Utah Vital Records

United States Utah  Vital 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. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Utah Vital Records State Department of Health or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.

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Vital Records Reference Dates
Utah's vital records start the following years :


 * Salt Lake City death records start in 1848.


 * }

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

Marriages


 * Western States Historical Marriage Records Index BYU Idaho

Deaths


 * Utah Death Certificate available from
 * 1904–1958 Utah Archives
 * 1904–1956

Utah Vital Records
Utah state, county, and city governments have created records of births, marriages, and deaths. Records containing this information are commonly called "vital records," because they refer to critical events in a person's life.

This section describes the vital records kept by the civil government and where they are found. The Family History Library has many of the records listed here and many other records. Refer to Church Records for a description of other sources for vital information. Also, refer to the Tracing LDS Ancestors page for records pertaining members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Birth Records
State registration of births and deaths began in 1905 and was generally complied with by 1917. From 1977 to the present, the births and deaths are indexed by computer and may be found at the county vital records offices. Before 1905, you will need to contact county offices also.

County Records

Although a few counties kept earlier records, most counties began keeping ledger entries of births and deaths in 1898 to comply with a state law. County records to 1905 are kept in the county clerk's office. Since 1905 county birth and death records have been sent to the Bureau of Vital Records. Some of the local county health departments have retained copies of these records. Check the Wiki under the county for further records and information.

Although a few counties kept earlier records, most counties began keeping ledger entries of births and deaths in 1898 to comply with a state law. County records to 1905 are kept in the county clerk's office. Since 1905 county birth and death records have been sent to the Bureau of Vital Records. Some of the local county health departments have retained copies of these records.

The Family History Library has copies of most of the county birth and death records from 1898 to 1905 and more recent records for some counties.

State Records

For information about state birth and death records, write to:

Bureau of Vital Records Utah State Department of Health 288 North 1460 West Street Salt Lake City, UT 84114 Telephone: 801-538-6105 Internet: Utah Department of Health


 * For genealogical purposes request a complete, "full copy" of the records.

Individuals who were born before 1905, or who did not have a birth certificate may have applied for a delayed birth certificate. The Bureau of Vital Records has issued delayed birth certificates since 1941.

Adoption Records
Utah law permits public access to adoption records over 100 years old. Records of adoptions are found in probate registers, record books and case files. The Utah State Archives holds such records for many counties, more detail on their Adoptions Research Guide.

Territorial Records
The library has some territorial vital records on compact disc for the 1800s to 1906. This index contains birth, marriage, guardianship, naturalization, divorce records and wills. The territory includes Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, and Indian territory. Sources include Deseret News notices of vital records, marriages performed by justices of the peace, Methodist marriages, and records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints records.

Territorial vital records: births, divorces, guardianship, marriages, naturalization, wills; 1800's thru 1906 Utah territory, AZ, CO, ID, NV, WY, Indian Terr.; LDS branches, wards; Deseret News vital recs.; J.P. marriages; Meth.

Records before 1887. Civil registration of marriages was not required in Utah until 1887; however, some records of marriages before 1887 are in the justice of the peace or probate court records. These early marriage records were usually interfiled with other court matters. For a description of records of marriage in Utah before 1887, see an explanation of sources in the Western States Marriage Index under "Pre-1887 Sources for Utah Counties."

Most of these court records are currently at either the county clerk's office or the Utah State Archives (see Marriage Records Research Guide). Some are also in the personal journals of individual judges. The Family History Library has pre-1887 court records for a number of Utah counties.

Records after 1887. In 1887, the Edmunds-Tucker Act required that marriage records be kept in the office of the probate court. Beginning in the late 1890s they were kept by the county clerks. County marriage records from 1887 to the present are currently found in either the county clerk's office or the Utah State Archives. The Family History Library has film copies of these records to about 1960 for most counties.

The following records are a sampling of the records available at the library. The counties listed are among the most populated. Most marriage records show names of bride and groom, residences, and ages. Names of witnesses can help identify relatives or neighbors. Later records may include birth information and parents' names.

Salt Lake County (Utah). County Clerk. Marriage Records, 1887–1965. The first 18 films index the licenses and certificates. These records have been indexed in the Early Church Information File up to 1914.

There is an additional index from 1887 to 1987 available on fiche:

Salt Lake County (Utah). County Clerk. Alphabetic Marriage Listing 1887–1987. There are 24 fiche for each number. The first set of fiche is an index to the grooms and the second is an index to the brides. These will lead you to the above record.

Cache County (Utah). County Clerk. Marriage Records, 1887–1966. Marriages up to 1914 are indexed in the Early Church Information File.

Utah County. (Utah). County Clerk. Marriage Records of Utah County, 1887–1966. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1959. These are also indexed in the Early Church Information File for marriages up to 1914.

Weber County. (Utah). County Clerk. Applications for Licenses to Marry, and Original Marriage Certificates, 1888–1947. The applications are arranged by certificate numbers, then chronologically. For example, application number 1s from 1888, 1892, 1897, 1919, and 1935 would be filed together. The years on the films overlap and are mixed. No index is available to certificate numbers. The marriages index cards have been placed in the Early Church Information File. However, the cards give book and page numbers. You may have to search numerous films or order the certificate from the county.

Weber County Clerk 2549 Washington Blvd. Ogden, UT 84401 Telephone: 801-399-8019 Fax: 801-629-8011 Internet: Weber County Clerk

Justices of the peace have continued to perform marriages from 1887 to the present. Most justices have given their marriage records to the county clerk, although a few pre-statehood marriages may be listed only in the justices' records. The best way to locate an available collection of justice of the peace records is to contact the county clerk or the Utah State Archives. The Family History Library has a few of these records.

Gretna Greens for Utah. Many eloping coupleswent to Farmington, Davis County, Utah to be married and avoid the waiting period between the issuing of a licence and the performance of the marriage. Other similar runaway marriage places for Utahns include Evanston, West Wendover, or Las Vegas.

Marriage Indexes to County Records
An extensive list of marriages for the state are searchable online at the Western States Marriage Index. See the website for detailed listing of counties and time period coverage.

For Salt Lake, Utah, and Davis counties, a computer index is available. It is at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

Marriage License Information System. This index covers the years 1800s through 1992. These can be searched by groom's name, bride's name, or date of marriage. The index provides the marriage license number and the county.

The following is a marriage index compiled from civil records by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and organized by the Genealogical Society:

Miscellaneous Marriage Index. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1972. This source is an incomplete index for Utah counties for the 1860 to 1940 period. The index cards list marriage information for individuals from ten counties: Box Elder, Millard, Morgan, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Utah, Wayne, and Weber. A few counties from Idaho and Wyoming are also included. The original cards have been interfiled with the Early Church Information File.

Vital Records Kept by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Birth and death information for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the 1840s to the present is often available in membership records or annual reports. The Family History Library has records to 1948.

Many early marriages were performed in the temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Before the government recorded marriages, marriages or sealings were only recorded in temple records. Other marriages may have been recorded in Church records or journals of the bishops.

For vital records of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints see the Tracing LDS Ancestors portal page.

Death Records
State registration of deaths began in 1905 and was generally complied with by 1917. From 1977 to the present, the deaths are indexed by computer and may be found at the county vital records offices. Before 1905, you will need to contact county offices also.

County Records
Although a few counties kept earlier records, most counties began keeping ledger entries of births and deaths in 1898 to comply with a state law. County records to 1905 are kept in the county clerk's office. Since 1905 county birth and death records have been sent to the Bureau of Vital Records. Some of the local county health departments have retained copies of these records.

The Utah Genealogical Association has completed an index to the early death records. They have indexed 1898-1905 county death records for all counties except Salt Lake County. The index includes name, sex, age, death date, county page number, and entry or registration number.

Utah Genealogical Association. Professional Genealogists Chapter. Utah Death Index, 1898–1905, Excluding Salt Lake County.

State Records
For information about state birth and death records, write to:

Bureau of Vital Records Utah State Department of Health 288 North 1460 West Street Salt Lake City, UT 84114 Telephone: 801-538-6105 Internet: Utah Department of Health

For genealogical purposes request a complete, "full copy" of the records.

The Utah State Archives now has digital copies of death records online for the years 1905 thru 1958. You can search the index and access the digital images at:

Utah State Archives and Records Service. The death certificates are also on microfilm and cover the years from 1904 to 1960. You may call, write, visit, or e-mail the archives for information. The address is listed in the "Archives and Libraries" page. Their Internet site provides more details

Utah Death Certificates 1904 - 1956 -A free internet access to the 1904-1956 death certificates can be viewed on the Family Search Record Search. Utah requires a death certificate before a burial is completed. A death certificate may contain information as to the name of the deceased, date of death, and place of death, as well as the age, birthdate, parents, gender, marital status, spouse and place of residence.

Guide to Vital Records
You can learn more about the history and availability of Utah vital records through the Internet at Bureau of Vital Records and Utah State Archives Internet sites.

The following book also provides information. The Utah State Board of Health sponsored the survey in 1941.

Guide to Public Vital Statistics of Utah. Salt Lake City, Utah: Historical Records Survey, 1941. The book has four sections: birth, death, marriage, and divorce. It has samples of the documents being used and a copy of the instructions to the clerks and doctors on how to fill in the forms.

Susbstitute Records
Utah Church Records

Utah Cemetery Records

Utah Census

Utah Newspapers There are newspaper indexes to Death records and marriages from 1867 to 1961.

Utah Obituaries You will find indexes to the first newspapers obituaries to locate deaths.

Utah Periodicals

Utah Military Records

Utah Mining Accidents 1896-1916 at UTGenWeb - free.

Tips

 * Information listed on vital records is given by an informant. Learn the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) of the record. The closer the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) and whether or not the informant was present at the time of the event can help determine the accuracy of the information found on the record.
 * If you are unable to locate vital records recorded by governmenents, search for church records of christening, marriage, death and burial. A family Bible may have been used to record births, marriages and deaths.
 * Privacy laws may restrict your access to some vital records. Copies of some vital records recorded in the last 100 years may be unavailable to anone except a direct relative.
 * Search for Vital Records in the Family History Library Catalog by using a Place Search and then choosing Vital Records. Search for Utah to locate records filed by the State and then search the name of the county to locate records kept by the county.

Wiki articles describing these collections are found at:


 * Utah Birth and Christenings (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Utah, Box Elder County Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Utah, County Marriages (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Utah Deaths and Burials (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Utah Death Certificates (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Utah Marriages (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Utah, Salt Lake County Birth Registers (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Utah Salt Lake County Death Registers (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Utah Statewide Death Certificates (FamilySearch Historical Records)