Vermont Vital Records
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Under 18 V.S.A. § 4999, Vermont vital records are official documents that detail vital events occurring in the state. These include Vermont birth certificate records, Vermont death certificates, Vermont marriage licenses, and Vermont divorce records. They are an important source of information that helps establish identity, conduct genealogical research, and other purposes. They are in the custody of the Office of Vital Records in the Vermont Department of Health.
Town clerks register local births, deaths, and marriages, and the records are transmitted to the state's centralized system for permanent preservation. Vermont uses a statewide electronic birth and death registration system.
In 1857, Vermont started statewide vital registration. With time, these records became crucial to studying the spread of epidemics. This was instrumental to the establishment of the present Vermont Department of Health. The department maintains vital records concerning events that happened within the last 5 years. All other older records are in the custody of the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration.
Public Access to Vermont Vital Records
Under section 317 of the Vermont Statutes, vital records are considered public. However, certified copies are restricted to authorized persons and persons with a substantial and direct interest. These include registrants, close relatives, and legal representatives. Vermont maintains historical archives of records as far back as 1857. These older records are archived and microfilmed for historical and genealogical research, and managed by the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration.
Types of Vital Records Available in Vermont
The types of vital records available in Vermont are records of important life events that occur in the state, such as births, marriages, divorces, and deaths. These records help verify family history and identity, and determine eligibility for the rights available to citizens. They are maintained by the Vital Records Office of the Vermont Department of Health.
Certified copies of these records issued by the state function as official documents that can be used to establish identity. On the other hand, non-certified copies are not official documents; therefore, they cannot be used for any legal purposes. In light of this, certified copies are only made available to eligible individuals. Non-certified copies are useful for informational purposes only and are printed on plain paper.
Vermont Birth Records
Vermont birth records contain information about the birth of a child. The birth certificate usually contains important information about the birth. These include:
- The mother's maiden name
- The father's full name
- The full name of the baby
- The date of the event
- The place of the event
- City or county where it happened
- The address of the parents
- The number of other children of the parents
- Parents' race
- Parents' occupation
Births are recorded at the local clerk's office. Interested parties may access birth records by submitting a completed request form in person or by mail to the Vital Records Office. An original birth certificate can be requested from the Clerk's office or the office of the Bureau of Vital Statistics at:
The Vital Records Office
PO Box 70,
Burlington, VT 05402
Vermont Death Records
A Vermont death record is an official document created when an individual dies in the state. It serves both legal and statistical purposes. It is maintained by the state and local vital records offices. A Vermont death certificate contains personal information about the deceased individual. These include:
- The name of the deceased
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Sex
- Residence
- Marital status
- Occupation
- Names of parents
- Spouse's name (if any)
- The date of the event
- The place where the event occurred
- The cause and manner of death
Death records in Vermont are public records. Publicly available information in them includes basic personal details of the deceased, such as their name, the date of death, and the cause of death.
Death certificates, unlike death records, are limited to eligible individuals. Such individuals may request a certified copy of a Vermont death certificate or an informational copy. The Vital Records office of the Vermont Department of Health is the primary agency responsible for issuing death certificates at the state level. To find death records in Vermont, requesters must submit a completed application form, including a valid ID and the requisite payment. The cost for obtaining a death certificate in Vermont is $10, and $2 for an uncertified certificate.
Vermont Marriage Records
Vermont marriage records provide legal proof of a marriage. They show that a couple entered into a legally recognized union in Vermont. They also support statistical and demographic tracking, such as marriage rates and the age of spouses at marriage, for both the state and local governments.
Since 2014, the Vital Records Office of the Vermont Department of Health has handled the registration, preservation, and storage of marriage records. They provide certified copies and maintain indexes of the records. The Vermont State Archives and Records Association manages older records.
The town clerk maintains marriage records at the local level. Intending couples get a marriage license from the clerk's office. Following the ceremony, the clerk receives the returned certificate and indexes it. Pursuant to 18 V.S.A. § 4999, there are no restrictions on eligibility for marriage records. However, although the record is public, obtaining a certified copy for legal use requires that the individual be eligible. Such individuals must also provide a Valid ID and proof of legitimacy.
Vermont Divorce Records
A Vermont divorce record is an official collection of documents filed during proceedings leading to the dissolution of a marriage in the state. It includes the contents of the complete case file, such as motions, orders, assessments, reports, injunctions, and the final divorce decree.
Divorce records are public records, unless they are made confidential by the parties involved or sealed by court order. Interested parties may access them through the clerk of the court where the divorce was filed. In addition, they may also be searched on third-party public record websites. A Vermont divorce decree is typically in the custody of the family court division of the superior court where the case was handled.
How to Order Vital Records in Vermont
Vermont vital records are issued by the Vermont Department of Health's vital records office. Older records are in the custody of the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA). There are multiple avenues to order vital records in Vermont. They include online, by mail, or in-person visits.
Online
To order vital records online, interested parties should:
- Visit the website of the Vermont Department of Health
- Select the type of record, either birth, marriage, or death records
- Make payment either by credit or debit card
Subsequently, the completed request is processed by the state vital records office. The processing time is faster, convenient, and trackable. However, the actual time varies.
By Mail
Interested parties may mail their request directly to the vital record office of the Vermont Department of Health. To order vital records by mail, interested parties should:
- Download and complete the appropriate request form from the website of the Vermont Department of Health
- Include the requisite fee of $10 (for a certified copy) and a copy of a valid photo ID.
Requesters should mail to:
The Vital Records Office
PO Box 70,
Burlington, VT 05402
The processing time usually takes 2 to 4 weeks. The fees are lower than online, but it takes longer to process. Certified copies are mailed securely.
In Person
Interested parties may visit the Department of Health in person. Office staff can help with certified copies of vital records. They require a valid identification and payment of the requisite fees either by check or credit card. Alternatively, vital records seekers may also visit the local Vermont town clerk's office.
Who Can Request Vermont Vital Records?
Pursuant to 18 VSA § 5002, interested members of the public may access Vermont Vital Records. The Department of Health and the clerks in the different jurisdictions issue certified and non-certified copies of vital records. However, certified copies of birth, marriage, and divorce records are available only to eligible individuals. These include the record owner, immediate family members, such as husband, wife, brother, sister, adult children, and legal representatives.
| Record Type | Eligible Requestors | Required Documents | Official Source Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate |
|
| Vermont Department of Health-Vital Records |
| Death Certificate |
|
| Vermont Department of Health-Vital Records |
| Marriage Record | - Anyone (certified copies restricted to the couple and immediate relatives) |
| Vermont Department of Health-Marriage Records https://www.healthvermont.gov/stats/vital-records/marriage-civil-union |
| Divorce Record | - Anyone | Basic identifying information such as names of spouses, date, and location of divorce. Valid ID required for certified copies. | Vermont Department of Health https://www.healthvermont.gov/stats/vital-records VSARA |
Processing Times for Vermont Vital Records Requests
In general, vital records in Vermont are deemed public, and access is mostly open to the public. However, the processing time for Vermont vital records depends on a number of factors. First, the request method impacts the speed of delivery. Town or City clerk walk-in requests are often the fastest. Staff can verify eligibility on the spot, and the record can be issued the same day. Mail-in requests usually take a few weeks to be verified, treated, and returned. Online orders take time for identity checks, although they are often faster than regular mail.
Moreover, the record type also influences the timing, as birth and death records are located at the Vermont Department of Health, while some marriage and divorce records are divided between the state office, the state archives, and local town clerks. In addition, completeness, accuracy, and eligibility also affect the request delivery timeline.
In Vermont, certified copies are only released to the person named on the record, close relatives, or authorized legal representative. Therefore, requesters are required to provide proof of relationship.
| Record Type | Factors That Influence Processing Time | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | - Request method (online, mail, in-person) - Verification of eligibility | - Online requests may be faster. Typically processed and mailed in 5-7 days. Mail requests take 2- 4 weeks. - Restricted or amended records are typically rounded through the state registrar, which can take additional time. |
| Death Certificate | - Request method (online, mail, in-person) -Type of copy requested (when the version includes cause of death details, access is more restricted and processing takes longer). -Location of the record Need for corrections or amendments | - Some counties have longer retrieval times - Additional documentation may be required - Incomplete applications or missing proof of relationship or ID can cause a delay in processing. |
| Marriage Record | - County of record - Request method - Whether a search is required -Type of copy certified or informational - Verification of eligibility requirements | - County clerks' workloads vary - Certified copies may take longer than informational copies - Standard marriage certificates ordered online are processed within 5 to 7 business days. |
| Divorce Record | - Court retrieval procedures - Complexity of the case - Request method - Level of detail required | - Timelines vary by court and county - Expedited processing may be available - Older archived records may take longer time and may involve extra fees. - Requests for full decrees depend on the court's case load. |
Fees for Obtaining Vital Records in Vermont
By state law, the fee for a certified copy of a vital record is $10. There is an additional $2 processing fee when ordering online through the state's web portal. Some towns charge $0.25 to $2 per page for noncertified or genealogical copies. Ordering vital records directly in person from the Vermont Department of Health costs $10, but there are additional postage costs.
How to Search Vital Records Online in Vermont
Interested persons may search for Vermont Vital Records online through state-managed portals, including that of the Health Department. Requesters are required to provide the relevant information needed to locate the record. These include the name of the individual involved or record subject, the date of occurrence, the location, and government identification.
Also, the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA) provides online access to historical records. However, these online copies are not certified. They are only meant for informational and genealogical research uses.
In addition, some third-party websites also provide access to some Vermont vital records. These websites offer a wide range of search capabilities and are not limited by location. Searching for records on these websites requires the requester to supply the name of the individual listed on the record and the location of the event of record.