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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>359372</law_id><section_number>32.1-274</section_number><catch_line>Persons in charge of institutions and funeral directors, etc., to keep records; lists sent to State Registrar</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="75" identifier="32.1">Health</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="9" identifier="7">Vital Records</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="5" identifier="7">Miscellaneous Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Every <span class="dictionary">person</span> in charge of an <span class="dictionary">institution</span> shall keep a record of personal data concerning each <span class="dictionary">person</span> admitted or confined to such <span class="dictionary">institution</span>. This record shall include such information as required for the certificates of birth, death, and reports of <span class="dictionary">spontaneous fetal death</span> and <span class="dictionary">induced termination of pregnancy</span> required by this chapter. The record shall be made at the time of admission from information provided by the <span class="dictionary">person</span> being admitted or confined, but when it cannot be so obtained, the information shall be obtained from relatives or other <span class="dictionary">persons</span> acquainted with the <span class="dictionary">facts</span>. The name and address of the <span class="dictionary">person</span> providing the information shall be a part of the record. <a id="paragraph-1336941" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-274/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> When a dead human body is released or disposed of by an <span class="dictionary">institution</span>, the <span class="dictionary">person</span> in charge of the <span class="dictionary">institution</span> shall keep a record showing the name of the deceased, date of death, the name and address of the <span class="dictionary">person</span> to whom the body is released and the date of removal from the <span class="dictionary">institution</span>, or, if final disposal is by the <span class="dictionary">institution</span>, the date, place, and manner of <span class="dictionary">disposition</span>. <a id="paragraph-1336942" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-274/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A funeral director, embalmer, or other <span class="dictionary">person</span> who removes from the place of death or transports or is in charge of <span class="dictionary">final disposition</span> of a <span class="dictionary">dead body</span> or fetus, in addition to filing any certificate, report or form required by this chapter, shall keep a record which shall identify the body, and such information pertaining to his receipt, removal, and delivery of such body as may be prescribed in regulations adopted by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. <a id="paragraph-1336943" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-274/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Not later than the tenth day of the month following the month of occurrence, the administrator of each <span class="dictionary">institution</span> shall cause to be sent to the State Registrar a list showing thereon all births, deaths, and <span class="dictionary">fetal deaths</span> occurring in such <span class="dictionary">institution</span> during the preceding month. Such lists shall be on forms provided by the State Registrar. <a id="paragraph-1336944" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-274/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Records maintained under this section shall be retained for a period of not less than ten years and shall be made available for inspection by the State Registrar or his representative upon demand. <a id="paragraph-1336945" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-274/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 32-353.29; 1960, c. 451; 1979, c. 711; 1983, c. 240; 2025, c. 115.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
