<heading>What are death certificates?</heading>Death certificates are legal documents issued by the government following a death. The information on the form is supplied by an informant who is usually a close family member.<heading>What genealogical data can I learn from Death Certificates?</heading>The information on death certificate varies based on the governing agency and time period but the following information is typical: <ul><li>Name of the deceased (married women usually by maiden name) </li><li>Birth date </li><li>Birth place</li><li>Death date </li><li>Death place</li><li>Name of spouse</li><li>Parent’s names </li><li>Birthplace of parents</li><li>Residence address at time of death</li><li>Gender</li><li>Race</li><li>Age at death</li><li>Marital status</li><li>Occupation</li><li>Military information</li><li>Attending Physician’s Name</li><li>Dates and duration of final of medical care</li><li>Burial Place</li><li>Burial Date</li><li>Undertaker’s name</li><li>Informant’s name and address </li></ul><heading>What years do death certificates cover?</heading>Death records began in 1871 for people who died inside city limits and in 1907 for people who died outside of city limits.

Given Name	Benjamin Frank
Last Name	Smith
Birth Date	February 1878
Death Date	17 February 1951
Notes	Fathers Name: William C Smith Disposition: Burial Marital Status: Married Spouse: Ollie Vene
Age Years	72
Source	Virginia death certificate # 4842

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