Opinions by Topic

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the Va. Freedom of Information
Advisory Council, Virginia's
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FOIA Opinions by Topic

Opinions by topic: (RECORDS) Vital Statistics

(List all topics)

FOI Advisory Council Opinion AO-18-00 (12/12/2000): Death certificates, as vital records, are not covered by FOIA.
Attorney General's Opinion 2000 #058 (9/27/2000): Original marriage licenses and certificates maintained by a circuit court clerk are considered vital records open to public inspection; access to microfilmed copies are open to the public, too.
Attorney General's Opinion 1984-85 #170 (3/21/1985): A death certificate, as a vital record, is not subject to disclosure under FOIA; however there is nothing to prevent someone with independent knowledge of a cause of death from commenting on it.
Attorney General's Opinion 1977-78 #487 (1/9/1978): Birth records are not official records. Other code provisions generally prohibit their release.
Attorney General's Opinion 1972-73 #498A (5/30/1973): Welfare, adoption and illegitimate birth records are not open under FOIA. Other code sections prohibit their release.

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