birth records are restricted for 100 years. Eligible requesters include the person named on the certificate, parents, spouse, child, sibling, or grandparent. Legal guardians with proof of custody also qualify. Valid photo identification is required with all requests. Under Virginia Code Section 32.1-272, select DMV locations can also provide certified birth certificate copies.
Nearby Counties
Amherst County is surrounded by several counties in central Virginia. Lynchburg is an independent city on the county's eastern border.