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Are birth, death and marriage records public?

Mostly not, at first. Most states limit certified birth and death certificates to the people on the record, their families and legal representatives, then open them after a number of years that each state sets in its law. The table shows the periods states publish.

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. The rule, state by state
  2. Searching for older records
  3. Marriage and divorce
  4. Sources

The rule, state by state

StateRecord accessBirth records public afterDeath records public after
AlabamaClosed for births under 125 years and deaths under 25 years; marriage and divorce open1125 years225 years3
AlaskaClosed: records are confidential until 100 years after birth or 50 years after death, marriage or divorce.4100 years550 years5
ArizonaClosed675 years650 years7
ArkansasClosed: only authorized applicants, until 100 years after birth or 50 years after death, marriage or divorce.8100 years850 years8
CaliforniaClosed for authorized copies, open for informational copies: authorized persons under HSC 103526 get a copy that establishes identity; anyone else gets a marked informational copy.9––
ColoradoVital statistics records shall be treated as confidential; certified copies go to an applicant with a direct and tangible interest.10––
ConnecticutBirth closed for 100 years; death and marriage open to any adult (SSNs restricted)11100 years12–
District of ColumbiaClosed: certified copies only to entitled applicants; birth opens after 125 years, death after 7513125 years1375 years14
FloridaBirth records are closed for 125 years. Death records without cause, marriage and dissolution are open to any requester; cause of death is restricted for 50 years.15125 years1650 years15
GeorgiaClosed: certified copies only to direct and tangible interest17100 years18–
HawaiiClosed: direct and tangible interest required19115 years20115 years20
IdahoClosed: certified copies require a direct and tangible interest21100 years2250 years23
IllinoisClosed2475 years2520 years25
IndianaClosed: direct interest required26–75 years26
IowaClosed at state level; county-custody records open to inspection; certified copies only to entitled persons2775 years2850 years28
LouisianaClosed: birth and death certificates are not public records29100 years3050 years30
MaineClosed3175 years3225 years32
MarylandClosed: birth copies only to the registrant, parent, guardian, surviving spouse, authorized representative, or by court order; death copies only to those with a direct and tangible interest33100 years34–
MassachusettsMostly open: death records to anyone (SSN redacted unless legitimate need); records of births to unwed parents, pre-adoption births and related marriage records restricted to listed persons or court order35––
MinnesotaTangible interest for certified copies; noncertified copies open for public records. Birth records of children of unmarried parents are confidential unless made public.36100 years37–
MississippiClosed: legitimate and tangible interest required38100 years3950 years39
MissouriClosed: certified copies only to a person with a direct and tangible interest40–50 years41
Nevadaclosed: certified copies only to applicants with a direct and tangible interest42125 years4350 years43
New HampshireClosed44––
New JerseyClosed4580 years4640 years46
New MexicoClosed47100 years4850 years49
New YorkClosed5075 years5150 years51
New York CityClosed52125 years5375 years53
North CarolinaClosed for certified copies (restricted to the registrant, close relatives, persons with a legal need, and their agents); uncertified copies to anyone54––
North DakotaClosed: birth and death records are confidential. Birth records become open after 125 years; informational death copies (no cause of death or SSN) are available to the public.55125 years55–
Ohio–––
OklahomaClosed56125 years5750 years58
PennsylvaniaClosed; requires direct interest until records become public59105 years6050 years60
South Dakota–100 years61–
TennesseeClosed: released only to those entitled62100 years6350 years63
TexasClosed: birth records are confidential for 75 years and death records for 25 years; certified copies only to qualified applicants6475 years6525 years66
Utahclosed: requester must show a direct, tangible, and legitimate interest67100 years6850 years68
Vermontclosed (certified birth/death copies); open public access to noncertified copies and inspection69––
VirginiaClosed70100 years7125 years71
WashingtonClosed for birth, death and fetal death certificates (qualified applicants only, with ID and proof of relationship); noncertified informational birth and short-form death copies to anyone; marriage and divorce certificates open to anyone.72100 years7325 years73
West VirginiaClosed: copies may be issued only as authorized by the vital statistics article, legislative rule or a court order. Births become public after 100 years; deaths, fetal deaths, marriages and divorces after 50 years.74100 years7550 years76
GuamClosed: copies only to persons with a direct and tangible interest77––

Searching for older records

Once records open, many states move them to the state archives or a historical society. Each state page says where older records are. The federal government does not keep vital records78, and the National Death Index is for health research only.79

Marriage and divorce

Marriage records are often open to anyone at the county office; divorce decrees are court records with their own rules. See marriage and divorce by state.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked between November 5, 2026 and November 6, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

  1. Code of Alabama section 22-9A-21 (ALISON, Alabama Legislature)Alabama Legislature (Code of Alabama, ALISON)
  2. Birth-certificates pageAlabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated August 21, 2025
  3. Death-certificates pageAlabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated March 27, 2026
  4. Alaska State Legislature: StatutesAlaska State Legislature
  5. Vital Records OrdersAlaska Department of Health, Health Analytics and Vital Recordsdated October 24, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  6. ADHS Vital Records: Who Can Obtain a Birth CertificateArizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Vital Records
  7. ADHS Vital Records: Who Can Obtain a Death CertificateArizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Vital Records
  8. 2022 Vital Records Rule (PDF)Arkansas Department of Healthdated May 2, 2022
  9. HSC Section 103526California Legislature, Legislative Informationdated January 1, 2022
  10. Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 25 Article 2 (Vital Statistics Act)Colorado General Assembly, Office of Legislative Legal Servicesdated September 27, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  11. C.G.S. Chapter 93, Registrars of Vital StatisticsConnecticut General Assemblydated January 1, 2026
  12. Birth certificatesportal.ct.gov/dph/vital-records/birth-certificatesConnecticut Department of Public Health, State Vital Records Office
  13. Birth certificatesdchealth.dc.gov/service/birth-certificatesDC Health, Vital Records Division
  14. Death certificatesDC Health, Vital Records Division
  15. The Florida Legislature: StatutesThe Florida Legislature
  16. Birth certificatesfloridahealth.gov/certificates-records/birth-certificatesFlorida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
  17. Birth Certificate Information and EligibilityState of Georgia (georgia.gov)
  18. GA R&R - GAC - Subject 511-1-3 VITAL RECORDSGeorgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgiadated September 27, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  19. Hawaii Birth & Marriage CertificatesHawaii State Department of Health, Office of Health Status Monitoring
  20. Genealogy RequestsHawaii State Department of Health, Office of Health Status Monitoring
  21. Ordering a Birth CertificateIdaho Department of Health and Welfare
  22. Guide to Adoption Birth Death Marriage Divorce 2013 (PDF)Idaho State Historical Society
  23. About Death, Stillbirth, and Miscarriage RecordsIdaho Department of Health and Welfare
  24. Birth recordsIllinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records
  25. Illinois General AssemblyIllinois General Assembly, Illinois Compiled Statutesdated July 1, 2024read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  26. Who is Eligible to Obtain a Birth Certificate?Indiana Department of Health
  27. Vital RecordsIowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics
  28. Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 144 Vital StatisticsIowa Legislaturedated December 9, 2025
  29. How to order birth recordsLouisiana Department of Health, Center for Vital Records and Statistics
  30. Request a birth or death certificateLouisiana Department of Health, Center for Vital Records and Statistics
  31. Request DocumentsMaine DHHS, Maine CDC, Data, Research and Vital Statistics (DRVS)
  32. 22 MRS §2706 Disclosure of vital recordsMaine Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes
  33. Md. Code, Health-General § 4-217Maryland General Assembly (Annotated Code: Health-General Article)
  34. Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Birth RecordMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administrationdated October 1, 2021
  35. Interim Legitimate Need for the SSN in a Record of Death and Evidence GuideMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statisticsdated July 1, 2026
  36. Minnesota Department of Health pageMinnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 27, 2026
  37. Section 144Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes
  38. Vital recordsMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 14, 2026
  39. 1 Rev. October 10, 2025Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 10, 2025
  40. Order a Copy of a Vital Record | Missouri Department of Health and Senior ServicesMissouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records
  41. Missouri Vital RecordsMissouri State Archives (Secretary of State)
  42. Attachment A - Proof Required ListNevada DPBH Office of Vital Recordsdated January 5, 2023
  43. NRS Chapter 440 - Vital StatisticsNevada Legislature (NRS chapter 440)dated October 24, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  44. Access to Vital RecordsNew Hampshire Secretary of State, Division of Vital Records Administrationdated September 14, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  45. Department of Healthnj.gov/health/vitalNew Jersey Department of Healthdated June 15, 2026
  46. Department of Healthnj.gov/health/vital/order-vital/non-genealogical-recordsNew Jersey Department of Healthdated June 15, 2026
  47. NMDOH Vital Records homeNew Mexico Department of Health
  48. NMDOH Birth CertificatesNew Mexico Department of Health
  49. NMDOH Death CertificatesNew Mexico Department of Health
  50. Dual Citizenship and Vital RecordsNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023
  51. Genealogy Records & Resources - New York State Department of HealthNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023
  52. Premium Mail Service ApplicationNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygienedated April 1, 2025
  53. Health code article207 (PDF)NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Code)
  54. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-93 Access to vital records; copiesNorth Carolina General Assemblydated February 13, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  55. NDCC chapter 23-02.1 Health Statistics ActNorth Dakota Legislative Branch
  56. Vital Records Frequently Asked QuestionsOklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Records
  57. Birth Certificate Request Form (Oct 2026)Oklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Recordsdated October 1, 2026
  58. Death Certificate Request Form (Oct 2026)Oklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Recordsdated October 1, 2026
  59. Act of Jun. 29, 1953,P.L. 304, No. 66 Cl. 35Pennsylvania General Assembly
  60. Act of Dec. 15, 2011,P.L. 445, No. 110 Cl. 35Pennsylvania General Assemblydated December 15, 2011
  61. Section 34-25-8South Dakota Legislature (Legislative Research Council)
  62. Entitlement GuidelinesTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  63. Genealogy ResearchTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  64. Texas Government Code chapter 552Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes)
  65. Birth Record FAQsTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  66. Death Record FAQsTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  67. Utah Code 26B-8-125Utah State Legislaturedated November 1, 2025
  68. Order a Vital Record CertificateUtah DHHS Office of Vital Records and Statistics
  69. 18 V.S.A. chapter 101 (Vital Records), full chapterVermont General Assemblydated May 9, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  70. Office of Vital Records (home)Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 5, 2026
  71. Code of Virginia § 32.1-271 (disclosure; records made public)Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System (Code of Virginia)
  72. Certificates and Informational Copies FAQ | Washington State Department of HealthWashington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics
  73. Chapter 70.58A RCW Vital Statistics (full text)Washington State Legislature
  74. W. Va. Code §16-5-27 Disclosure of information from vital recordsWest Virginia Legislature
  75. Application for Certified Copy of West Virginia Birth Certificate (birthfm26.pdf)West Virginia Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health, Health Statistics Center (Vital Registration Office)dated January 9, 2009
  76. Application for Copy of West Virginia Death Certificate (deathfm26.pdf)West Virginia Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health, Health Statistics Center (Vital Registration Office)dated January 6, 2009
  77. 26 GAR Chapter 2 Vital StatisticsGuam Compiler of Laws (Supreme Court of Guam)
  78. Where to Write for Vital Records: Application GuidelinesCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated November 6, 2015
  79. National Death IndexCDC National Center for Health Statistics, National Death Index