Birth, Death, and Marriage Records (Vital Records)

There are four ways to request a vital record.

1. Go to city or town hall: (city/town hall websites)

For apostille, please request the vital record from the State Office of Vital Records (see #3). Vital records issued by a city or town CANNOT be apostilled.

• Go to ANY city or town hall for:
  • Birth certificates, if the birth occurred in 1960 to present
  • Death and marriage certificates, if the death/marriage occurred in 2022 to present
• Go to the city or town hall where you lived at the time of the event or where the event occurred for:
  • Birth certificates, if the birth occurred prior to 1960
  • Death and marriage certificates, if the death/marriage occurred prior to 2022 

2. Go online to VitalChek for birth, death, marriage certificate.

3. Use the State Office of Vital Records at Simpson Hall on the Pastore Campus (6 Harrington Rd., Cranston)

• To avoid waiting at our office, schedule an appointment.
• Click here for details on how to order a vital record from the State Office

4. Go to State archives for birth and marriages more than 100 years old, death records more than 50 years old.

Who can request a vital record?

Birth, death, and marriage records are vital records, and vital records are confidential and may only be issued to:

• Registrant (name on the record) if of legal age (18)
• His or her issue (child, child’s child, etc.)
• Spouse (or legally registered partner)
• Parent(s) listed on the Birth Record, sibling, or legal guardian (must provide guardianship papers)
• Attorneys-at-law, title examiners, or members of legally incorporated genealogical societies
• By Court Order (must provide copy of court order)
• Funeral Directors
• Informant listed on a death record
• Persons requiring information for the determination or protection of a personal or property right
• Other restrictions/rules may apply in our ability to provide you with a specific record, such as, but not limited to,
  • If there is no father on the birth record, then only the child, if 18 years or older, or the mother/legal guardian has legal access to that birth record per RIGL §23-3-23 (c)
  • The record may be in the process of being corrected either voluntarily or through a court order
  • The record is damaged and needs to be re-created

What documents are required?

1. Valid government issued photo ID

   You must provide a valid, government-issued photo ID to prove you are entitled to make the request. Acceptable documents include: driver's license, passport, military identification, certificate of naturalization, or alien registration card. If you do not have government-issued photo ID, you may submit two other documents that have your name and current address (utility bill, bank statement, car registration, copy of income tax return).

2. Completed application, see application/forms list below.