Physicians and other medical certifiers in Virginia file the medical certification of death online with the Office of Vital Records through this system, part of the Virginia Vital Events and Screening Tracking System. Since January 1, 2020, medical practitioners must register for and use it. Clinicians meet it whenever a patient under their care dies of the illness they were treating.
The physician or autonomous nurse practitioner in charge of the patient's care for the fatal condition certifies. If absent or approving, a practice colleague, supervised PA, care-team NP, facility medical director, hospitalist or emergency physician, or the autopsy physician may sign instead.
Download the current version from the source each time; forms change without notice.
Virginia Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS) in VVESTS - medical certification
Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records takes this form through its online services or your EMR, so there is no PDF to fill. Vero Scribe writes the visit note it draws on, so the details are ready when you complete it.
A form is listed only after its name and number were confirmed on the issuing agency’s or insurer’s own website, or in the form itself. Each entry links to that source. The list was last checked in October 2026. Forms and their requirements change without notice, so check the official page for the current version before you complete one.
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Within 24 hours after death. Code of Virginia 32.1-263 requires the physician or autonomous nurse practitioner in charge of the patient's care to complete and file the medical certification electronically through EDRS within that time.
VDH's medical certifier guide asks certifiers to determine the most likely cause to the best of their ability and, if uncertain, to use their best medical judgment to certify a reasonable cause. An autopsy is not mandatory, though one may be performed with the next of kin's authorization.