Find the Record You Need
The state you want is probably the state where the event happened — not where the person lives now. Jump to the records type you need, or scroll to the state grid.
Birth Certificates
How to order a certified copy from the state where you were born.
Death Certificates
Who can order, what you'll need, and what the certificate actually contains.
Marriage Records
Where marriage licenses are filed — often at the county, not the state.
Divorce Decrees
Why the final decree lives with the court, not the vital records office.
Certified vs Informational
The difference matters more than most people realize.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to do if you were born abroad, or if your birth wasn't registered.
Vital Records by State
Every state runs its own vital records office. Fees, forms, and eligibility rules change state by state — so click yours for the current official process.
1What Counts as a Vital Record
A "vital record" is a government certificate documenting one of four life events: birth, death, marriage, or divorce. The term is narrow on purpose. Hospital birth records, obituaries, and church marriage registers are not vital records — they may be evidence about a vital event, but the legal certificate is the one filed with the government registrar at the time the event was reported.
Every state has had a mandatory birth registration system since around 1920, though some states (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island) have continuous registration dating to the 1840s and earlier. Before a state's registration law, the best you can hope for is a church baptism record or an 1850–1880 census line.
2Birth Certificates
A certified birth certificate is the single most powerful identity document most Americans own. The Social Security Administration treats it as primary evidence of identity and age, and every state DMV uses it for REAL ID. That importance explains why states have tightened access over the past two decades.
Who can order a certified copy
Most states limit certified copies to the registrant (the person named on the certificate) once they turn 18, the registrant's parents, their spouse, adult children, siblings, and legal representatives acting for them. A few states (California is the clearest example) distinguish between an "authorized" copy — valid for identity — and an "informational" copy marked INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY. Genealogists usually want informational copies; they're cheaper and anyone can order them.
What you'll need to provide
CDC guidance is consistent across all 50 states: you must supply the full name on the record, date and place of birth (city or town, county, state, and hospital if known), both parents' names including the mother's maiden name, your relationship to the person named, your daytime phone number, and the purpose of the request. Most states also require a photocopy of your government-issued photo ID.
What it actually costs
Fees range from about $10 (in a few states that set fees by statute) to $34 (Rhode Island, as of 2026). Online ordering through VitalChek, which most state offices authorize as their online processor, adds a service fee on top of the state fee, plus optional UPS shipping. Several counties saw fee increases take effect in 2026 after holding costs flat since 2018.
If you lost every form of ID
USA.gov has a specific playbook for this: contact your birth state's vital records office and ask what alternate identity proof it accepts. Most states will take a sworn statement of identity, or a notarized letter from a parent listed on your birth certificate along with a copy of their photo ID. USA.gov also recommends trying to replace your driver's license first if possible, since a DMV-issued ID will unlock birth certificate ordering in most states.
3Death Certificates
A death certificate serves two very different purposes. In the short term it is the document that unlocks every post-death administrative action: closing bank accounts, filing life insurance claims, transferring property, probating a will. In the long term it becomes a genealogical record that often outlives every other piece of evidence about the deceased person.
What it contains
Modern U.S. death certificates follow the U.S. Standard Certificate of Death, a format maintained by the CDC's National Vital Statistics System. It records the decedent's legal name, date and place of death, date of birth, Social Security number, occupation, marital status, parents' names, informant (usually a next-of-kin), attending physician or medical examiner, immediate cause of death, and underlying causes. Genealogists value the parents' names line — it's often the only place those facts were ever written down for someone born in the late 1800s.
Who can order
Rules are generally more relaxed than for birth certificates. Immediate family, adult descendants, estate executors, and funeral directors can order certified copies in every state. Many states release informational copies to the general public after 25–50 years.
4Marriage Records — State vs County
Marriage records confuse people more than any other vital record, and the confusion is legitimate: the filing location depends on the state. Some states (Hawaii, Idaho, Rhode Island) register marriages centrally at the state office. Most states file the license and certificate at the county clerk's office in the county where the license was issued — the state vital records office holds an index and sometimes a duplicate, but the original is at the county.
If you need a certified marriage certificate for a passport or visa application, check both: call the state office first, and if they don't hold it they'll tell you which county does. Illinois is a common example — the state charges $10 to search its files but directs you to the county clerk for the actual certificate.
5Divorce Decrees
The final divorce decree is a court document, not a vital record in the narrow sense. The vital records office will give you a certificate of divorce (sometimes called a divorce certificate or divorce verification) that records the basic facts: full names of husband and wife, date of divorce or annulment, place of divorce, and type of final decree. That's what the CDC guidance anticipates you'll request when you write to the state.
If you need the actual decree — the signed court order with property division, custody terms, and alimony schedule — you must go to the clerk of the court that issued it. The state vital records office does not hold that document. This matters most often in estate settlement and second-marriage cases where proof of the first marriage's dissolution is required.
6Certified vs Informational — What's the Difference
The same raw data — names, dates, places, parents — appears on both copy types. The difference is the legal effect and the paper it's printed on.
| Feature | Certified Copy | Informational Copy |
|---|---|---|
| Paper & seal | Security paper, raised seal, registrar's signature | Standard paper, no seal |
| Accepted by SSA / DMV / passport office | Yes | No |
| Visible watermark | Serial number, state seal | Diagonal stamp: "INFORMATIONAL — NOT A VALID DOCUMENT" |
| Who can order | Registrant, immediate family, legal rep (most states) | Often anyone; some states require a wait period |
| Typical cost | $10–$34 + service fees | Usually $5–$15 cheaper than certified |
| Best use | Identity, legal proceedings, REAL ID | Genealogy, personal records, research |
The one exception worth knowing: a handful of states (California is the notable one) don't use the terms "certified" and "informational." They use authorized (identity-grade) and informational. The paper and content are the same — only the legal use differs.
7How Ordering Actually Works
Three paths, ranked by speed:
1. Walk-in at the county clerk
Fastest. If the record is on file locally (most marriages and many older births), you can often walk out with a certified copy the same day. Brings a photo ID and the correct fee in check or money order — the CDC's guidance says not to send cash, and most counter clerks won't take it either.
2. Mail to the state vital records office
Standard path. Average turnaround is 4–8 weeks depending on the state. Your request letter needs: the full name on the record, date and place of the event, both parents' names (for birth or death), purpose of the request, your relationship, a daytime phone number, a photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order to the office named in the state's current fee schedule. The CDC guidelines page is the canonical source for the information the office expects.
3. Online through VitalChek
Slowest but most convenient. VitalChek is authorized by most state vital records offices as their online ordering partner. You'll pay the state fee plus a $7–$15 VitalChek service charge, plus optional UPS shipping ($20–$45). Processing time per VitalChek's own disclosure: 5–15 business days after the state approves your request. Premium express services (48–72 hours) are available in select states for an additional fee.
8If You Were Born Abroad
U.S. citizens born outside the country get a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, form FS-240) rather than a state-issued birth certificate, provided their parents reported the birth to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate at the time. Per USA.gov, the CRBA serves the same legal purpose as a U.S. birth certificate.
To replace a lost or damaged CRBA, contact the U.S. Department of State's Vital Records Section — not the vital records office of the state where you currently live. The state office has no record of your birth because the event wasn't registered there.
9If Your Birth Was Never Registered
Delayed birth registration is a formal process in every state for people whose births were never officially recorded — most often people born at home before their state's registration law took effect, or born in rural areas where the attending physician failed to file. You file a petition with the state vital records office (or sometimes the local court) along with secondary evidence: a hospital record, a religious record established before age 5, an early census entry, a school enrollment record, a family Bible entry with a dated inscription.
The Social Security Administration accepts several of these same documents as alternate proof of age and identity when it issues or replaces Social Security cards. Per the SSA's guidance on required documents, a "U.S. hospital record of birth" or a "religious record established before age 5 showing age or date of birth" will substitute for a birth certificate in their process. That overlap is useful because it means the documents you already have to collect for a delayed registration will also work for SSA.
10Vital Records + Census: The Genealogy Connection
For family history work older than your own lifetime, vital records and federal census records are the two legs of the stool. Births and deaths give you dates; the census gives you snapshots of households and relationships.
The National Archives (NARA) holds federal population census schedules from 1790 through 1950. The 1950 census was released on April 1, 2022. The next release — the 1960 census — will come in April 2032, because of the 72-year restriction on access to U.S. census data.
A productive research path: use census records to find probable birth years and locations for an ancestor, then order the actual birth certificate (or a delayed one) from that state's vital records office. Researchers often find that a 1900 census line saying "born March 1870, Ohio" is enough to request the right birth record, even when no one in the family can remember exactly where their grandfather was born.
Authoritative Sources
Everything on this page cross-references official government sources. If you're writing about vital records or advising someone, these are the pages worth bookmarking:
- CDC / National Center for Health Statistics — Where to Write for Vital Records. The canonical federal directory of state vital records offices. Maintained by NCHS. cdc.gov/nchs/w2w
- CDC Application Guidelines. Exactly what information to include when you write to a state office. cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/guidelines.htm
- USA.gov — How to get a U.S. birth certificate. Federal consumer-facing guide, last updated November 17, 2025. usa.gov/birth-certificate
- Social Security Administration — Required documents. What SSA accepts when issuing or replacing a Social Security card. ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm
- National Archives — Census records. Population schedules 1790–1950, subject to the 72-year restriction. archives.gov/research/census
- NCHS — National Vital Statistics System. Aggregated U.S. data on births, deaths, marriages, and life expectancy. cdc.gov/nchs/nvss
- U.S. Department of State — Consular Report of Birth Abroad. For U.S. citizens born outside the country. travel.state.gov
Related Research Tools
Vital records are rarely the only record type you need. These companion guides on PublicRecordCenter.com pair naturally with a vital records search:
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions about ordering U.S. vital records, answered directly.
Where does the federal government keep vital records?
It doesn't. The CDC is explicit about this: "The Federal Government does not maintain files or indexes of these records." Every birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificate is filed permanently in the state where the event occurred — usually at a State Office of Vital Records or, for older or more local events, at a city or county clerk.
What's the difference between a certified and an informational copy?
A certified copy is the legal original: it carries a raised seal, a signature, and is accepted by SSA, DMVs, passport offices, and courts. An informational copy contains the same data but is stamped INFORMATIONAL — NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY and cannot be used for legal purposes. Informational copies are cheaper and are what most genealogists actually need.
How long does it take to get a birth certificate?
It depends entirely on the state and the ordering method. Walk-in requests at a county clerk's office can be same-day. Mail requests to a state office typically take 4–8 weeks. Online ordering through VitalChek adds 5–15 business days after approval on top of the state's processing. A handful of states offer premium express service in 48–72 hours for a surcharge.
Who is legally allowed to order a vital record?
Most states restrict certified copies to the registrant (the person named on the record), immediate family (parents, spouse, adult children, siblings), and legal representatives. Informational copies are often available to anyone after a waiting period — typically 75–100 years for birth records, 25–50 years for death records. Requirements vary by state, which is why this guide links to each state's official office.
Can I get a U.S. vital record if I was born abroad?
If your parents registered your birth with the U.S. embassy or consulate, you have a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, form FS-240). To replace it, contact the U.S. Department of State's Vital Records Section, not a state vital records office. The CRBA serves the same legal purpose as a U.S. birth certificate.
Why do birth certificate fees keep going up?
State vital records offices are generally funded by their own fees. When operating costs rise — digitization of old paper records, identity-theft audit trails, postal costs — fees rise to cover them. Colorado's Mesa County Public Health, for example, announced increases taking effect in 2026 after holding fees flat since 2018.
What if my birth was never registered?
You can file for a delayed birth registration with the state where you were born. Each state's rules differ, but typically you submit secondary evidence — a hospital record, religious record predating age 5, a census entry, a school record — plus an affidavit. SSA accepts several of these same documents as alternate proof of age when issuing Social Security cards.
Can I order someone else's birth certificate?
Only if you're on the short list of people each state permits: usually parents, adult children, spouse, siblings, or someone acting as a legal representative with documentation. For a person who has been deceased long enough (75–100 years in most states), anyone can order a copy — at that point the record is considered historical.
Is VitalChek a government agency?
No. VitalChek is a private company (owned by LexisNexis Risk Solutions) that most U.S. state vital records offices have authorized as their online ordering partner. Using VitalChek costs more than ordering directly from the state, but the service is legitimate and the records you receive are certified by the state itself, not by VitalChek.