Kentucky Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

See Also Researching in Vital Records - Vital records, as their name suggests, are connected with central life events: birth, marriage, and death. Maintained by civil authorities, they are prime sources of genealogical information; but, unfortunately, official vital records are available only for relatively recent periods. These records, despite their recent creation in the United States, are critically important in genealogical research, often supplying details on family members well back into the nineteenth century.......

Although compliance was never complete, birth and death records for Kentucky begin as early as 1852 when statewide registration was first enacted. The requirement continued for only ten years. Some birth and deaths were recorded between 1874–79 and 1892–1910 as well, but observance was sporadic.

A few larger cities maintained separate birth and death records prior to 1911, but these too are incomplete. Louisville (1898–1911), Covington (1890–1911), Newport (1890–1911), and Lexington (1906–11) are four cities with registered births in their respective city health departments.

The Kentucky Department for Libraries & Archives and the The Kentucky Historical Society have early records for 1852–1910, arranged by counties. Other repositories, including the Filson Club Library and the FHL, have some copies. No statewide index has been compiled of these early records, although the Kentucky Historical Society has a card index of both births and deaths for 1852–62. Some early records, which have been indexed by county, appear in various issues of the Kentucky Historical Society's Register.

Birth and death registration was enacted statewide on 1 January 1911 and generally adhered to by 1920. Indexes to births and deaths after 1911 are microfilmed; however, the actual records are not. Certificates of births and deaths after 1911 are only available at the Office of Vital Statistics, Department of Health Services. The microfilmed index can be used at the Kentucky Historical Society, University of Kentucky Library, Filson Club Library, and the FHL. The Kentucky Historical Society also maintains copies of delayed birth registrations and early city records.

Kentucky marriage records usually begin about the time of the respective county's establishment or within a few years of that date. Some counties have marriage records for dates prior to organization. Fayette, Jefferson, and Lincoln counties have marriage records as early as 1785. The respective county clerk has jurisdiction over marriage records. Beginning in 1958 statewide registration was required. Originals are filed in the counties and duplicates are available at the Office of Vital Statistics. The Office of Vital Statistics maintains an index to marriage records from 1958. Licenses and bonds may be filed separately from certificates. Published marriage records for Kentucky include the following:

Newspaper marriage notices previously published in The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society. Alphabetical by county and alphabetical within each county by groom's surname.

Kentucky's state legislature granted divorces from 1792 through 1849. Between 1849 and 1958, divorces were usually recorded by the circuit courts in the respective counties. Some early original circuit court records are available at the Kentucky Department for Libraries & Archives. The records of early divorces are included in the Acts of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. These volumes, and a few microfilm copies of circuit court records, are available at the Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Department for Libraries & Archives. Statewide registration commenced in 1958. Divorces granted after statewide registration are available through the Office of Vital Statistics at the below address.

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Search Kentucky Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

 

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How to Order Kentucky Birth, Death, Divorce and Marriage Certificates

Although compliance was never complete, birth and death records for Kentucky begin as early as 1852 when statewide registration was first enacted. The requirement continued for only ten years. Some births and deaths were recorded (1874-79, 1892-1910), but observance remained sporadic. Birth and death registration was enacted statewide on 1 January 1911 and generally adhered to by 1920.

Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics is located at State Dept of Human Resources, 275 E. Main St. 1EA, Frankfort, KY 40621; (502) 564-4212. They have the following records:

  • Ordering Vital Records Online- You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering fromVitalChek Express Certificate Service.
  • Birth & Death Certificates: The Vital Statistics Law of Kentucky, providing for and legalizing the registration of births and deaths, was enacted by the General Assembly of 1910 and became effective Jan. 1, 1911. The Office of Vital Statistics has no records of births and deaths occurring prior to the above date except delayed records of births for those born before 1911, which have been established by affidavits and documentary evidence. Fees are listed below. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates or Death Certificates.
  • Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Central registration of marriages and divorces began in Kentucky in June 1958. The Office of Vital Statistics has no records of marriages and divorces prior to that date. Copies of marriage certificates prior to June 1958 may be obtained from the county clerk in the county where the license was issued. Records of divorce proceedings are available from the Adair County clerk of the circuit court that granted the decree.You can download an application online for Marriage Certificates or Divorce Certificates.

Cost of certificates

Birth: $10 per certificate; Death, Marriage and Divorce are $6 per certificate

  • In Person:You can stop in the office at 275 E. Main St. in Frankfort and obtain a certified copy of a birth, death, marriage or divorce certificate by completing an application form between the hours of 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. EST, Monday-Friday.There is approximately a one-hour wait to receive the certificate. Directions to Vital Statistics Office
  • By Mail: Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the "Kentucky State Treasurer" along with the necessary information to the following address: Office of Vital Statistics, 275 E. Main St. 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621. Please include return address on envelope and application form.

Processing Time

Please allow up to approximately 30 working days for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail.

  • Birth Records: Expect longer delays during peak request periods from May through September. You should request certified copies of your birth certificate early enough to avoid delays if you are planning retirement, sporting events for the children, travel/passports, children entering school for the first time, etc.
  • Death Records: There may be delays in issuing new certified death certificates if the original certificate is not promptly filed in Frankfort by the funeral homes.

Phone, Fax, On-Line, or Credit Card

To obtain a certified copy of a vital record by phone, fax, on-line or purchase with a credit card, please link to VitalChek. There is an additional $10.50 fee for all credit card purchases. Discover, Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted. If faster delivery is required, you may wish to have the certified copy sent by Federal Express. Please state this when placing the order for the copy. There is an additional fee for this service.

Links For Birth Records

Birth and death registration was enacted statewide on 1 January 1911 and generally adhered to by 1920. Indexes to births and deaths after 1911 are microfilmed; however, the actual records are not. Certificates of births and deaths after 1911 are only available at the Office of Vital Statistics, Department of Health Services, 275 E. Maine St., Frankfort, KY 40601.

  • Birth Records from Archives.com
  • Kentucky Birth Record Books at Amazon.com
  • Kentucky Birth Index, 1911-1999 - This database is an index to over 5.9 million births recorded in Kentucky between 1911 and 1999. With the information provided in this index, you may be able to obtain a copy of a birth certificate. If possible, it is important that you do this because oft times more information is provided in an original record than is provided in its index. For information on how to order a copy of a birth certificate, visit the Kentucky Department of Health, Vital Records website.
  • Kentucky Birth Records, 1852-1910 - Birth records begin in Kentucky as early as 1852 when statewide registration was first enacted. The requirement continued only for ten years. Some births were recorded (1874-79, 1892-1910), but observance remained sporadic. This database contains county birth records from Kentucky for the years 1852-1910. For a complete list of counties and years available, see below.
    • Adair: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1893-1894, 1903-1904, 1906-1907, 1909-1910
    • Allen: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1875, 1878-1879, 1899-1901, 1903-1904, 1908-1910
    • Anderson: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878
    • Ballard: 1852-1853, 1856-1859, 1874-1876, 1878, 1893-1894
    • Barren: 1852-1859, 1861, 1878-1879
    • Bath: 1852-1859, 1875-1876, 1878, 1901
    • Bell: 1874-1878
    • Boone: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1878
    • Bourbon: 1852-1859, 1874, 1876, 1878-1879
    • Boyd: 1859, 1875-1876, 1878, 1903-1904, 1906-1909
    • Boyle: 1852-1859, 1875-1876, 1878, 1904
    • Bracken: 1852, 1854-1859, 1861, 1875-1876, 1878, 1893-1894, 1904
    • Breathitt: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878-1879, 1909-1910
    • Breckinridge: 1852-1861, 1874-1878, 1893-1894, 1903-1904
    • Bullitt: 1852-1859, 1874, 1878-1879, 1893-1894, 1903-1904, 1906-1907, 1909-1910
    • Butler: 1852-1859, 1874-1879, 1902-1904, 1906-1910
    • Caldwell: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1875, 1878
    • Calloway: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878, 1902-1904, 1906-1910
    • Campbell: 1852-1859, 1861-1862, 1878-1879, 1906-1907
    • Carlisle: 1893-1894, 1901, 1904, 1907, 1910
    • Carroll: 1852-1859, 1875-1876, 1878
    • Carter: 1852-1859, 1861-1862, 1875-1878, 1900-1901, 1904, 1906-1907
    • Casey: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1902-1904, 1906-1909
    • Christian: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1902-1904
    • Clark: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1893-1894, 1904
    • Clay: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874, 1876, 1878, 1904, 1906-1910
    • Clinton: 1852-1859, 1878, 1903, 1908-1909
    • Crittenden: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1900-1901, 1903-1904, 1907-1909
    • Cumberland: 1852-1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1893-1894, 1903-1904, 1906-1907, 1909-1910
    • Daviess: 1853-1857, 1859, 1861, 1874
    • Edmonson: 1852-1859, 1874-1879, 1893
    • Elliott: 1874-1876, 1878, 1909-1910
    • Estill: 1852-1861, 1874, 1878, 1910
    • Fayette: 1852-1859, 1861
    • Fleming: 1852-1853, 1855-1859, 1874-1876, 1878-1879
    • Floyd: 1852, 1854-1859, 1874-1878, 1894, 1900-1901, 1903-1904, 1907-1910
    • Franklin: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878, 1903
    • Fulton: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878, 1893-1894, 1902-1904, 1908-1909
    • Gallatin: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874, 1876-1878
    • Garrard: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878
    • Grant: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878, 1904, 1907, 1910
    • Graves: 1852-1853, 1855-1859, 1874-1876, 1878, 1903-1904, 1906-1909
    • Grayson: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1900-1904, 1906-1907
    • Green: 1852-1853, 1855-1859, 1861-1862, 1874-1876, 1878-1879, 1904, 1906
    • Greenup: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878
    • Hancock: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878-1879, 1893-1894, 1904, 1906-1907, 1909-1910
    • Hardin: 1852-1859, 1874-1875
    • Harlan: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1903-1904
    • Harrison: 1852-1859, 1876, 1878
    • Hart: 1852-1859, 1861, 1872-1876, 1892-1893, 1903-1904, 1907
    • Henderson: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878, 1903-1904, 1907
    • Henry: 1852-1859, 1874-1876
    • Hickman: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1893-1894, 1900-1901, 1904, 1907-1910
    • Hopkins: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1878, 1893-1894, 1907-1908, 1910
    • Jackson: 1858-1859, 1874-1876, 1878, 1900-1901, 1904, 1909-1910
    • Jefferson: 1852, 1854-1859, 1900-1906, 1908-1909
    • Jessamine: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878-1879, 1898, 1904, 1907, 1909-1910
    • Johnson: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878-1879, 1902-1904, 1910
    • Kenton: 1852-1859, 1874-1878, 1903-1904, 1906-1907, 1909-1910
    • Knott: 1902-1903, 1907-1910
    • Knox: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878, 1893-1894, 1903-1904, 1906-1907
    • Larue: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878, 1893-1894, 1903-1904, 1906-1907
    • Laurel: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1878, 1903
    • Lawrence: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878, 1903-1904, 1906-1908
    • Lee: 1874-1876, 1878-1879, 1902-1904
    • Leslie: 1878, 1900-1901, 1903-1904
    • Letcher: 1852-1857, 1859, 1874-1876, 1878, 1906-1910
    • Lewis: 1852-1856, 1858-1859, 1861, 1875-1876, 1878
    • Lincoln: 1852-1859, 1875-1876, 1878, 1904-1906
    • Livingston: 1852-1859, 1861, 1875-1876, 1878, 1903, 1907, 1909-1910
    • Logan: 1852-1853, 1855-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878
    • Lyon: 1853-1859, 1861-1862, 1874-1878, 1903, 1908, 1910
    • Madison: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878, 1893-1894, 1902-1904, 1907
    • Magoffin: 1859, 1861-1862, 1874-1875, 1907
    • Marion: 1852-1858, 1874-1876, 1893-1894, 1903-1904
    • Marshall: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1893-1894, 1903-1904, 1909-1910
    • Martin: 1874-1876, 1878, 1900-1901, 1905-1906, 1909-1910
    • Mason: 1852-1853, 1855-1859, 1861, 1874, 1903-1904, 1907-1908
    • McCracken: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1909-1910
    • McCreary: no birth records available
    • McLean: 1854-1859, 1861, 1876, 1900-1901, 1904
    • Meade: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1878, 1894, 1900-1901, 1904, 1906-1909
    • Menifee: 1874-1876, 1878
    • Mercer: 1874
    • Metcalfe: 1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1906-1907, 1909-1910
    • Monroe: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878, 1893-1894, 1906-1910
    • Montgomery: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878
    • Morgan: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1893-1894, 1900-1901, 1904-1906, 1909-1910
    • Muhlenberg: 1852-1855, 1857-1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1903-1904, 1906-1907, 1909-1910
    • Nelson: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1903-1904, 1906-1907
    • Nicholas: 1852-1859, 1876, 1878
    • Ohio: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1903-1904, 1906-1910
    • Oldham: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878-1879
    • Owen: 1852-1859, 1874-1875
    • Owsley: 1852-1859, 1874, 1876-1879, 1903-1904, 1907-1910
    • Pendleton: 1852-1859, 1873-1879
    • Perry: 1852-1859
    • Pike: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878, 1893-1894, 1902-1904, 1906-1910
    • Powell: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874, 1878
    • Pulaski: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878
    • Robertson: 1874-1876, 1878, 1909
    • Rockcastle: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878
    • Rowan: 1856-1859, 1861-1862, 1874-1876, 1878-1879, 1893, 1909
    • Russell: 1852-1859, 1874-1875, 1878, 1903-1906, 1909-1910
    • Scott: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878-1879
    • Shelby: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1878
    • Simpson: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1903-1904, 1906-1907
    • Spencer: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1893-1894
    • Taylor: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878-1879, 1893-1894, 1901, 1903-1904, 1909
    • Todd: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878-1879, 1903-1904, 1906-1907
    • Trigg: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1875, 1878-1879, 1903-1904, 1906-1910
    • Trimble: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878, 1893-1894
    • Union: 1852-1859, 1874-1875, 1877-1878
    • Warren: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1902-1904, 1906-1910
    • Washington: 1852-1859, 1874-1876, 1878
    • Wayne: 1852-1858, 1874, 1878
    • Webster: 1874-1876, 1907, 1910
    • Whitley: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1893-1894, 1900-1904, 1908-1910
    • Wolfe: 1861, 1874-1876, 1878, 1902-1904, 1907-1909
    • Woodford: 1852-1859, 1861, 1874-1876, 1878
  • Search All U.S and Foriegn Birth, Marriage and Death Records
  • Search County Birth Records
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Links For Marriage Records

Kentucky marriage records usually begin about the time of the respective county's establishment or within a few years of that date. Some counties have marriage records for dates prior to organization. Fayette, Jefferson, and Lincoln counties have marriage records as early as 1785. The respective county clerk has jurisdiction over marriage records. Beginning in 1958 statewide registration was required. Originals are filed in the counties and duplicates are available at the Office of Vital Statistics. The Office of Vital Statistics maintains an index to marriage records from 1958. Licenses and bonds may be filed separately from certificates.

  • Kentucky Marriage Record Books at Amazon.com
  • Marriage Records from Archives.com
  • Divorce Records from Archives.com
  • Order Marriage Certificates or Divorce Records Online
  • Kentucky Marriages, 1802-1850 - This database of Kentucky marriages from 1802-1850 contains over 145,000 names. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked. The marriage date is usually the date of marriage as given in the original entry. However, when no marriage date is given (e.g., the "marriage return" was not provided to the record keeper), the date of the license is used. In a few cases, a marriage will be listed twice, but in two different counties. This most often happened when a couple obtained a license in one county, but were actually married in another.
  • Kentucky Marriages, 1851-1900 - Admitted to the Union as the 15th state in 1792, Kentucky was settled predominantly by Irish, German, and English men and women in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This database contains marriage records from Allen, Boyle, Butler, Caldwell, Christian, Clay, Crittenden, Garrard, Greenup, Henderson, Henry, Hopkins, Jessamine, Larue, Lawrence, Lincoln, Logan, Lyon, Madison, Magoffin, Marshall, McCracken, Menifee, Mercer, Monroe, Morgan, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Taylor, Todd, Washington, and Webster Casey counties between 1851 and 1900. Taken from microfilm copies of original county documents, each record provides spouses' names, marriage date, and county of residence. Records for "white" individuals and "colored" individuals were kept in separate volumes. This database only includes the volumes of "white" marriages.
  • Kentucky Marriage Index, 1973-1999 - This database is an index to about 2.3 million individuals who were married in the state of Kentucky between 1973 and 1999. Copies of marriage records are available through the Vital Records branch of the Kentucky Department of Health. They maintain marriage records beginning in June 1958. For information about how to obtain a copy. Records of marriages occurring before 1958 must be obtained from the county clerk of the county in which the marriage license was issued.
  • Kentucky Marriages, 1797-1865
  • Kentucky Marriage Records, 1852-1914 - This database is an index to Kentucky marriages from 1852-1914. While all Kentucky counties except for McCreary and Mercer are included in this database, there may not be records for all years between 1852-1914 for each county. See below for a list of years included for each county.
  • Search U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
  • Search County Marriage Records
  • Search County Divorce Records

Links For Death Records

 

  • Kentucky Death Record Books at Amazon.com
  • Death Records from Archives.com
  • Kentucky Death Index, 1911-2000 - This important database contains an index to more than 2.6 million death records of individuals living in Kentucky from 1911 on. All records contain the following information: name of the individual, date of death, county of death, county of residence, age at death, and volume and certificate number.
  • Kentucky Death Records, 1852-1953 - This database contains the following Kentucky death records: Death certificates, 1911-1953; Mortuary records, registers of deaths, and death certificates for Newport, Louisville, Lexington, Covington, and Jefferson County, up to 1911; Returns of death, 1852-1910 (not all years are extant for each county). Additional information, such as occupation, cause of death, and date and place of burial, may be available on the original record and can be obtained by viewing the image.
  • Order Death Certificates Online
  • Social Security Death Index
  • Obituary Collection
  • Search County Death Records
  • Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of Kentucky obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a Kentucky newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers from Kentucky.
  • Search America's Obituaries (1977 to current) at Genealogybank.com - Obituaries contain helpful information such as names, dates, places of birth, death, marriage and family information. Over 28 million obituaries make this the most complete collection from the 20th and 21st centuries - includes over 1,100 U.S. newspapers. New content added daily!

 

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