Vital Records

Vital records, as their name suggests, are connected with central life events: birth, marriage, and death. Maintained by civil authorities, they are prime sources of genealogical information. Not every birth that has taken place in the United States has been recorded; in fact, most slave states did not require births and deaths to be recorded until after 1910. Virginia's birth and death records date from 1853 and Florida's birth records from 1865. Marriage records were recorded by each county from the date of its formation.

The Family History Library (FHL) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has microfilmed records for more than 10,000 counties in the United States. It also has filmed birth and death records for some states. The main library, located in Salt Lake City, sends copies of its microfilmed records to Family History Centers all over the world.

How do you get a copy of a birth or death record?

1. You can order a birth or death certificate from any state for a fee. The response time varies by state, with some taking up to six months for orders placed by mail. Online or fax orders can be expedited, but expect to pay an average fee of $36.00 per certificate, including the cost of overnight delivery. Beware! Some states will only search the records for the year you list. If the year you give is slightly off, a year or two in either direction, and they do not find the record based on the information you provide, you will not receive a refund.
2. You can order copies of microfilmed records from the Family History Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints nearest you. Generally, it takes six weeks for a film to arrive and there is a rental fee for the service.
3. You can choose to have a professional record searcher search the indexes and records at the Family History Library. Copies of certificates can be sent by mail or for faster delivery certificates can be scanned and emailed to you. More information . . . .

How do you get a copy of a marriage record?

1. You can order a marriage record for a fee from the county where your ancestors married.  Keep in mind that marriages of slaves were not recorded by county clerks! You can obtain marriage records for former slaves who married after 1866. Again, response time varies by place.  Fax orders can be expedited, but expect to pay an average fee of $36.00 per certificate, including the cost of overnight delivery.  Beware! Some counties will only search the records for the year you list. If the year you give is slightly off, a year or two in either direction, and they do not find the record based on the information you provide, you will not receive a refund. 
2. You can order copies of microfilmed records from the Family History Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints nearest you.  Generally, it takes six weeks for a film to arrive and there is a rental fee for the service.
3. You can choose to have a professional record searcher search the indexes and records at the Family History Library.   Copies of certificates can be sent by mail or for faster delivery certificates can be scanned and emailed to you. More information . . . .