Vermont Vital Records

United States Vermont  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 Vermont Vital Records State Department of Health for records for the last five years, Vermont General Service Center since 1857 or the Town Clerk's office where the event occurred for early records through current time

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


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


 * Vermont Links from fhlfavorites.info - Free


 * Vermont Databases listed on Rootsweb.com - Free


 * USGenWeb.org Vermont Site - Free


 * Search for Vermont Digital Collections on FamilySearch.org - Free


 * The Vital Records Search and Information Directory for Vermont - Free/$


 * Online Records Indexes for Vermont Birth and Marriage and Death Records - Free/$


 * Linkpendium Links for Vermont Genealogy and History, including individual counties - Free/$


 * Progenealogists Links for the United States. Press Ctrl + F on the keyboard to search for Vermont or VT - Free/$


 * Search the Vermont Birth, Marriage and Death Records at Ancestry.com


 * Order Vermont Certificates online

If you are aware of other online databases, please feel free to add them.

Vermont Vital Records
Vital records were first kept in Vermont from the earliest permanent settlement, about 1760. All original records are maintained by the town or city and can be viewed at the town or city clerk’s office. The present vital registration law was enacted in 1857. This statute required that all vital events be recorded in the town where they occurred. A centralized registration system was established in 1919.

The central registration of birth, marriage, death, and divorce records have been divided into the responsibilities of two state agencies. For vital records from 1760 to 5 years ago, contact:

Vermont Public Records Division General Services Center Public Records Division, Drawer 33 Montpelier, VT 05633-7601 Telephone: 802-828-3286 Internet: Vermont Birth Database For Vital Records for the 5 most recent years, contact:

Department of Health and Vital Statistics 108 Cherry St., P.O. Box 70 Burlington, VT 05402 Telephone: 802-863-7275 Internet: Vermont Health Department


 * VitalRec.com ($)

Birth Records
Birth records usually show the name and sex of the child, and the names of parents, with the mother’s maiden name. The birth records may also show the birth places and ages of the parents, mother’s maiden name, occupation of the father, and number of children born to the mother. A year by year search may reveal other children born to the couple. Birth records of adopted children may give the birth parents but have frequently been amended to show only the adoptive parents.


 * FamilySearch Historical Records. Vermont, Births and Christenings, 1765-1908, with a description of the collection.

Marriage Records
Marriage records usually mention the names of the bride and groom, the date and place of the marriage, and the home town of both the bride and groom. They also may show the names of the parents of each of them.

Gretna Greens. When an eloping Vermont couple's marriage is not in their home county, search for it in alternate places like Niagara Falls, NY, Elkton, Cecil, Maryland, or Prince William County, VA. Niagara Falls was the closest, so probably most eloping couples would go there.


 * FamilySearch Historical Records. Vermont, Marriages, 1791-1974, with a description of the collection.

Death Records
Death records usually give information about the deceased, such as name, age, birth date, state or country of birth. They also may include the names of parents, the date and place of death, as well as the cause of death. The informant may be a close relative and the names of the physician and mortician may be provided.


 * FamilySearch Historical Records. Vermont, Deaths and Burials, 1871-1965, with a description of the collection.

Divorce Records
Divorce Certificates are available through the Department of Health for the last 5 years. By clicking the Department of Heatlh link this will take you to the form to fill out. For certificates prior to the last five years you would need to contact the State Archives and Records Administration. By following this link it will take you to the genealogy page, give you the information you need, and a form to fill out.

Since vital records were kept from the founding of a town, search the town records also for the original information. See the “Town Records” page for details.

Adoption Records
A good site that explains adoption issues, such as who can acquire what information when, where, how:


 * Vermont Department for Children and Families, Vermont Adoption Registry. This site makes "it easier for adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth family members to access information about adoptions that took place in Vermont. Adoption records, however, are still confidential."

Vital Records Indexes

 * Vermont. Secretary of State. General Index to Vital Records of Vermont, Early to 1870. This index includes births, deaths, marriages, and most gravestones. They are arranged alphabetically within the year. Some cards are filmed out of sequence.


 * Vermont. Secretary of State. General Index to Vital Records of Vermont, 1871–1908. This index includes births, deaths, and marriages. They are arranged alphabetically by surname. Some cards are filmed out of sequence. Re-filmed cards are on the end of some rolls.


 * Vermont. Secretary of State. State Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1909–1942. They are arranged alphabetically by surname.


 * Vermont. Secretary of State. State Records of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1942–1954. They are arranged alphabetically by surname.

Substitute Records
Vermont Church Records

Vermont Cemetery Records

Vermont Census

Vermont Newspapers

Vermont Periodicals

Vermont Military Records

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 governments, search for church records of christening, marriage, death or 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 anyone 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 Vermont to locate records filed by the State and then search the name of the county to locate records kept by the county.