What Information Can Be Found in Birth and Death Records?
If you're looking for lost relatives, proof of United States citizenship, or you're simply documenting your family tree or conducting genealogy research for medical or other reasons, birth and death records will be an integral part of your search. Birth and death certificates can help verify the spelling of a name, the age, or history of a certain person. Though vital records were not routinely maintained in the United States until the early 1900's, there is still much information that can be found around these milestone life events. Birth records are administered at the state level because birthplace is considered a determinant of citizenship. The type of information that you can find in birth and death records includes:
Birth Certificates
Death Certificates
How to Conduct a Birth or Death Records Search?
To conduct a search or obtain copies of birth or death certificates, you should contact:
National Birth and Death Records Resource Links
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vital Records Resources - Birth and death certificates are handled at the state level, but the CDC does offer a composite list of links to each state's vital records office.