Where to Write for Vital Records

July 27th, 2006

Posted in Directories, Genealogy Archives, Genealogy Research, General

The National Center for Health Statistics hosts a very
useful web page that provides the contact information for every state where you
can write to obtain vital records for births, deaths, marriages, and divorces that
have occurred in your family history. Application
Guidelines for obtaining vital records are also provided.

To obtain a certified copy of birth, death, and marriage certificates, write or go
to the vital statistics office in the State where the event occurred. Addresses and
fees are given for each event in the State concerned. Because all fees are subject
to change, a telephone number has been included in the information for each State
so you can verify the current fee. These pages also provide web page addresses of
each State’s vital records office(s).

Be sure to type or print all names and addresses in the letter.

Give the following facts when writing for birth or death records:

Full name of person whose record is requested.
Sex.
Parents’ names, including maiden name of mother.
Month, day, and year of birth or death.
Place of birth or death (city or town, county, and State; and name of hospital, if
known).
Purpose for which copy is needed.
Relationship to person whose record is requested.
Day time telephone number with area code.

Give the following facts when writing for marriage records: