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What are Vital Records?
Vital Records are birth, death, and marriage
documents. They are legal documents that save information about the vital events
of people in our society. Certified copies of records are used for many
purposes, such as to establish proof of age, to receive social security
benefits, and to receive death benefits from life insurance policies.
Who can
apply or obtain Vital Records?
Vital records are confidential. Therefore, only
those individuals who have what is called a "Direct and Tangible Interest" in
the records may have access to records. The following individuals and/or groups
make-up those having direct and tangible interest: The person named on the
certificate, a member of his/her immediate family, his guardian, or an
authorized agent of these individuals; or attorneys-at-law, title examiners, or
members of legally incorporated genealogical societies, in the conduct of their
official duties; or persons requiring information for the determination or
protection of a personal or property right; or a person who has been granted a
court order instructing the registrar to provide disclosure.
Note: A direct and tangible interest shall not be demonstrated by firms,
agencies, or individuals requesting information to be used for commercial
purposes.
How and where do I obtain copies?
There are two ways to request
copies: by mail or in person:
By mail: You can obtain a copy of a record for a
birth or marriage from the City or Town where the event occurred. You can also
obtain a copy of a record for a birth or marriage that occurred less than 100
years ago or a death that occurred less than 50 years ago by writing to the
Office of Vital Records, Room 101 Cannon Building, 3 Capitol Hill, Providence,
RI 02908-5097. Please be advised that in most cases, you will receive your
records more quickly from the City and Town locations.
In person:
requests may
be made in person at the office of the Town Clerk where the event occurred. If
you will be using your certified copy in a foreign country, (e.g., adopting a
child, applying for dual citizenship or transferring property) then you must
obtain your certified copies at the State Office of Vital Records. Either the
State Registrar or the Deputy State Registrar must sign the copies personally.
In addition, you may need an apostille or certification from the Secretary of
State, Notary Division. Please call that Office at (401) 222-1487 for more
information. For records older than those described above, call the State
Archives at (401) 222-2353 or the City or Town where the event occurred.
What is
required to obtain various records?
To receive a certified copy of a birth,
death or marriage record via mail you must include the following information:
Name on the birth, death or marriage record, date and city/town where the event
occurred, your relationship to the person named on the record, why
you need the record and for births only, provide the name of the father and
the mother's maiden name. Your signature and printed name, as well as copy of
valid picture ID, your mailing address and your home phone number in the event
we need to contact you.
Fees:
The fee for a certified copy is $20.00. Additional copies of the same record
issued at the same time are $15.00 each.
How
long does it take for me to receive
my vital record?
In Person: If the record is available in our office, you may
wait while the certificate is prepared.
By mail:
the certificate will be mailed
to you the same day we receive your request.
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