Obtaining Certificates

in the United States

 

In general, vital records weren’t kept in the United States until the early 1900s. Vital records usually contain the full name of the individual involved in the event, the date of the event, and the county, state, or town where the event took place. Many vital records contain much more information. For example, birth records usually have the parent’s full names, the name of the baby, the date of the birth, and county where the birth took place. Marriage records often record the names and birthplaces of each individual’s parents. Divorce records usually list the names of the couple’s children. Death certificates often mention where the individual is buried, and gives the name of the individual who reported the death.

An official certificate of every birth, death, marriage, and divorce should be on file in the locality where the event occurred. The Federal Government does not maintain files or indexes of these records. These records are filed permanently either in a State vital statistics office or in a city, county, or other local office.

To obtain a certified copy of any of the certificates, write or go to the vital statistics office in the State or area where the event occurred. To find the location of the vital statistics office in a state, you can go to that State’s website for additional information.

In the United States, legal authority for the registration of these events resides individually with the 50 States, 2 cities (Washington, DC, and New York City), and 5 territories (Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). These jurisdictions are responsible for maintaining registries of vital events and for issuing copies of birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates.

 
 

Obtaining Certificates

in Ireland

Getting married in the Catholic Church in Ireland visit: Catholic Church marriages in Ireland

CHURCH RECORDS

For the period before 1864, parish registers recording details of baptisms, marriages and burials provide the only source of information relating to births, marriages and deaths. Prior to making use of these records, it is of course necessary to be aware of an ancestor’s religious affiliation and often the name of the parish in which the baptism, marriage or burial occurred.

  • Roman Catholic parish registers are normally still held by the parish priest, but there are microfilm copies of most of them for the period up to 1880 in the National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. In some instances, the written permission of the parish priest must be obtained before the microfilms can be seen.

  • Church of Ireland parish registers for the period up to 1870 are public records. Registers are available for about one third of the parishes. Most are still held by the local clergy, although some are in the Irish National Archives, Bishop St, Dublin 8.

  • Others are in the Representative Church Body Library, Braemor Park, Dublin 14

  • Others in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, 66 Balmoral Avenue, Belfast BT9 6 NY

  • Presbyterian church records are arranged by congregation and any enquiries should be directed to the Presbyterian Historical Society, Church House, Fisherwick Place, Belfast BT1 6TW

For a full listing of Irish government departments and Irish agencies, visit www.gov.ie.