Vital Record: What It Is and Who Keeps It
A vital record is the official registration of a life event, such as a birth, death, marriage or divorce, kept by the jurisdiction that legally registered it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists the events as births, deaths, marriages, divorces and fetal deaths.
What vital record do you need?
Choose your certificate to start your order.
Who keeps vital records
Legal authority belongs to the registering jurisdictions, not the federal government. The CDC lists them as the 50 states, Washington, DC, New York City and five territories (Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). Each maintains its own registry and issues copies of birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates.
The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics works with these jurisdictions to collect data, but its page says the federal government does not distribute certificates, files or indexes with identifying information.
Records versus statistics
Vital records are the individual registrations. Vital statistics are the combined data drawn from them, which NCHS publishes through the National Vital Statistics System.
Where to get a copy
Identify the state or area where the event occurred, then contact that jurisdiction's vital records office. Its rules decide who may order, what proof is needed and how long it takes. Passport applications are handled separately by the U.S. State Department.
Frequently asked questions
Does the federal government keep my birth or marriage record?
No. The CDC says each state and territory keeps its own records and issues the copies.
What is the difference between a vital record and a certified copy?
The vital record is the registration itself. A certified copy is an official copy issued by the registering office.
Do vital records include divorce?
Yes. The CDC lists divorces among the events registered, though some states issue only a verification or send you to the court.
Sources
US Records is a private company and is not a government agency. Government agencies issue certified records; we help you order them.
Written By
US Records TeamThe US Records Team writes and reviews guides on birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates, using state statutes, agency instructions and court records as sources.
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