Vital records in the US are maintained by individual state governments — there is no federal database. Select your state below for the specific office, current fees, processing times, and request instructions for birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, and divorce decrees.
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Records are held by the state where the event occurred, not your current state of residence. If you were born in Texas but live in California, request from Texas. See our out-of-state records guide for the complete process.
Select Your State
★ = Detailed guide with state-specific fee and office data. All others show the standard request process.
Key Things to Know Before You Request
- Records are held by the state of the event — not your current home state. Born in Ohio but live in Nevada? Request from Ohio.
- County offices are usually faster than the state office for in-person requests.
- Order extra copies — each agency that requires a vital record needs its own certified original. You cannot photocopy a certified certificate for a second use.
- Use official forms only — third-party forms are rejected. Always download from the official state government website.
- New York City is separate from New York State — different office, different forms, different fees.
- Processing times are estimates — call the office for current wait times before submitting an urgent request.
Not Sure What to Bring?
Use our free checklist generator. Select your state, record type, and situation — we'll give you a printable list of exactly what to submit.
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