How to Find Tennessee Birth Records
How to Find United States Birth Records 
Tennessee Births
Statewide registration of births began in 1914 in Tennessee with general compliance by 1927.
Next Step: When did the birth occur? [edit | edit source] |
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Births before 1874[edit | edit source]
Before 1874, no births were recorded by the county or state. You must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place.
| Records that give birth information: | ||
Births from 1874 thru 1908[edit | edit source]
In 1874, some Tennessee counties and cities began recording births, but coverage is incomplete. Delayed birth records exist as early as 1869. If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for birth information in other records.
For births that exist during the time period, try the following databases.
| Includes Index Only | ||||
| Try 1st: | ||||
| Tennessee Births, 1828-1939 | FamilySearch - Free; index only | |||
| Try 2nd: | ||||
| Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
| At FamilySearch Centers/libraries: | ||||
| Tennessee Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909 | Ancestry Library edition - free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center | |||
| Use Your Ancestry Subscription: | ||||
| Tennessee Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909 | Ancestry Subscription version - $, to sign up for a subscription; Obtain a subscription to Ancestry | |||
| Can't find your ancestor in the index? | Tips for searching indexes | |||
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information | |||
Obtain the Record[edit | edit source]
With approximate birth years and places (counties or cities), you can locate birth records from 1853-1896 yourself on microfilms available through the Library of Virginia and the Family History Library.
Delayed birth records after 1910 are available at the Office of Vital Records (PDF file).
There are no restrictions on these records.
Births from 1908 thru 1913[edit | edit source]
Births after 1913[edit | edit source]
Currently, there are no online indexes to Virginia births after 1912.
Obtain the Certificate[edit | edit source]
With full names, dates and places (cities or counties) of an event, you can order a copy of the birth certificate for a fee from the the Virginia Division of Vital Records (PDF file).
Restrictions for persons born within the last 100 years:
To obtain a copy of the birth certificate for those born within the last 100 years, you must be:
- The person on the certificate
- The parent or grandparent of the person on the certificate
- The spouse of the person on the certificate
- The child of the person on the certificate
- The sibling of the person on the certificate
- The legal guardian of the person on the certificate
- Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate
- NOTE: A copy of the birth certificate cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 100 years have passed from the date of the birth.
If you do not want to order the birth record, there are other records with birth information you can search.