How to Find Vermont Birth Records
How to Find United States Births 
Vermont Vermont Births
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In Vermont, towns were created starting about 1760. Births were and still are recorded by town clerks, beginning when the town was formed. Statewide registration of births began in 1857 and was generally complied with by 1919. The towns have copies of these state birth registration records.
Next Step: When did the birth occur? [edit | edit source] |
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Birth records were kept by each town clerk. Early town clerks put birth records in town records and in land records. After about 1850, birth information was only put in town records. Town clerks were usually good at recording birth information. The towns continue to keep birth records today. These are described further in Vermont Town Records.
Following the Revolutionary War until about 1870, records were not always recorded. In 1870, the State Board of Health was established and record keeping in towns improved.
Vermont towns are like western townships, so several populated places are in a town's borders. The name of the town is used in official records rather than the name of the populated place.
If you do not find birth information in the town where your ancestor was born, you may need to look at substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place or try the records in a neighboring town.
You can also search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place.
| Records that give birth information: | ||
Births 1760 to 1857[edit | edit source]
For births that occurred in this time period try the following databases:
| Vermont Births Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images | |||
| 1760-2003 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; Vermont, Vital Records, 1760-2003: name index and images of births, marriages and deaths. | ||
| Try: | 1760-1954 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; a name index and index card images to town birth, marriage and death records. | |
| Try: | 1732-2005 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; Vermont, Town Clerk, Vital and Town records, 1732-2005: birth, marriage and death records from town clerk offices, Browse Only | |
| Try: | 1627819|1850-2005 - At FamilySearch.org]] | Free; Vermont, twon records, 1850-2005: limited counties, Vermont vital records from various counties and towns, Browse Only | |
| Try: | *New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors ($) | Has many Connecticut digital records, which can be found through their Digital Catalog. American Ancestors is Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center | |
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | ||
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information | ||
Limited births may be found in the following databases. Try each link.
| Vermont Births Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
| Try: | 1760-1954 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; a name index and index card images to town birth, marriage and death records. | ||
| Try: | *New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors ($) | Has many Connecticut digital records, which can be found through their Digital Catalog. American Ancestors is Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center | ||
| Next try: | ||||
| Choose one of the following: | ||||
| Ancestry | Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center | |||
| Can't access Ancestry? | Go to Step Two: Part B listed below. You may be able to order the birth record for your ancestor from the Connecticut Department of Health, State Vital Records Office. | |||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |||
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information | |||
Births 1857 to 1918[edit | edit source]
STEP ONE: Find Birth Information[edit | edit source]
Limited births maybe found in the following databases. Try each link.
| Vermont Births Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
| Try 1st: | 1649-1906 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; a name index to town birth, baptism and christening records. Microfilm copies of these records are available at the Family History Library and FamilySearch centers. Births_and_Christenings_(FamilySearch_Historical_Records) Description of records. | ||
| Try 2nd: | *New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors ($) | Has many Connecticut digital records, which can be found through their Digital Catalog. American Ancestors is Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center | ||
| Next try: | ||||
| Choose one of the following: | ||||
| Ancestry | Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center | |||
| Can't access Ancestry? | Go to Step Two: Part B listed below. You may be able to order the birth record for your ancestor from the Connecticut Department of Health, State Vital Records Office. | |||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |||
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information | |||
STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate[edit | edit source]
PART A: You know the exact date of birth
With an exact date (from your records or the index above), you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the following locations:
| To Order Birth Certificates | |||
| From Town of Birth | From CT Deptment of Public Health office | ||
| Pros | Cons | Pros | Cons |
| May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state | Town websites can be more difficult to use | Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee | May be more expensive than ordering from the town |
See list of restrictions for ordering birth records
If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.
PART B: You don't know the exact date of birth
If you do not know the exact date or place of birth:
Call
See list of restrictions for ordering birth records
If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.
Births 1919 to the Present[edit | edit source]
STEP ONE: Find Birth Information[edit | edit source]
| Vermont Births Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
| Try 1st: | Vermont Department of Health | |||
| Try 2nd: | New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors ($) | Has many Vermont digital records, which can be found through their Digital Catalog. American Ancestors is Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center | ||
If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.
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Restrictions for Obtaining Birth Records[edit | edit source]
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 from the government agency, you must be:
- The person on the certificate and age 18 or older
- The parents, guardian, or grandparents of person on the certificate
- The wife or husband of the person on the certificate
- The children and grandchildren of the person on the certificate and age 18 or older
- Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate
- NOTE: A copy of the birth record cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 100 years have passed from the date of the birth.
- For additional information, see the State Vital Records Office.
Birth records more than 100 years old:
- Available to any person over 18 years of age
If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.