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. The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, by Loretto Szucs and Sandra Luebking.
Event: Birth, Death
Cost of copy: $10.00
Address:
Office of Vital Statistics
Division of Public Health
P.O. Box 637
Dover, DE 19903
Remarks: State office has death records since 1962 and birth records since 1930. Additional copies of the same record requested at the same time are $4.00 each. For previous years, write to Archives Hall of Records, Dover, DE (302) 744-5000 .
A photo identification is REQUIRED for all transactions. If submitting by mail, a copy of ID IS REQUIRED.
Check or money order should be made payable to Office of Vital Statistics. Personal checks are accepted. To verify current fees, the telephone number is (302) 744-4549.
Event: Marriage
Cost of copy: $10.00
Address:
Office of Vital Statistics
Division of Public Health
P.O. Box 637
Dover, DE 19903
Remarks: Records since 1962. Additional copies of the same record requested at the same time are $4.00 each.
A photo identification is REQUIRED for all transactions. If submitting by mail, a copy of ID IS REQUIRED.
Event: Divorce (State)
Cost of copy: $10.00
Address:
Office of Vital Statistics
Division of Public Health
P.O. Box 637
Dover, DE 19903
Remarks: Records since 1935. Inquiries will be forwarded to appropriate office. Certified copies are not available from State office.
Event: Divorce (county)
Cost of copy:
Address: See remarks
Remarks: Prothonotary in county where divorce was granted up to 1975. For divorces granted after 1975 the parties concerned should contact Family Court in county where divorce was granted.