User:HardestyPN/Sandbox Finding Births

FINDING U.S. BIRTH RECORDS

Why would I want to search for a birth record?


 * May give the exact date and place where the child was born
 * May indicate where the parents were born
 * Help you extend a generation to the parents of the child.

What information does a birth record include?


 * Name of child
 * Birth date and place of child
 * Father’s name
 * Mother’s name including maiden
 * Birthplaces of parents

What you need to know about birth records in the U.S.:


 * Each state has a different year when births began to be recorded depending on when their state law was passed.
 * Information gathered by state and county officials differs from each state.
 * Most states began recording births between 1900 and 1930.
 * New England states started recording births on the town level starting as early as the first residents of the town.
 * Some states in the Midwest began recording births on the county level as early as 1860s.

How to find your ancestor’s birth record: Process for finding birth records:


 * Check online indexes and digital images
 * Check repositories, such as archives and libraries (FHL)
 * Obtain certificate from the government agency ($$)

Step 1: Where Did the Birth Occur?
Choose one of the following:


 * I know the state — West Virginia
 * I don't know the state — Go to Estimating Birth Information