New Kent County Birth Records Search

New Kent County birth records are official state documents maintained by the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond. New Kent County was established in 1654 in eastern Virginia between the York and Chickahominy rivers, with New Kent as its county seat. The county is one of the older Virginia counties with a courthouse record history spanning over 370 years. Certified birth certificates for births in New Kent County are available from the state by mail, online, or in person. The Chickahominy Health District and the county courthouse in New Kent provide local assistance with applications and historical birth record research.

New Kent County Circuit Court Clerk

The New Kent County Circuit Court Clerk maintains marriage licenses, land records, probate records, and court files from 1654. 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. The courthouse holds historical birth and death registers from the 1853-1896 period on microfilm, which are the primary official source for New Kent County births from that era.

New Kent County was established in 1654 and spawned Hanover County in 1721. For births in Hanover County territory that occurred before 1721, New Kent County records at the Library of Virginia are the starting point. The courthouse in New Kent holds deed books, will books, and court order books from 1654 forward, though some early records were damaged or lost. The Library of Virginia holds New Kent County records on microfilm.

New Kent County's location between Richmond and the Williamsburg area placed it in the heart of the colonial transportation corridor along the Virginia Peninsula. George Washington's wife Martha was born in New Kent County, and the county has a strong connection to colonial Virginia history. The Anglican/Episcopal parishes that served New Kent County from its founding maintained baptism registers, and some of those records survive through the Library of Virginia or the Diocese of Virginia.

Chickahominy Health District Birth Records

The Chickahominy Health District serves New Kent County along with Charles City, Goochland, Hanover, and Louisa counties in central and eastern Virginia. The district provides birth certificate application forms and guidance on the state submission process. It does not issue certified birth certificates. Applications go to the Office of Vital Records in Richmond.

The Chickahominy Health District also provides immunizations, maternal health programs, and other public health services. For New Kent County residents who need a paper application form or guidance on the birth certificate process, the health district office is the local resource.

New Kent County Birth Records History

New Kent County was established in 1654. Virginia's statewide birth registration law took effect in 1853. Birth registers from 1853 to 1896 are on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Virginia ended registration in 1896, creating a gap until June 14, 1912. Church records from the Episcopal, Baptist, and Methodist congregations that served the county are the main alternatives for both the pre-registration and gap periods.

New Kent County's colonial-era records are particularly valuable because the county served as a parent to several other Virginia counties. The county's Anglican parishes maintained baptism registers going back to the mid-17th century, and some of those records survive. The Library of Virginia holds New Kent County microfilm and can help researchers identify which records are available for specific periods. FamilySearch provides free online access to Virginia Birth Registers, 1853-1911, and Virginia Birth Records, 1912-2015, both including New Kent County entries.

Fees and How to Request a New Kent County Birth Certificate

All certified birth certificates for New Kent County births are issued by the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records. The fee is $12 per copy under Virginia Code Title 32.1. Online orders can be placed through the state system or through VitalChek. Mail applications go to P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, Virginia 23218-1000. Walk-in service is at 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Birth records are restricted for 100 years and require valid photo identification from eligible family members.

Nearby Counties

New Kent County is in eastern Virginia between the York and Chickahominy rivers, bordered by several surrounding counties.