Vital records are kept by state vital records offices and county clerks, and rules for access vary.
Good to know
- States began requiring birth and death records at different times, many in the early 1900s
- Older records may be at the county or a state archive
- Access to recent records is often limited to close relatives
- The CDC's Where to Write for Vital Records page lists each state's office
- Church records can fill gaps before civil registration
General information only. Record access and fees vary by state and archive. Little Oak Journal isn't paid by any genealogy or DNA company.