Are There Free Vital Records?

Vital records are legal documents of important events, including birth,
marriage, divorce, and death. These records are created not only to
keep census and vital statistics for government agencies, but for
individual uses, such as identification, background checks,
verification of marital status, verification for a life insurance
claim, and many more reasons. However, searching for and obtaining
vital records can be a chore, and there is usually a fee involved in
obtaining a certified copy from a government agency. Is there vital
record information that is available for free? And where can you get
free vital record information?
Accessing Free Vital Records from Each State Since vital records are
legal government documents, they must be requested through an official
form, and a fee must be paid. Each state and government agency has its
own procedure and fee schedule for vital records official copy
requests. However, some states will provide limited free information
online for those vital records that are deemed “public record.”
Thankfully, tracking down the right agency to contact can be easy if
you know where to look. If you know the specific agency you need, you
can start by looking at the free resource located at
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm. Here you can locate for free the
specific agency for each vital record for every state in the U.S.
Online Resources for Vital Records If you are searching a record for
someone else, or don’t know the specific county or state agency, you
can find online resources that provide helpful information. One online
resource is Archives.com. At Archives.com you can search their
collection of over 1.3 billion records, browse collections of records,
network with other family history and genealogy buffs, and even find or
ask expert advice. Although Archives.com does charge a subscription fee
for the use of their vast database, you can access their records for no
charge with a free 7-day trial. Use your free 7-day trial to search for
your own records, your living relatives, or even your ancestors. If you
find that the service is worthwhile, your subscription will
automatically begin after 7 days if you do not cancel.
Free Online Search Tools In the hunt for family tree ancestors or even
living relatives, you do have other free resources and search engines.
Another free search engine is at www.ancestorhunt.com. This free search
engine can help you find records by using specific surnames or state,
and it provides additional genealogy help. A search could turn up
digital copies of your ancestors’ records, including property deeds,
marriage bonds, and other certificates.
Another popular genealogy site is www.rootsweb.com. Here you can upload
your own family tree information and browse over 300,000 posted family
trees and over 3 billion records.
Still another helpful website that may help you find ancestors in your
family tree search is the research site provided by the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints at www.familysearch.org. Your search for
personal vital records or ancestry records doesn’t have to be a chore
or cost you a lot of money. Try these free resources to get you started
and with the right information you can get the records you need.