How to Find Vermont Birth Records

How to Find United States Births Vermont  Vermont Births

In Vermont, towns were created starting about 1760. Births were and still are recorded by town clerks, beginning when the town was formed. Statewide registration of births began in 1857 and was generally complied with by 1919. The towns have copies of these state birth registration records.

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Next Step: When did the birth occur?

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 * Birth Records
 * Choose a time period:


 * Births 1760 to 1857
 * 1857 to the Present
 * Birth year unknown


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Birth records were kept by each town clerk. Early town clerks put birth records in town records and in land records. After about 1850, birth information was only put in town records. Town clerks were usually good at recording birth information. The towns continue to keep birth records today. These are described further in Vermont Town Records.

Following the Revolutionary War until about 1870, records were not always recorded. In 1870, the State Board of Health was established and record keeping in towns improved.

Vermont towns are like western townships, so several populated places are in a town's borders. The name of the town is used in official records rather than the name of the populated place.

If you do not find birth information in the town where your ancestor was born, you may need to look at substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place or try the records in a neighboring town.

You can also search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place.

Return to top: Choose another birth year

Births 1760 to 1857
For births that occurred in this time period try the following databases:

Limited births may be found in the following databases. Try each link.

STEP ONE: Find Birth Information
Limited births maybe found in the following databases. Try each link.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
PART A: You know the exact date of birth

With an exact date (from your records or the index above), you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the following locations:

See list of restrictions for ordering birth records

If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.  

PART B: You don't know the exact date of birth

If you do not know the exact date or place of birth: Call

See list of restrictions for ordering birth records

If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.  Return to top: Choose another birth year

STEP ONE: Find Birth Information
If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.  Return to top: Choose another birth year


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Restrictions for Obtaining Birth Records
Restrictions for persons born within the last 100 years: To obtain a copy of the birth certificate for those born within the last 100 years from the government agency, you must be:


 * The person on the certificate and age 18 or older
 * The parents, guardian, or grandparents of person on the certificate
 * The wife or husband of the person on the certificate
 * The children and grandchildren of the person on the certificate and age 18 or older
 * Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate
 * NOTE: A copy of the birth record cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 100 years have passed from the date of the birth.
 * For additional information, see the State Vital Records Office.

Birth records more than 100 years old:


 * Available to any person over 18 years of age

If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information. Return to top: Choose another birth year

Related Wiki Articles

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