Arlington County Birth Records Search

Arlington County birth records are official state documents maintained by the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond. Arlington County sits across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. and was established as a separate county in 1920 after being part of Alexandria County. Certified birth certificates for births that occurred in Arlington County are available from the state by mail, online, or in person. Local resources at the county courthouse and the Arlington Public Library's Center for Local History can help with applications, historical research, and older records going back to the county's earlier period as part of Alexandria County.

Arlington County Circuit Court Clerk

The Arlington County Circuit Court Clerk maintains marriage licenses, land records, deed books, and court files. The clerk does not issue certified birth certificates. For births from June 14, 1912 to the present, contact the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond. Arlington County, being urban and densely populated, has an active courthouse with records going back to its establishment as a separate county in 1920.

A key fact for genealogists: Arlington County was known as Alexandria County until 1920. Before that year, records for the area appear under Alexandria County in the Library of Virginia's collections. If you are researching births that occurred before 1920, you will need to search under Alexandria County, not Arlington County. The Library of Virginia holds microfilm of Alexandria County birth registers from 1853 to 1896, which are the primary historical birth records for what is now Arlington County.

The courthouse on N. Courthouse Road in Arlington is open to the public during regular business hours. Staff can help locate specific records but do not conduct genealogical research for patrons. Marriage licenses at the Arlington courthouse require both parties to appear in person with valid photo ID. The license is valid for 60 days anywhere in Virginia.

Arlington County Public Health Division

The Arlington County Public Health Division provides vital records information and assistance. The division does not issue certified birth certificates directly. Applications for certified copies go to the state Office of Vital Records in Richmond. But the health division can provide application forms, explain required documentation, and answer questions about the process. For Arlington County residents who prefer to handle paperwork in person locally, the health division office on Washington Boulevard is a convenient option.

The Public Health Division also provides immunizations, maternal and child health services, disease surveillance, and other public health programs. For residents who were born in Arlington County and need a certified birth certificate for legal or personal purposes, the state birth certificate process is the same here as in any other Virginia jurisdiction.

Arlington Public Library - Center for Local History

The Arlington Public Library's Center for Local History is the best local resource for genealogical research in Arlington County. The Center holds photograph collections, oral history recordings, newspaper clippings, school yearbooks, maps and atlases, family papers, and a digital collection accessible through the library website. For researchers tracing Arlington County families, this collection is particularly strong for the 20th century when the county began its rapid growth.

The Arlington Public Library Center for Local History provides genealogy resources for Arlington County research including local history collections, cemetery records, and digital archives available through the library website.

The Center for Local History is located in the central branch of the Arlington Public Library at 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22201. Phone: (703) 228-5990. In-library access to Ancestry.com is free for all library patrons. Virginia residents can also access some Ancestry Virginia collections from home through the Finditva.com program using a Virginia library card.

The Library of Virginia is the main archive for historical birth records, including the pre-1920 Alexandria County records that cover what is now Arlington County. The Library is at 800 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219, and the Archives reference desk is at (804) 692-3888.

Arlington County Birth Records History

The area that is now Arlington County was part of the District of Columbia from 1791 to 1846, when it was retroceded to Virginia and renamed Alexandria County. When Virginia's statewide birth registration law took effect in 1853, the area was registered under Alexandria County. Birth registers for Alexandria County from 1853 to 1896 are on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. These registers are the main historical source for births in the Arlington area from that period.

Virginia ended statewide birth registration in 1896. From 1897 through June 13, 1912, there was no state requirement to register births. Arlington area births from this period are not in any official registration system. Church records, family papers, and newspaper birth announcements from Alexandria County papers are the main alternatives for this gap period.

Arlington County was officially named and separated from Alexandria County in 1920. Statewide birth registration had resumed in 1912, so there are state records for births in the Arlington area from June 14, 1912 onward, even though the county itself wasn't named Arlington until 1920. The records show the jurisdiction as Alexandria County for births before 1920 and Arlington County for births after that date.

Fees and How to Request an Arlington County Birth Certificate

All certified birth certificates for births in Arlington County are issued by the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records. The fee is $12 per copy under Virginia Code Title 32.1, the same rate applied statewide.

Online orders can be placed through the state system or through VitalChek. Online requests take 2-5 business days before shipping. Mail applications go to P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, Virginia 23218-1000 and take about 2-4 weeks. Walk-in service is at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Walk-in requests are processed same day.

Birth records in Virginia are restricted for 100 years. Eligible requesters include the person named, parents, spouse, child, sibling, or grandparent. Legal guardians with documented custody also qualify. Valid government-issued photo identification is required. Under Virginia Code Section 32.1-272, select Virginia DMV locations can also issue certified birth certificate copies.

Nearby Counties

Arlington County borders Fairfax County in Virginia, and is adjacent to Alexandria city (independent) and Washington, D.C. across the Potomac.