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''[[United States|United States]] > [[United States Vital Records|United States Vital Records]] > [[Portal:Kentucky|Kentucky]] > Kentucky Vital Records''  
{{KY-sidebar}}
 
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== Introduction to Vital Records ==
| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]]
 
| link2=[[United States Vital Records|U.S. Vital Records]]
Civil governments have created records of births, marriages, and deaths. Records containing this information are commonly called "vital records" because they refer to critical events in a person’s life. These are the most important documents for genealogical research, but the births, marriages, and deaths of many people have never been recorded by civil authorities.
| link3=[[Kentucky, United States Genealogy|Kentucky]]
| link4=
| link5=[[Kentucky Vital Records|Vital Records]]
}}
<div style="width:23%; float:left; margin-right:4em; padding:0px">__TOC__
</div>
== Kentucky Vital Records Dates ==
{| class="wikitable" width="38%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|-
| width="7%" align="center" | '''Government Registration'''
| width="13%" bgcolor="#cff2fc" align="center" | '''[[Kentucky Vital Records#Birth_Records|Births]]'''*
| width="6%" bgcolor="#cff2fc" align="center" | '''[[Kentucky Vital Records#Marriage_Records|Marriages]]'''
| width="12%" bgcolor="#cff2fc" align="center" | '''[[Kentucky Vital Records#Death_Records|Deaths]]'''*
|-
| width="7%" bgcolor="#cff2fc" align="left" | '''County/Town'''
| width="13%" align="center" |1853-1862<br>1874-1878<br>1892-1910
| width="6%" align="center" | County<br>Formation
| width="12%" align="center" |1853-1862<br>1874-1878<br>1892-1910
|-
| width="7%" bgcolor="#cff2fc" align="left" | '''Statewide Registration'''
| width="13%" align="center" | 1911
| width="6%" align="center" | 1958
| width="12%" align="center" | 1911
|-
| colspan="4"|*See [[Kentucky Vital Records#Coverage and Compliance|Coverage and Compliance]] (below) for details
|}
<div style="clear:left"></div>


==Birth Records==  
== Online Resources ==


=== Birth and Death Records Prior to 1852  ===
===Births===
*'''1839-1960''' {{RecordSearch|1674843|Kentucky Births and Christenings, 1839-1960}} at FamilySearch — [[Kentucky Births and Christenings - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index
*'''1847-1911''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1213 Kentucky Birth Records, 1847-1911] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
*'''1852–1914''' {{FSC|40960|item|disp=Kentucky Vital Records: 1852–1914}}(*); Kentucky Division of Archives and Records at FamilySearch Catalog
*'''1874-1910''' {{FSC|342402|item|disp=Kentucky Vital Records, Births, 1874-1878, 1907–1910}}(*) at FamilySearch Catalog
*'''1911-1999''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8788 Kentucky Birth Index, 1911-1999] at Ancestry — index ($); ''Also at: [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10007/kentucky-births-1911-1999?s=275764761 MyHeritage]($)''
*'''1911–1995''' {{FSC|740438|item|disp=Birth Index, 1911-1995}}(*); Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics at FamilySearch Catalog - images


No births or deaths were recorded by civil authorities before 1852. You may find some information on pre-1852 births and deaths in genealogies, histories, church and Bible records, and collections of personal papers.  
===Marriages===
*'''Pre-1800'' '''Kentucky Marriages, Early to 1800: A Research Tool,'' by Jordan Dodd. Bountiful, Utah: Precision Indexing, 1990. {{FSC|627577|item|disp=FS Catalog book 976.9 V28k}}; {{WorldCat|22698007|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}; '''''Online at:''''' {{FSDB|439590}}
*'''1600s-1900s''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/united-states-marriages?state=kentucky US Marriages - Kentucky, 1600's to 1900's] at Findmypast — index & images ($)
*'''1700-1909''' [http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/kentucky-wills-deeds-and-marriages-1700-1909-published-1929 Kentucky Wills, Deeds, and Marriages, 1700-1909] at Findmypast — index ($)
*'''1780-1865''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48035 Kentucky Marriage Records, by county] at Ancestry — images ($)
*'''1783-1965''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61372 Kentucky County Marriages Records, 1783-1965] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
*'''1785-1979''' {{RecordSearch|1674849| Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979}} at FamilySearch — [[Kentucky Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index 
*'''1785-Onward''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-20622/kentucky-marriages?s=275764761 Kentucky Marriages] at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
*'''1795-1850''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3455 Northern Kentucky Marriages, 1795-1850] at Ancestry — index ($)
*'''1797-1865''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48582 Kentucky Marriages, 1797-1865] at Ancestry — index ($)
*'''1797-1954''' {{RecordSearch|1804888|Kentucky County Marriages, 1797-1954}} at FamilySearch — [[Kentucky, County Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1802-1850''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2089 Kentucky Compiled Marriages, 1802-1850] at Ancestry — index ($)
*'''1851-1900''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4428 Kentucky Compiled Marriages, 1851-1900] at Ancestry — index ($)
*'''1852-1914''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1117 Kentucky Marriage Records, 1852-1914] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
*'''1852–1914''' {{FSC|40960|item|disp=Kentucky Vital Records: 1852–1914}}(*); Kentucky Division of Archives and Records at FamilySearch Catalog — images
*'''1874–1914''' {{FSC|342402|item|disp=Kentucky Vital Records, Marriages, 1874–1878, 1906–1914}} (*); Kentucky Division of Archives and Records at FamilySearch Catalog — images
*'''1960-1993''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10082/kentucky-marriages-1960-1993?s=275764761 Kentucky Marriages, 1960-1993] at MyHeritage; — index ($)
*'''1973–1995''' {{FSC|725423|item|disp=Marriage Indexes, 1973–1995}}(*); Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics at FamilySearch Catalog - images; separate bride and groom indexes
*'''1973-1999''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8787 Kentucky Marriage Index, 1973-1999] at Ancestry — index ($)
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48035 Kentucky Marriage Records] at Ancestry — index ($)


There are many collections, books, etc. that have been created to fill this gap in the civil records. One such book is "Kentucky Obituaries 1787-1854" by G. Glenn Clift, published by the Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.  
===Deaths===
*'''1843-1970''' {{RecordSearch|1674848|Kentucky Deaths and Burials, 1843-1970}} at FamilySearch — [[Kentucky Deaths and Burials - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index 
*'''1852–1914''' {{FSC|40960|item|disp=Kentucky Vital Records: 1852–1914}}(*); Kentucky Division of Archives and Records at FamilySearch Catalog - images
*'''1852-1965''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1222 Kentucky Death Records, 1852-1965] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
*'''1874-1910''' {{FSC|342402|item|disp=Kentucky Vital Records, Deaths, 1874–1876, 1905–1910}}(*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images
*'''1900-1999''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10046/kentucky-deaths-1900-1999?s=275764761 Kentucky Deaths, 1900-1999] at MyHeritage — index ($)
*'''1911-1962''' {{FSC|760045|item|disp=Kentucky Death Certificates, 1911-1962}}(*) Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics at FamilySearch Catalog - images
*'''1911-1967''' {{RecordSearch|1417491|Kentucky Death Records, 1911-1967}} at FamilySearch — [[Kentucky Death Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1911-2000''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3077 Kentucky Death Index, 1911-2000] at Ancestry — index ($)
*[http://db.thebookplace.org/search/kydeaths.asp Kentucky Death Index] at Boyd County Library


=== Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, <br>1852–1910  ===
===Divorce===
*See [[Kentucky Divorce Records|Kentucky Divorce Records]] for more resources.


Kentucky law required counties to record births, marriages, and deaths as early as 1852. Unfortunately, this law was repealed in 1862. Registration was again attempted from 1874 to 1879 and sporadically from 1892 to 1910. Although compliance with the early registration laws was inconsistent, the existing records are a good resource for genealogists.  
==Print Publications==
*'''1797-1865''' ''Kentucky Marriages, 1797–1865,'' by Garrett Glenn Clift. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Pub., 1966, 1940. {{FSC|88200|item|disp= FS Catalog book 976.9 V28cg}}; {{WorldCat|484697|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}};
*''Kentucky Marriage Records,'' by Register of the Kentucky Historical Society. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Pub., 1983. {{FSC|346136|item|disp= FS Catalog book 976.9 V2km}}; {{WorldCat|9973019|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}};


The Department for Libraries and Archives has the records for 1852 to 1910. The Family History Library, Kentucky Historical Society, Filson Club, and other Kentucky repositories have copies of many of these records. Some of these have been extracted, and the names appear on the FamilySearch™ International Genealogical Index. Records at the Family History Library include:
== Get Copies ==
''Restrictions:''<br>
*Births become public records 100 years after the event; Deaths become public records 50 years after the event<ref>[https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=8746#:~:text=%2D%2D%20Public%20records.-,(1)%20To%20protect%20the%20integrity%20of%20vital%20records%2C%20to,by%20the%20public%20upon%20request. 213.131 Inspection of records -- Public records] Statutes Effective: June 20, 2005 History: Amended 2005 Ky. Acts ch. 99, sec. 441, effective June 20, 2005. -- Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 426, sec. 390, effective July 15, 1998. -- Created 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 369, sec. 25, effective July 13, 1990. accessed 26 February 2025</ref>
*Marriage records are public


''Kentucky Vital Records: 1852–1914''. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky Division of Archives and Records, 1975. (On 8 Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=filmhitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&filmno=1533971 films, beginning with 1533971].) The records are arranged alphabetically by county.


''Kentucky Vital Records''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1958. (On 11 Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=342402&disp=Kentucky+vital+records%20%20&columns=*,0,0 films, beginning with 174932].) This includes Kentucky Births 1874-1878, 1907–1910; Marriages 1874–1878, 1906–1914; Deaths 1874–1876, 1905–1910.
'''Kentucky Department of Public Health'''<br>
Office of Vital Statistics<br>
275 East Main Street, 1 E-A<br>
Frankfort, KY 40621<br>
Phone: (502) 564-4212<br>
[https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dehp/vsb/Pages/default.aspx Website]<br>
*What they have (per their site February, 2025):
{{Block indent|*Birth records, 1911-present}}
{{Block indent|*Marriage and divorce records June, 1958-present}}
{{Block indent|*Death Records, 1911-present}}


The Kentucky Historical Society has an incomplete index to the 1852 to 1862 records. For an index to deaths occurring during the 1850, 1860, and 1870 census years, see:  
* Links to order forms: [https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dehp/vsb/Forms/VS37BirthApp.pdf Birth], [https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dehp/vsb/Forms/VS230MARRIAGEDIVORCEAPP.pdf Marriage], [https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dehp/vsb/Forms/VS31DeathApp.pdf Death]
{{Block indent|1=*Order records [https://www.vitalchek.com/v/vital-records/kentucky/kentucky-office-of-vital-statistics?click_id=857091737876627458&ppc=0&click_id=857091737876627458&ppc=0 online] through VitalChek|2=1}}


''Index, Kentucky Mortality Records, for the Year ending June, 1850, 1860, 1870''. [N.p.], 1949–1950. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=87427&disp=Index%2C+Kentucky+mortality+records%2C+f%20%20&columns=*,0,0 book 976.9 V23di; film 873777].) These records are arranged by year and list the name of the deceased and the page number in the original records.


Ancestry.com a subscription web site&nbsp;has&nbsp;[http://www.ancestry.com/search/locality/dbpage.aspx?tp=2&p=20&categoryFilterID=34&showPaging=true Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records 1852-1910] indexed with images available online.  
'''Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives'''<br>
300 Coffee Tree Road<br>
Frankfort, KY 40601<br>
Phone: (502) 564-8300<br>
Fax: (502) 564-5773<br>
[https://kdla.ky.gov/Archives-and-Reference/Pages/Research-Guides.aspx Website]<br>
*County records but varies by county:
{{Block indent|*Births to 1910; Deaths to 1965<Ref>[https://kdla.ky.gov/Archives-and-Reference/Documents/Handout-BirthandDeathRecords.pdf Kentucky Birth and Death Records] handout by Kentucky Department of Archives and Libraries, updated 8/22/22. Accessed 22 February 2025</ref>}}
{{Block indent|*Marriages to 1910<ref>[https://kdla.ky.gov/Archives-and-Reference/Documents/Handout-MarriageRecords.pdf Kentucky Marriage Records] handout by Kentucky Department of Archives and Libraries, updated 8/22/22. Accessed 22 February 2025</ref>}}


=== Birth and Death Records, 1911–Present  ===
* Links to order forms: [https://kdla.ky.gov/Archives-and-Reference/Documents/birth.pdf Birth];&nbsp;&nbsp; [https://kdla.ky.gov/Archives-and-Reference/Documents/Marriage.pdf Marriage]; &nbsp;&nbsp;[https://kdla.ky.gov/Archives-and-Reference/Documents/death.pdf Death]


Beginning 1 January 1911, Kentucky again required the registration of births and deaths. Registration was generally complied with by 1917. The Family History Library has birth and death indexes and death records covering this period:  
'''County Courthouses'''<br>
*Marriages: each county clerk has the original records as filed in their county<ref>Spoke directly to Fulton County clerk, Naomi Jones, 270-236-2727. All clerks have the original records. They periodically are responsible to microfilm. They keep the originals. Per phone 3/12/2025.</ref>
*Births and deaths: May or may not be at the county level. <ref>None of calls made in March, 2025 answered my question satisfactorily as to where the old original registers or papers are preserved. Called Hickman County (270 653-3901), called Lexington-Fayette County Health Department (859 252-2371), called Office of Vital Records (spoke to a clerk) and called Department of Libraries and Archives. That person did say that some counties sent their early records to them. Perhaps this can be cleared up in the future.</ref>
{{Block indent|*If you know where the person was born, married, or died, you may contact the county clerk directly.<ref>[https://kdla.ky.gov/Archives-and-Reference/Documents/Handout-MarriageRecords.pdf ''Kentucky Marriage Records''] handout by Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, updated 8/22/22. accessed 26 February, 2025</ref><br>}}
{{Block indent|*[https://kaco.org/county-information/county-officials-directory/ ''County Officials Directory''] at Kentucky Association of Counties}}


Kentucky. Office of Vital Statistics. ''Birth Index, 1911–1995''. [Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics], 1997. (On 1038 Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=740438&disp=Birth+indexes%2C+1911%2D1995%20%20&columns=*,0,0 fiche, beginning with 6118873].) The index lists the child’s name, birth date and county, and mother’s maiden name.


The University of Kentucky provides indexes to selected Kentucky vital records from data acquired from Kentucky's state Office of Vital Statistics (for noncommercial use only). These include [http://ukcc.uky.edu/vitalrec/ Kentucky Death Index for 1911-1986 ]and [http://ukcc.uky.edu/vitalrec/ 1987-1992].
'''Lexington Public Library, Kentucky Room''' <br>
Central Library<br>
140 East Main Street<br>
Lexington, KY 40507<br>
Phone: 859-231-5500<br>
[https://www.lexpublib.org/genealogy-and-local-history Website]


For copies of records kept since 1911, write to:
*The Kentucky Room has many bound volumes of ''indexes'' of births and deaths for 1911 to about 1995 which were created by the Office of Vital Statistics.<ref>Ending date not certain called 13 March 2025. (859 231-5500 then transferred to Kentucky Room) </ref>


Cabinet For Health Services<br>Office of Vital Statistics<br>Department for Health Services<br>275 East Main Street<br>Frankfort, KY 40621-0001<br>Telephone: 1-502-564-4212<br>Fax: 1-502-227-0032<br>Internet: http://chfs.ky.gov/dph/vital/
== Coverage and Compliance ==


State your relationship to the individual and the reason you want the information.  
''Births and Deaths:''<ref>[https://kdla.ky.gov/Archives-and-Reference/Documents/Handout-BirthandDeathRecords.pdf Kentucky Birth and Death Records] Handout by Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, updated 8/22/22. Accessed 22 Feb 2025</ref><br>
*'''1852-1862''' Registration was assigned to the [county] tax assessors who recorded events submitted by clergy, midwives, or doctors in attendance, as well as the head of household. Compliance with the law was minimal, and often incomplete or inaccurate
*'''1874-1878''' Records were kept intermittently through 1878
*'''1891-1910''' A few counties kept scattered records
*'''1910-present''' High compliance by 1920


Application forms and instructions for birth, death, and marriage certificates can be acquired from the Office of Vital Statistics’ web page, listed above.
Notes:<br>
*Early compliance for registering births was highest when midwives or doctors were used
*Registering deaths was highest when doctors or funeral homes were used
*In the early birth and death registration years, there may be under-representation for African Americans


Kentucky death certificates are also on microfilm at the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, beginning with 1911. Another resource for researching Kentucky birth and death indexes from 1911 to 1988 can be found at the Kentucky Room of the Lexington Central Public Library, the Louisville Free Public Library, the Kenton County Public Library, and many other libraries across Kentucky. See the "Archives and Libraries" section of this outline for their addresses. The Kentucky Room contains 130 bound volumes of birth and death indexes for 1911 to 1969 that were created by the Office of Vital Statistics. Microfiche is available for 1911 to 1988 (only to 1986 for deaths). The births are indexed by name of the child and name of the mother.
''Marriages:''<br>
*There was customarily high compliance with white marriages, due to the community's interest and to civil or church authorities performing the marriage
{{Block indent|*As late as 1980, the registrar of vital statistics estimated that 20% of all marriages recorded in Kentucky’s counties were not reported to the state.<ref>[https://kdla.ky.gov/Archives-and-Reference/Documents/Handout-MarriageRecords.pdf ''Kentucky Marriage Records''] handout by Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, updated 8/22/22, access 25 February, 2025</ref>}}


You can also search indexes to selected Kentucky vital records through the University of Kentucky’s web page:
== Information in the Records ==
 
=== Birth Records ===  
''Kentucky Vital Records Index''. In the University of Kentucky [Internet site] Lexington, Kentucky: University of Kentucky. [cited 25 October 1999]. Available at http://ukcc.uky.edu/~vitalrec/ . This contains indexes to selected vital records including: Death Index for 1911–1986, Death Index for 1987–1992, Marriage Index for 1973–1993, and Divorce Index for 1973–1993.
{| class="wikitable" width="30%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" align="right"
 
Ancestry.com a subscription website has [http://www.ancestry.com/search/locality/dbpage.aspx?tp=2&p=20&categoryFilterID=34&showPaging=true Kentucky Birth, Marriage, and Death Records 1911-1953] indexed with images.
 
=== Birth and Death Records Kept by Cities before 1911  ===
 
Before 1911, several major cities kept separate records of births and deaths. The most complete collection of pre-1911 city births is at the Office of Vital Statistics. It has records for the following cities. Records for Louisville and Newport are also at the Family History Library.
 
{| class="plain FCK__ShowTableBorders"
|-
|-
| '''City'''
| colspan="2" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="center" | '''Kentucky Birth Records May Include*'''  
|  
'''<br>Birth <br>'''
 
| '''<br>Death <br>'''
|-
|-
| Louisville
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Name of Child'''
| 1898-1911
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |   x
| 1866-1911
|-
|-
| <br>
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Birth Date/Place'''
| <br>
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |   x
| <br>
|-
|-
| Lexington
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Sex/Race'''
| 1906-1911
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |   x
| 1898-1911
|-
|-
| <br>
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Parents' Names'''
| <br>
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |   x
| <br>
|-
|-
| Covington
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Parents' Birthplace'''
| 1896-1911
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |   x
| 1880-1911
|-
|-
| <br>
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''# of Children Born/Living'''
| <br>
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |   x
| <br>
|-
|-
| Newport
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Residence/Occupation'''
| 1890-1911
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |   x
| 1884-1911
|-
|-
| <br>
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Midwife/Doctor'''
| <br>
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |   x
| <br>
|-
|-
| Bellevue
| colspan = "2" |* Early records may have less information
| 1896
| 1899
|}
|}


<br>The Department of Archives and Libraries and the Kentucky Historical Society have copies of some of these city records. The Lexington Public Library also has copies of the Lexington records. The Filson Club and the Family History Library have copies of the Louisville and Newport records.  
[[United_States_Birth_Records#Content_of_Birth_Records|Information in birth records]] can vary, depending upon the who made the report (midwife,  doctor, parent, etc.).


Louisville (Kentucky). ''Registrar. Births and Index, 1898–1910; Deaths and Index, 1866–1910''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1960. (On 23 Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=436879&disp=Births+and+index%2C+1898%2D1910%3B+Death%20%20&columns=*,0,0 films, beginning with 209687].) The birth indexes are on films 209687–8. The death indexes are on films 209694–9.
*Some cities recorded births and deaths before 1910<ref>'''Kentucky Cities with Early Birth and Death Records'''  


== Adoption Records  ==
{| width="75%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|-
| width="16%" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | '''City'''
| width="16%" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | '''Birth'''
| width="16%" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | '''Death'''
|-
| width="16%" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | Louisville
| width="16%" align="center" | 1898-1911
| width="16%" align="center" | 1866-1911
|-
| width="16%" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | Lexington
| width="16%" align="center" | 1906-1911
| width="16%" align="center" | 1898-1911
|-
| width="16%" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | Covington
| width="16%" align="center" | 1896-1911
| width="16%" align="center" | 1880-1911
|-
| width="16%" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | Newport
| width="16%" align="center" | 1890-1911
| width="16%" align="center" | 1884-1911
|-
| width="16%" bgcolor="#ffffcc" align="center" | Bellvue
| width="16%" align="center" | 1896
| width="16%" align="center" | 1899
|}
The most complete collection of pre-1911 city births is at the Office of Vital Statistics.
</ref>


= Marriage Records  =


County marriage records are the earliest and most complete vital records for Kentucky. The records that have survived usually begin within a few years of each county’s organization. Lincoln, Fayette, and Jefferson Counties have marriage records dating from the 1780s.  
'''Delayed Birth Records'''<br>
[[United_States_Delayed_Birth_Records|Delayed birth records]] were created in the 1940s for adults without birth certificates in order to be eligible for [[United_States_Social_Security_Administration_Records|Social Security]] benefits or for passports.<br>


Marriage records from the earliest dates to the present are kept by the county clerk for each county. Since 1958, duplicates have been sent to the Office of Vital Statistics.
''See also:''<br>
*[[GuidedResearch:Kentucky|Kentucky Guided Research]]
*[[How to Find Kentucky Birth Records|How to Find Kentucky Birth Records]]
*[[United States Birth Records|United States Birth Records]]
*[[United_States_Delayed_Birth_Records|United States Delayed Birth Records]]
*[[How to Find Birth Information in the United States|How to Find Birth Information in the United States]]
*[[United States, How to Use Birth Records|United States How to Use Birth Records]]
<gallery>
</gallery>


The most complete collection of early marriage record is in the Department of Libraries and Archives. Major archives such as the University of Kentucky Library have microfilm copies of marriage records for many Kentucky counties. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of most of the existing county marriage records from the beginning dates to about 1925. Many of these have been extracted and appear on the International Genealogical Index (IGI).
<div style="clear:both"></div>


Many published marriage records that are available include:
=== Marriage Records ===
{| class="wikitable" width="30%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" align="right"
|-
| colspan="2" valign="middle" height="50" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="center" | '''Kentucky Marriage Records May Include:*'''
|-
| width="30%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Names of Bride/Groom**'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="30%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Date/Place of Marriage'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="30%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Presiding Official'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="30%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''# of Times Married'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="30%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Ages or Dates/Places of Birth'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="30%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Residences/Race'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" align="center" | x
|-
| width="30%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Parents' Names'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="30%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Witnesses'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" align="center" |  x
|-
| colspan = "2" |* Early records may have less information<br>** May be previous married name of bride
|-
|}


Ardery, Julia Hoge Spencer. ''Kentucky Records: Early Wills and Marriages Copied from Court House Records by Regents, Historians and the State Historian, Old Bible Records and Tombstone Inscriptions, Records from Barren, Bath, Bourbon, Clark, Daviess, Fayette, Harrison, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mason, Montgomery, Nelson, Nicholas, Ohio, Scott, and Shelby Counties. 1926, 1932''. Reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1969, 1972. (Family History Library&nbsp;[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=86046&disp=Kentucky+records%20%20&columns=*,0,0 book 976.9 D2a 1969; fiche 6049306].) An index is included with this record.  
County marriage records may be the earliest and most complete vital records for Kentucky. Most counties began recording and retaining marriage records soon after each was organized. <br>
{{Block indent|*Marriage records can include bonds, consents or permissions, licenses, certificates, ministers’ returns, and registers<ref>[https://kdla.ky.gov/Archives-and-Reference/Documents/Handout-MarriageRecords.pdf ''Kentucky Marriage Records''] Handout by Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, updated 8/22/22, accessed Februrary 25, 2025</ref><ref>See [[United States Marriage Records|United States Marriage Records]] for an explanation of each type of marriage record and information each may contain.</ref>}}


Clift, Garrett Glenn. ''Kentucky Marriages, 1797–1865''. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Pub., 1966, 1940. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=88200&disp=Kentucky+marriages%2C+1797%2D1865%20%20&columns=*,0,0 book 976.9 V28cg; film 1320550 item11][1966 edition].) This record includes marriage notices from Lexington newspapers reprinted in The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society.
Notes:<br>
*The couple or a parent provided the information
*Certificates and "returns" are proof of marriage
*Bonds, licenses, and consents are not proof that the marriage took place


''Kentucky Marriage Records'', from The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Pub., 1983. (Family&nbsp;History Library&nbsp;[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=346136&disp=Kentucky+marriage+records%2C+from+the+Re%20%20&columns=*,0,0 book 976.9 V2km].) An index is included with this record.


''Kentucky Marriages, Early to 1800: A Research Too''l. Bountiful, Utah: Precision Indexing, 1990. (Family History Library&nbsp;[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=976.9+V28k book 976.9 V28k.)] The names are arranged in alphabetical order.
'''[[Gretna Greens in the United States|Gretna Greens]].''' When eloping, couples would get married in alternate places instead of the county they lived in.<br> For those from Kentucky, these locations include:<ref>Arlene H. Eakle,"Have you searched and searched for a marriage without finding it?" in ''Genealogy Blog'' at http://www.arleneeakle.com/wordpress/2007/02/19/have-you-searched-and-searched-for-the-marriage-without-finding-it/ (accessed 8 January 2011).</ref><br>
*Maysville, [[Mason County, Kentucky Genealogy|Mason County, Kentucky]]
*[[Pike County, Kentucky Genealogy|Pike County, Kentucky]]
*[[Brown County, Ohio Genealogy|Aberdeen, Ohio]]
*[[Hamilton County, Ohio Genealogy|Cincinnati, Ohio]]
*[[Vanderburgh County, Indiana Genealogy|Evansville, Indiana]]


''Marriage Records''. Orem, Utah: Automated Archives, 1994. (Family History Library compact disc no. 9 part 2.) This does not circulate to Family History Centers. It contains marriage records for many Kentucky counties from the late 1700s to the early 1900s as well as marriage records from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Tennessee. Dates vary with the county. It is also indexed in FamilyFinder Index and Viewer (see the "[[Kentucky Census|Census]]" section of this outline).


''Kentucky, 1851–1900''. Liahona Research (Orem, Utah), 1998. (Family History Library compact disc no.9 part 233 [on 4 discs].) This does not circulate to Family History Centers. These are images of the original records. It contains approximately 318,000 names. It is also indexed in FamilyFinder Index and Viewer (see the "[[Kentucky Census|Census]]" section).
''See also:''
*[[GuidedResearch:Kentucky|Kentucky Guided Research]]
*[[How to Find Kentucky Marriage Records|How to Find Kentucky Marriage Records]]
*[[United States Marriage Records|United States Marriage Records]]
*[[United States, How to Use Marriage Records|United States How to Use Marriage Records]]
*[[Kentucky_Divorce_Records|Kentucky Divorce Records]]


Beginning in 1958, Kentucky again required statewide registration of marriages. These records have been indexed and are found at the Office of Vital Statistics. The Family History Library does not have copies of these records. They do, however, have an statewide index to marriages covering 1973 to 1995 in Kentucky.
<div style="clear:both"></div>
=== Death Records ===
{| class="wikitable" width="30%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" align="right"
|-
| colspan="2" valign="middle" height="50" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="center" | '''Kentucky Death Records May Include:*'''
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Name of Decedent'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Date/Place of Death'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Sex/Race'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Occupation'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Age/Date of Birth'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''State/Country of Birth'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Length of Residence'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Name of Spouse'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Parents' Names'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Birth Places of Parents'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Physician'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Cause of Death'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Informant'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| width="22%" valign="middle" height="25" bgcolor="#99ccff" align="left" | '''Cemetery'''
| width="8%" valign="middle" height="25" align="center" |  x
|-
| colspan = "2" | * Early records may have less information
|}


Office of Vital Statistics. ''Marriage Indexes, 1973–1995''. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics, 1997. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=725423&disp=Marriage+indexes%2C+1973%2D1995%20%20&columns=*,0,0 fiche 6118875–6 [set of 173]].) This record has separate bride and groom indexes.
[[United_States_Death_Records#Information_Found_on_a_Death_Certificate_or_Record|Death information]] can vary, depending on who reported them. (Funeral home directors, medical examiners, physicians, hospitals, and relatives)  


Many '''eloping couples '''went to Maysville, Mason County and Pike County, Kentucky to be married avoiding the waiting period between the time of issuing a license and the performance of the marriage.


== Divorce Records ==
''See also:''
*[[GuidedResearch:Kentucky|Kentucky Guided Research]]
*[[How to Find Kentucky Death Records|How to Find Kentucky Death Records]]
*[[United States Death Records|United States Death Records]]
*[[United States, How to Find Death Records|United States How to Find Death Records]]
* [[United States, How to Use Death Records|United States How to Use Death Records]]


= Death Records  =


Kentucky. Office of Vital Statistics. ''Kentucky Death Index, 1911–1995''. [Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics], 1997. (On 188 Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=740629&disp=Kentucky+death+index%2C+1911%2D1995%20%20&columns=*,0,0 fiche, beginning with 6118879].) The index contains the deceased’s name, death date and place, age, and place of residence as well as the volume and certificate number.  
'''Cause of Death'''<br>
*[[Historical Causes of Death|Causes of Death]] - use this resource when trying to interpret a disease or medical condition listed on a death record or certificate.


Kentucky. Office of Vital Statistics. ''Kentucky Death Certificates, 1911–1947''. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics, 1993–1998. (On 357 Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=760045&disp=Kentucky+death+certificates%2C+1911%2D19%20%20&columns=*,0,0 films, beginning with 1904664].) The death certificates are arranged by year, by month, and then alphabetically by county. The certificate numbers are continuous for each year.
<div style="clear:both"></div>


== Additional Information ==


''See also:''<br>
*[[Kentucky Guided Research|Kentucky Guided Research]]
*[[United States Vital Records|United States Vital Records]]
*[[Locating United States Vital Records|Locating United States Vital Records]]
*[https://history.ky.gov/khs-for-me/for-genealogists For Genealogists] at Kentucky Historical Society
*{{FSC|86324|item|disp=''Guide to Public Vital Records in Kentucky,''}} by Historical Records Survey <ref>by Kentucky Historical Records Survey; Service Division. Works Project Administration.  Louisville, Kentucky: HIstorical Records Survey, 1942.</ref> (online book) for the history and availability of vital records in Kentucky up to 1941
*{{FSC|728826|item|disp=''A Guide to Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1852–1910,''}} by Jeffrey Michael Duff <ref>{{FSC|728826|item|disp=FS Catalog book 976.9 V23dj 1988}}; {{WorldCat|866144255|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}; Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives. Public Records Division, 1988.</ref> This book shows the birth, marriage, and death records available for each county and the years they were recorded.
*[https://www.kygenweb.net/vitals/index.html ''Vital Statistics Records''] at KYGemWeb for additional resources and information


= Lost or Missing Records =
==Strategy==
'''Tips for Using Vital Records'''<br>
*Certificate or record is not found:
#Couples often married in the county where bride lived or they may have eloped
#Search the towns and cities where the event took place. Also search surrounding counties to locate the document.
#The record may not exist because of record loss at the the county courthouse. See [[Kentucky Vital Records#Burned, Lost, or Missing Records|Burned, Lost, or Missing Records]].
#The event may not have been recorded by the government at that time. [[Kentucky Vital Records#Substitute Records|Substitute Records]].
*Examine the record to determine accuracy:
#Person providing information may not remember events accurately
#Informant may not have been present at the time of the event
#Informant may give false information to hide age, race, religion, or illegitimacy
#Grieving relatives may not have remembered correctly
*Review the informant on the document:
#Learn the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) of the record
#See if records about the informant may have clues about the family
#Verify vital information with other sources <br>
*Blacks/African Americans may be recorded in separate files and indexes.


'''Counties with record loss:'''
''See also:''<br>
* [[Kentucky Research Tips and Strategies]]
* [[United States Basic Search Strategies]]
* [[United States Research Tips and Strategies]]


Ballard (1880)


= Substitute Records  =
===Burned, Lost, or Missing Records===
 
The following counties had record loss. Click on the county for more information.<br>
*[[Kentucky Church Records|Kentucky Church Records]]  
{| style="width:100%; vertical-align:top;"
*[[Kentucky Cemeteries|Kentucky Cemetery Records]]  
|-
*[[Kentucky Census|Kentucky Census Records]]  
|style="width:14%; vertical-align:top;"|
*[[Kentucky History|Kentucky History]]  
*[[Allen County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Allen]]
*[[Kentucky Newspapers|Kentucky Newspapers]]  
*[[Anderson County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Anderson]]
*[[Kentucky Military Records|Kentucky Military Records]]
*[[Ballard County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Ballard]]
 
*[[Bath County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Bath]]
<br>
*[[Bell County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Bell]]
 
*[[Boone County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Boone]]
= Tips =
*[[Bourbon County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Bourbon]]
 
*[[Boyle County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Boyle]]
= Analyzing Records  =
*[[Bracken County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Bracken]]
 
*[[Breathitt County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Breathitt]]
= Archives, Libraries and Societies =
|style="width:14%; vertical-align:top;"|
 
*[[Breckinridge County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Breckinridge]]
*[[Kentucky_Archives_and_Libraries|Kentucky Archives and Libraries]]
*[[Butler County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Butler]]
*[[Kentucky_Societies|Kentucky Societies]]
*[[Caldwell County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Caldwell]]
 
*[[Calloway County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Calloway]]
== Guide to Vital Records  ==
*[[Carlisle County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Carlisle]]
*[[Christian County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Christian]]
*[[Clay County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Clay]]
*[[Clinton County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Clinton]]
*[[Crittenden County, Kentucky  Genealogy#Record Loss|Crittenden]]
*[[Cumberland County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Cumberland]]
|style="width:14%; vertical-align:top;"|
*[[Daviess County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Daviess]]
*[[Elliott County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Elliott]]
*[[Estill County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Estill]]
*[[Fayette County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Fayette]]
*[[Floyd County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Floyd]]
*[[Graves County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Graves]]
*[[Grayson County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Grayson]]
*[[Hardin County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Hardin]]
*[[Harlan County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Harlan]]
*[[Harrison County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Harrison]]
|style="width:14%; vertical-align:top;"|
*[[Hart County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Hart]]
*[[Henry County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Henry]]
*[[Hopkins County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Hopkins]]
*[[Jackson County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Jackson]]
*[[Larue County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Larue]]
*[[Laurel County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Laurel]]
*[[Magoffin County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Magoffin]]
*[[Marion County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Marion]]
*[[Marshall County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Marshall]]
*[[Martin County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Martin]]
|style="width:14%; vertical-align:top;"|
*[[McCreary County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|McCreary]]
*[[McLean County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|McLean]]
*[[Meade County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Meade]]
*[[Mercer County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Mercer]]
*[[Metcalfe County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Metcalfe]]
*[[Monroe County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Monroe]]
*[[Montgomery County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Montgomery]]
*[[Morgan County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Morgan]]
*[[Ohio County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Ohio]]
*[[Oldham County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Oldham]]
|style="width:14%; vertical-align:top;"|
*[[Owsley County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Owsley]]
*[[Perry County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Perry]]
*[[Pike County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Pike]]
*[[Powell County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Powell]]
*[[Pulaski County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Pulaski]]
*[[Rockcastle County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Rockcastle]]
*[[Rowan County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Rowan]]
*[[Russell County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Russell]]
*[[Scott County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Scott]]
*[[Simpson County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Simpson]]
|style="width:14%; vertical-align:top;"|
*[[Spencer County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Spencer]]
*[[Taylor County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Taylor]]
*[[Trigg County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Trigg]]
*[[Trimble County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Trimble]]
*[[Warren County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Warren]]
*[[Washington County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Washington]]
*[[Wayne County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Wayne]]
*[[Whitley County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Whitley]]
*[[Wolfe County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Wolfe]]
*[[Woodford County, Kentucky Genealogy#Record Loss|Woodford]]
|}


You can learn more about Kentucky vital records in:
''See also:''<br>
*[[Burned Counties Research|Burned Counties Research in FamilySearch Wiki]]


*''A Guide to Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1852–1910'' <ref> Duff, Jeffrey Michael. ''A Guide to Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1852–1910''. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives. Public Records Division, 1988. (Family History Library&nbsp;[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=728826&disp=A+guide+to+Kentucky+birth%2C+marriage+an%20%20&columns=*,0,0 book 976.9 V23dj 1988].)</ref> This book shows the birth, marriage, and death records available for each county and the years they were recorded.


See [[United States Vital Records|United States Vital Records]] for more detailed information on the value and content of vital records. For divorce records, see the "[[Kentucky Divorce Records|Divorce Records]]" section.
===Substitute Records===
For other records that may give birth, marriage, or death information, see:
*[[Kentucky Substitute Records|Kentucky Substitute Records]]
*[[Substitute_Records_For_United_States_Birth_Information|Substitute Records for United States Birth Information]]
*[[Substitute_Records_for_United_States_Marriage_Information|Substitute Records for United States Marriage Information]]
*[[Substitute_Records_For_United_States_Death_Information|Substitute Records for United States Death Information]]


To find vital records, consult the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:
== References ==
{{reflist}}


::KENTUCKY- VITAL RECORDS
::KENTUCKY, [COUNTY]- VITAL RECORDS
::KENTUCKY, [COUNTY], [TOWN]- VITAL RECORDS<br>


==References==
[[Category:Kentucky Vital Records]][[Category:Kentucky, United States]]
<references/>
[[Category:Kentucky]][[Category:Record_Types_of_the_United_States]][[Category:United States Vital Records]]

Latest revision as of 18:01, 19 August 2025

Kentucky Wiki Topics
Kentucky flag.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
Kentucky Background
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources

Kentucky Vital Records Dates

Government Registration Births* Marriages Deaths*
County/Town 1853-1862
1874-1878
1892-1910 		County
Formation 		1853-1862
1874-1878
1892-1910
Statewide Registration 1911 1958 1911
*See Coverage and Compliance (below) for details

Online Resources

Births

Marriages

Deaths

Divorce

Print Publications

Get Copies

Restrictions:

  • Births become public records 100 years after the event; Deaths become public records 50 years after the event[1]
  • Marriage records are public


Kentucky Department of Public Health
Office of Vital Statistics
275 East Main Street, 1 E-A
Frankfort, KY 40621
Phone: (502) 564-4212
Website

  • What they have (per their site February, 2025):
*Birth records, 1911-present
*Marriage and divorce records June, 1958-present
*Death Records, 1911-present
*Order records online through VitalChek


Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives
300 Coffee Tree Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 564-8300
Fax: (502) 564-5773
Website

  • County records but varies by county:
*Births to 1910; Deaths to 1965[2]
*Marriages to 1910[3]

County Courthouses

  • Marriages: each county clerk has the original records as filed in their county[4]
  • Births and deaths: May or may not be at the county level. [5]
*If you know where the person was born, married, or died, you may contact the county clerk directly.[6]
*County Officials Directory at Kentucky Association of Counties


Lexington Public Library, Kentucky Room
Central Library
140 East Main Street
Lexington, KY 40507
Phone: 859-231-5500
Website

  • The Kentucky Room has many bound volumes of indexes of births and deaths for 1911 to about 1995 which were created by the Office of Vital Statistics.[7]

Coverage and Compliance

Births and Deaths:[8]

  • 1852-1862 Registration was assigned to the [county] tax assessors who recorded events submitted by clergy, midwives, or doctors in attendance, as well as the head of household. Compliance with the law was minimal, and often incomplete or inaccurate
  • 1874-1878 Records were kept intermittently through 1878
  • 1891-1910 A few counties kept scattered records
  • 1910-present High compliance by 1920

Notes:

  • Early compliance for registering births was highest when midwives or doctors were used
  • Registering deaths was highest when doctors or funeral homes were used
  • In the early birth and death registration years, there may be under-representation for African Americans

Marriages:

  • There was customarily high compliance with white marriages, due to the community's interest and to civil or church authorities performing the marriage
*As late as 1980, the registrar of vital statistics estimated that 20% of all marriages recorded in Kentucky’s counties were not reported to the state.[9]

Information in the Records

Birth Records

Kentucky Birth Records May Include*
Name of Child x
Birth Date/Place x
Sex/Race x
Parents' Names x
Parents' Birthplace x
# of Children Born/Living x
Residence/Occupation x
Midwife/Doctor x
* Early records may have less information

Information in birth records can vary, depending upon the who made the report (midwife, doctor, parent, etc.).

  • Some cities recorded births and deaths before 1910[10]


Delayed Birth Records
Delayed birth records were created in the 1940s for adults without birth certificates in order to be eligible for Social Security benefits or for passports.

See also:

Marriage Records

Kentucky Marriage Records May Include:*
Names of Bride/Groom** x
Date/Place of Marriage x
Presiding Official x
# of Times Married x
Ages or Dates/Places of Birth x
Residences/Race x
Parents' Names x
Witnesses x
* Early records may have less information
** May be previous married name of bride

County marriage records may be the earliest and most complete vital records for Kentucky. Most counties began recording and retaining marriage records soon after each was organized.

*Marriage records can include bonds, consents or permissions, licenses, certificates, ministers’ returns, and registers[11][12]

Notes:

  • The couple or a parent provided the information
  • Certificates and "returns" are proof of marriage
  • Bonds, licenses, and consents are not proof that the marriage took place


Gretna Greens. When eloping, couples would get married in alternate places instead of the county they lived in.
For those from Kentucky, these locations include:[13]


See also:

Death Records

Kentucky Death Records May Include:*
Name of Decedent x
Date/Place of Death x
Sex/Race x
Occupation x
Age/Date of Birth x
State/Country of Birth x
Length of Residence x
Name of Spouse x
Parents' Names x
Birth Places of Parents x
Physician x
Cause of Death x
Informant x
Cemetery x
* Early records may have less information

Death information can vary, depending on who reported them. (Funeral home directors, medical examiners, physicians, hospitals, and relatives)


See also:


Cause of Death

  • Causes of Death - use this resource when trying to interpret a disease or medical condition listed on a death record or certificate.

Additional Information

See also:

Strategy

Tips for Using Vital Records

  • Certificate or record is not found:
  1. Couples often married in the county where bride lived or they may have eloped
  2. Search the towns and cities where the event took place. Also search surrounding counties to locate the document.
  3. The record may not exist because of record loss at the the county courthouse. See Burned, Lost, or Missing Records.
  4. The event may not have been recorded by the government at that time. Substitute Records.
  • Examine the record to determine accuracy:
  1. Person providing information may not remember events accurately
  2. Informant may not have been present at the time of the event
  3. Informant may give false information to hide age, race, religion, or illegitimacy
  4. Grieving relatives may not have remembered correctly
  • Review the informant on the document:
  1. Learn the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) of the record
  2. See if records about the informant may have clues about the family
  3. Verify vital information with other sources
  • Blacks/African Americans may be recorded in separate files and indexes.

See also:


Burned, Lost, or Missing Records

The following counties had record loss. Click on the county for more information.

See also:


Substitute Records

For other records that may give birth, marriage, or death information, see:

References

  1. ↑ 213.131 Inspection of records -- Public records Statutes Effective: June 20, 2005 History: Amended 2005 Ky. Acts ch. 99, sec. 441, effective June 20, 2005. -- Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 426, sec. 390, effective July 15, 1998. -- Created 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 369, sec. 25, effective July 13, 1990. accessed 26 February 2025
  2. ↑ Kentucky Birth and Death Records handout by Kentucky Department of Archives and Libraries, updated 8/22/22. Accessed 22 February 2025
  3. ↑ Kentucky Marriage Records handout by Kentucky Department of Archives and Libraries, updated 8/22/22. Accessed 22 February 2025
  4. ↑ Spoke directly to Fulton County clerk, Naomi Jones, 270-236-2727. All clerks have the original records. They periodically are responsible to microfilm. They keep the originals. Per phone 3/12/2025.
  5. ↑ None of calls made in March, 2025 answered my question satisfactorily as to where the old original registers or papers are preserved. Called Hickman County (270 653-3901), called Lexington-Fayette County Health Department (859 252-2371), called Office of Vital Records (spoke to a clerk) and called Department of Libraries and Archives. That person did say that some counties sent their early records to them. Perhaps this can be cleared up in the future.
  6. ↑ Kentucky Marriage Records handout by Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, updated 8/22/22. accessed 26 February, 2025
  7. ↑ Ending date not certain called 13 March 2025. (859 231-5500 then transferred to Kentucky Room)
  8. ↑ Kentucky Birth and Death Records Handout by Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, updated 8/22/22. Accessed 22 Feb 2025
  9. ↑ Kentucky Marriage Records handout by Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, updated 8/22/22, access 25 February, 2025
  10. ↑ Kentucky Cities with Early Birth and Death Records
    City Birth Death
    Louisville 1898-1911 1866-1911
    Lexington 1906-1911 1898-1911
    Covington 1896-1911 1880-1911
    Newport 1890-1911 1884-1911
    Bellvue 1896 1899

    The most complete collection of pre-1911 city births is at the Office of Vital Statistics.

  11. ↑ Kentucky Marriage Records Handout by Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, updated 8/22/22, accessed Februrary 25, 2025
  12. ↑ See United States Marriage Records for an explanation of each type of marriage record and information each may contain.
  13. ↑ Arlene H. Eakle,"Have you searched and searched for a marriage without finding it?" in Genealogy Blog at http://www.arleneeakle.com/wordpress/2007/02/19/have-you-searched-and-searched-for-the-marriage-without-finding-it/ (accessed 8 January 2011).
  14. ↑ by Kentucky Historical Records Survey; Service Division. Works Project Administration. Louisville, Kentucky: HIstorical Records Survey, 1942.
  15. ↑ FS Catalog book 976.9 V23dj 1988; At various libraries (WorldCat); Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives. Public Records Division, 1988.
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