District of Columbia Vital Records

United States   District of Columbia    Vital Records

District of Columbia Birth, Marriage and Death Records
Introduction to Vital Records

Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. United States Vital Records has additional research guidance on researching and using vital records.

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Vital Records Reference Dates
The District of Columbia's civil records start the following years:


 * Death records do not exist for the Civil War years 1861-1865.


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District of Columbia Birth, Marriage and Death Records Online
The following is a list of online resources useful for locating District of Columbia Vital Records which consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths. Most online resources for District of Columbia Vital Records are indexes. After locating a person in an index always consult the original record to confirm the information in the index.


 * The usgenweb.org site for Washington D.C. or District of Columbia - Free
 * Search for District of Columbia Collections on FamilySearch Record Search under Canada, USA, and Mexico - Free
 * The Vital Records Search and Information Directory for District of Columbia - Free/$
 * Linkpendium Links for District of Columbia Genealogy and History - Free/$
 * Progenealogists Links for the United States. Press Ctrl + F on the keyboard to search for District of Columbia or DC - Free/$
 * Search the District of Columbia Birth, Marriage &amp; Death Records at Ancestry.com - $

Birth and Death Records
Registration of vital statistics began in 1874 for the District of Columbia and was generally complied with by 1915 for births and 1880 for deaths. You can obtain copies of these records by writing to:


 * Department of Human Services 
 * Vital Records Division 
 * 800 9th Street S.W.
 * Washington, DC 20024
 * Telephone: 202-645-5962
 * Internet: Department of Human Services

The current fees for obtaining copies of the District's birth and death records are found at the DC Dept. of Health online at Obtaining Birth or Death Certificates.

Some earlier records of deaths exist from 1855-1860, and 1865-1949. They can be obtained from the above address. The Family History Library has copies of some of the District's births, 1874-1897 starting on film. Deaths for 1855-1949 begin on film.

Marriage Records
Registration of marriages began in 1811. Some of the early marriages for the years 1811 to 1858 have been transcribed by the DAR and are on microfilm at the Family History Library. Easier-to-use versions of these records include:


 * DC marriage records 1811-1950; indexes, 1811-1986
 * Alexandria (DC) marriage certificates returned 1801-1850 item 3
 * DC marriage registers 1811-1870
 * DC marriage returns, 1874-1902, 1907-1923; consents, 1896-Dec. 1950
 * DC newspaper marriage notices 1800-1850

You can obtain marriage records from 1811 to the present by writing to:


 * Superior Court of the District of Columbia
 * Marriage License Bureau
 * 500 Indiana Avenue N.W.
 * Washington, DC 20001
 * Telephone: 202-879-4840
 * Internet: District of Columbia Courts

Divorce Records
Divorce proceedings prior to September 1956 are available from:


 * Clerk of the U.S. District Court
 * 3rd and Constitution Avenue N.W.
 * Washington, DC 20001
 * Telephone: 202-273-0555
 * Internet: United States District Court for the District of Columbia

Some of the early divorce records are at the National Archives. Divorce documents filed since 1956 are at:


 * Clerk of the Superior Court
 * Family Division
 * 500 Indiana Avenue, N.W.
 * Washington, DC 20001
 * Telephone: 202-879-1418
 * Internet: Clerk of the Superior Court

The old divorce docket, 1803 to 1848, is in four volumes at the National Archives in Suitland, Maryland. The Family History Library has no District of Columbia divorce records.

Substitute Records
These links will take you to wiki pages describing alternate sources for birth, marriage and death records.


 * Church Records: Depending on the denomination, church records may contain information about birth, marriage and death.
 * Cemetery Records: Cemetery records are a rich source of birth and death information. These records may also reveal family relationships.
 * Census: Census records are a valuable source for birth and marriage information. You may also determine approximate time of death when the individual disappear from the census. This is a good place to begin a search.
 * Newspapers: Besides obituaries, local newspapers may contain birth and marriage announcements and death notices. Also check newspaper social columns for additional information.
 * Periodicals: Local genealogical and historical societies often publish periodicals which may contain abstracted early birth, marriage and death information.
 * Military Records: Military pension records can give birth, marriage and death information, In addtion, soldiers' homes records can included this same information.
 * Probate Records: If no death record exists, probate records may be helpful in estimating when an individual has died. Probate records in the 20th Century often contain the exact death date.
 * History: Local histories, family histories and biographies can all be sources of birth, marriage and death information. Often this information is found in county-level records or in surname searches of the Family History Library catalog.