Retrieve Vital Records

Vital records, such as birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates, are not maintained or distributed by the federal government. These records are publicly available through individual state vital records offices. You can usually obtain vital records by following these steps:

STEP 1: Visit the CDC's directory of State Vital Records Offices and select a state.

STEP 2: Click the office website to download their request application. Remember that marriage and divorce records are often only available through the county in which the marriage or divorce occurred.

STEP 3: Fill out the request application and mail it to the address provided on the CDC website.

Delivery:

Vital record delivery times vary significantly according to each state's processing schedules. Refer to the state's website for details on required information and delivery times.

Other Useful Vital Records Resources Include:

National Center for Health Statistics - The NCHS is an information resource for statistical information about America's health.

National Archives and Records Administration - The NARA provides an introductory guide on gathering vital records for genealogy research purposes.

Pennsylvania Department of Health - The Pennsylvania Department of Health provides a directory of all 50 state vital records offices.