How to Trace Family Genealogy Using Vital Records

Certificates of birth, marriage, divorce and death are considered "vital records" and can be a big help in tracing your genealogy. Most records are kept by the state in which the event took place, so knowing where grandma and grandpa got hitched is important if you're looking for their marriage record. The federal government does not keep any vital records.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Credit card
• Computer with Internet access
• Telephone
• Checkbook

1. Determine the state where the event you are researching took place. If grandma was born in Kansas, you would need to contact the state of Kansas to request the birth certificate. Knowing the county and city can help you trim the list of contacts.
2. Contact the state or county vital-statistics or health office or office to request records. For a list of these offices, as well as contact and other information, visit the United States Vital Records Information Web site (see Resources below).
3. Fill out the application online or write your own vital-record request and choose a payment method if it is not specified. Include any other pertinent facts that will help the office locate your ancestor's records.
4. Send the request and the check to the vital-records office at the address listed. In some cases, you can request the record online or over the phone and pay with a credit card.
5. Perform an online search for vital records by entering (for example) "California births" in a search engine. Although results can be inconsistent, you may be surprised at what you can find online.

Tips & Warnings

• Generally, the further back you go, the more difficult it will be to find vital records. Many states didn't start archiving vital records until the early 1900s.
• Keep track of all the records you've requested and note whether or not you received them. If you can't find a record, note the reason. This will prevent you from repeating your request for an unavailable record.