The Center for Vital Records (birth, death, marriage, and adoption certificates) is located in Simpson Hall on the Pastore Campus (6 Harrington Rd., Cranston).
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)
- 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)
What documents are required?
-
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).
- Completed application, see application/forms list below.
Certified Copies:
- Birth Certificate
- Marriage or Civil Union Certificate
- Death Certificate
- Funeral Director Application for a Certified Copy of a Death Record
- Application for a Certified Single Marital Status Letter
Non-Certified Copies:
For Birth Parents:
- Contact Form for Birth Parents of Adopted Children
- Voluntary Adoption Reunion Registry Medical History Form
Legal
Funeral Directors
Healthcare Facility Users
- Birth Certifier User Guide
- Birth Facility User Guide
- Birth Module Training Video
- Fetal Death Module Training Guide
Medical Certifier
- Birth Module Training Video
- Death Module Training Guide
- Fetal Death Certifier Training Guide
- Frequently Asked Questions about Implementation of RIVERS (updated 12/29/2021)
- Medical Certifier Training Video
