Are Vermont Vital Records Open to the Public?
In the state of Vermont, vital records are generally considered public records. However, certified copies are restricted to authorized persons, such as registrants, first-degree relations, and legal representatives. Generally, vital records include marriage records, divorce records, birth records, and death records.
What Information Shows Up in Vermont Vital Records?
Vermont vital records are official documents detailing vital events in the state, such as births, marriages, divorces, and deaths. These records serve as an important source of information for establishing identity, genealogical research, and other legal purposes. In Vermont, these records are maintained by the Office of Vital Records in the Vermont Department of Health.
How Do I Obtain Vital Records in Vermont?
Certified vital records are only available to persons with a substantial and direct interest. These include the named parties on the record, their first-degree relations, designated attorneys, and persons with a certified court order. These eligible persons are required to provide a relevant document as evidence. Acceptable documents include a driver’s license, U.S. identity card, and passport.
Publicly available vital records are managed and disseminated by some third-party aggregate sites. These sites are generally not limited by geographical record availability and may serve as a convenient jump-off point when researching specific or multiple records. However, third-party sites are not government-sponsored. As such, record availability may differ from official channels. To find a record using the search engines on third-party sites, the requesting party will be required to provide:
- The location of the record in question, including the city, county, or state where the case was filed.
- The name of someone involved, provided it is not a juvenile.
Requesters must provide relevant information associated with the record to conduct an online search for vital records. Some of these include:
- The registrant's name
- Date of the event
- Place of the event
- City or county where the life event occurred
- First and last name of parents
- Presiding judge (for marriage or divorce records)
What Information Do I Need to Search for Vermont Vital Records Online?
Interested persons can access some vital records online through the state-managed portals. Requesters will be required to provide some critical information needed to locate the record. They include:
- The name of the parties involved in the vital event (surname is compulsory)
- The date, month, and year the event occurred
- The place where the event occurred
- Proof of identification (if certified copies are required).
Certified Copy vs. Informational Copy: Understanding the Difference
Certified copies function as official documents used to establish identity, while non-certified copies are non-official documents that cannot be used. On account of this, certified copies are only available to authorized individuals. Non-certified copies are reserved for informational purposes only and are usually printed on plain white paper.
Are Vermont Marriage Records Public Information?
Yes. Marriage records in Vermont are public information. However, following state statutes, certified copies are restricted to entitled individuals such as the couple and their immediate relatives. From 2014 to the present, marriage records are maintained at the state level by the Vermont Department of Health. Older records are managed by the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration.
How Do I Obtain Marriage Records in Vermont?
Interested and eligible persons can obtain public marriage records in person or by mail. Requesters must visit the Department of Health with the necessary information, including the involved parties’ names, the date, and the place of marriage. Interested parties can also request records by mail by sending a completed marriage record application form to:
Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 70
Burlington, VT 05402
Usually, the office charges $10 per certificate. Cash payment is accepted in person. However, applicants must attach a money order or check made payable to the Vermont Department of Health for mail-in applications.
How to Get a Vermont Marriage Certificate
Members of the public who want to get a Vermont marriage certificate can obtain it from the Office of Vital Records in Vermont. Individuals can make a request online via the Vital Records Request Service. Individuals can also send a written request via mail:
Or:
Vermont Department of Health
Vital Records
108 Cherry Street
P.O. Box 70
Burlington, VT 05402
A Vermont certificate can also be ordered from the state archive or the Town Clerks. After a request is submitted (online, via mail, or in person) alongside evidence of payment of the $10 fee (for a certified copy), the requester will receive the certificate through the contact mail address submitted. One can also check third-party sites that offer this service to place an order.
Are Vermont Divorce Records Public Information?
Yes. Divorce records in Vermont are generally public information that any member can request. However, the available information may exclude delicate details such as financial account information and financial agreements, as well as parts and portions of the record revealing the identity of minors, witnesses, and victims of domestic violence.
How Do I Obtain Divorce Records in Vermont?
Divorces completed from 2014 to date are available at the Vermont Department of Health, while records registered before this date are available at the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration. Applicants can also obtain divorce records in person or by mail. In-person requesters are required to visit the appropriate office with the necessary information, such as the names of the parties involved, the date of marriage, and the place of marriage. By mail, interested parties can send the completed divorce application form to:
Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 70
Burlington, VT 05402
How to Get a Certified Divorce Certificate in Vermont.
A requester seeking to obtain a Certified divorce certificate in Vermont can send a request to the Department of Health or the Town’s Clerk. A certified divorce certificate can also be ordered on the website maintained by the state archive. Requesters would be required to fill out an application form and submit it either online, via mail, or in person. Members of the public seeking to obtain a dissolution of marriage records can also send a request. Third-party sites that also offer this service are another place to check or request a certified divorce certificate. The fee is $10
Are Vermont Birth Records Public Information?
Yes. Vermont birth records are considered public documents and are therefore available to members of the public upon request. However, sensitive information in a record may be restricted to authorized persons, including the registrants, first-degree relations, legal representatives, and authorized governmental personnel. Records of birth registered from 1909 to date are available at the State Department of Health.
How Do I Obtain Vermont Birth Records?
Interested persons can order birth certificate replacements or copies in person or by mail by providing the basic facts of the record, such as the name at birth, the current age, place of birth, and the mother’s maiden name. The requesting party is required to submit a completed birth application form in person or by mail to the office located at:
Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 70
Burlington, VT 05402
Is a Birth Certificate Public Record in Vermont?
No, while members of the public can access Vermont birth records, a certificate is only obtainable by eligible members of the public. Individuals who want to obtain an original birth certificate can request it from the Clerk’s Office or the Bureau of Vital Statistics. In circumstances where a person loses their Vermont birth certificate, one can also request a replacement birth certificate. Third-party sites are another place to look. A certified copy of a death certificate costs $10, while an uncertified copy costs $2.
Are Vermont Death Records Public Information?
Yes. Vermont death records are generally presumed public documents and are therefore available to the public upon request. However, certified copies are restricted to authorized persons, including the registrants and first-degree relations.
How Do I Obtain Vermont Death Records?
In addition to online searches, public death records can also be found in person or by mail by providing the basic facts of the record, such as the name of the deceased and date of death. The person requesting a death record search by name must submit a completed death application form in person or by mail to the appropriate office location. Each death certificate search costs $10. The mailing address is:
Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 70
Burlington, VT 05402
Is a Death Certificate Public Record in Vermont?
No. Death certificates, unlike death records, are only accessible to members of the public who meet the eligibility to obtain a Vermont death certificate. Those who wish to get a death certificate can send a request online to the Office of Vital Records or visit in person to place an order. One can also request a death certificate at the Clerk’s Office or visit any third-party site that offers this service. The fee for obtaining a certified Vermont death certificate is $10, and $2 for an uncertified certificate.
How Do I Obtain Sealed Vital Records in Vermont?
Vital records in Vermont may be sealed by the owner(s) of the record. To unseal these records, the requesting party must first petition the court for a certified court order. If satisfactory, the sitting judge may then issue a court order permitting the petitioner to obtain the interest record.
What are Vital Statistics Vermont?
Vermont vital statistics are data pertaining to birth records, death records, marriage records, civil unions, dissolution of marriage records, and divorce records. Members of the public seeking to get any of these records can send a request to the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
To find vital statistics, Phone: (800) 439-5008 or (802) 863-7275 or email VitalRecords@vermont.gov.
Vital statistics information can also be ordered from the Vermont State Archives and Record Administration or from the office of the Town Clerk. One can also check private sites that offer this service to obtain vital records.
