Research Tip – State Vital Records Dates

Vital records (civil registrations of births and deaths) are an important resource for genealogists. Before beginning to search for a particular birth or death certificate, it is important to understand when and where these records even exist.

The registration of vital records is a state responsibility, and each state passed legislation requiring registration at different dates. Also, in many states individual counties or municipalities may well have recorded births and deaths prior to state registration requirements. For example, even though the state of Missouri did not require registration until 1910, the city of St. Louis began recording birth and death information in 1880.

The following table identifies dates when laws were passed requiring state-wide registrations of birth and death.

Last modified: 04-Jul-2016 12:14