People for Better Pennsylvania Historical Records Access (PaHR-Access)

accessibility and availability of birth and death records and indexes for every state

(as best as we can determine)


State	State Records Begin	Accessibility	State Data Base / Other Accessible Viewing	Other Data Base
Alabama	Births 1908	Open after 125 years	State Archives has index	None
Alabama	Deaths 1908	Open after 25 years	State Archives has index	www.familysearch.org 1908-1974 – extracted data from death certificates

Alaska	Births 1890’s	Open after 100 years	State Archives has records up to 1998, but only allows access to records more than 100 years old
Alaska	Deaths 1890’s	Open after 50 years	State Archives has records up to 1998, but only allows access to records more than 50 years old

Arizona	Births 1909	Open after 75 years	State Archives has online database of birth certificates 1855-1939 http://genealogy.az.gov/
Arizona	Deaths 1909	Open after 50 years	State Archives has online database of death certificates 1870-1964 http://genealogy.az.gov/	www.familysearch.org 1870-1951 – images of death certificates

Arkansas	Births 1914	Open after 100 years	None
Arkansas	Deaths 1914	Open after 50 years	None	www.ancestry.com – paid site 1914-1950 – death index

California	Births 1905	Only certified copies are restricted to certain persons	None	www.familysearch.org 1849-1994 – index of county birth and death records www.familysearch.org 1905-1995 – extracted data of birth records www.ancestry.com – paid site 1905-1995 – extracted data of birth records
California	Deaths 1905	Only certified copies are restricted to certain persons	None	www.familysearch.org 1849-1994 – index of county birth and death records www.familysearch.org 1905-1939 – partially extracted data of death records www.familysearch.org 1940-1997 – partially extracted data of death records

Colorado	Births 1910	Restricted to certain persons	None
Colorado	Deaths 1910	Restricted to certain persons	None

Connecticut	Births 1897	Open after 100 years	None
Connecticut	Deaths 1897	Open immediately	None	www.ancestry.com – paid site 1949-2001 – death index

Delaware	Births 1913	Open after 72 years	Open records available at State Archives	www.familysearch.org 1861-1922 – images of birth records
Delaware	Deaths 1913	Open after 40 years	Open records available at State Archives	www.familysearch.org 1855-1961 – images of death records

Florida	Birth 1917	Open after 100 years	None
Florida	Death 1917	After 50 years public record. Prior to 50 years anyone can order a death certificate, but cause of death is redacted	None	www.familysearch.org 1877-1939 – extracted data from death certificates www.familysearch.org 1877-1998 – death index www.ancestry.com – paid site 1877-1998 – death index

Georgia	Births 1919	Restricted to certain persons
Georgia	Deaths 1919	Open immediately	State Archives has online database of death certificates 1914-1927 http://cdm.georgiaarchives.org:2011/cdm/landingpage/collection/gadeaths	www.familysearch.org 1914-1927 – images of death certificates www.familysearch.org 1928-1939 – images of death certificates www.familysearch.org 1933-1998 – death index www.ancestry.com – paid site 1919-1998 – death index

Hawaii	Births	Restricted, however allow genealogical requests after 75 years	State Archives has some birth and death records up to 1929
Hawaii	Deaths	Restricted, however allow genealogical requests after 75 years	State Archives has some birth and death records up to 1929

Idaho	Births 1911	Open after 100 years	None	www.familysearch.org 1883-1929 – images of county birth and death records
Idaho	Deaths 1911	Open after 50 years	None	www.familysearch.org 1883-1929 – images of county birth and death records www.familysearch.org 1911-1937 – extracted data from death certificates www.ancestry.com – paid site 1890-1963 – death index

Illinois	Births 1916	After 75 years can obtained an uncertified birth certificate	None	www.familysearch.org 1878-1922 – Cook Co, IL, including Chicago – images of birth & death records
Illinois	Deaths 1916	After 20 years can obtained an uncertified death certificate	State Archives has microfilm copies of death records over 50 years and an online index 1916-1950 http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/idphdeathindex.html	www.familysearch.org 1916-1947 – extracted data from death certificates

Indiana	Births 1907	Restricted to certain persons	None	www.ancestry.com – paid site 1907-1940 – birth records
Indiana	Deaths 1900	Restricted, however allow requests by distant relatives 75 years after event	None	www.ancestry.com – paid site 1899-2011 – death records

Iowa	Births 1880	Restricted to certain persons	None	www.familysearch.org 1880-1935 – images of county birth records
Iowa	Deaths 1880	Restricted to certain persons	None	www.familysearch.org 1889-1992 – images of county death records

Kansas	Births 1911	Restricted to certain persons	None
Kansas	Deaths 1911	Restricted, however allow requests for genealogical purposes by close relatives	None

Kentucky	Births 1911	Open immediately	CD index of births and deaths 1911-1999 available for sale from State Archives (index available online at www.familysearch.org),
Kentucky	Deaths 1911	Open immediately	Microfilm copies of death certificates 1911-1959 and CD index of births and deaths 1911-1999 available for sale from State Archives (index available online at www.familysearch.org)	www.familysearch.org 1911-1961 – extracted data from certificates www.ancestry.com – paid site 1852-1953 – images of death records

Louisiana	Births 1907	Open after 100 years	None
Louisiana	Deaths 1907	Open after 50 years	State Archives has records over 50 years with online index: http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/Home/Archives/Research Library/VitalRecords/LouisianaDeaths/tabid/640/Default.aspx	www.familysearch.org 1894-1956 – extracted data from certificates

Maine	Births 1892	Open after 75 years	State Archives has records up to 1922, no restrictions	www.ancestry.com – paid site 1617-1922 – images of death records
Maine	Deaths 1892	Open after 25 years Fetal deaths after 50 years	State Archives has records up to 1922, no restrictions	www.ancestry.com – paid site 1617-1922 – images of death records 1960-1996 – death index

Maryland	Births 1898	Open after 100 years or death of the individual	State Archives has records up to 1924, but only allows access to records more than 100 years old
Maryland	Deaths 1898	Open after 10 years	State Archives has records up to 2001 with online index of deaths in Baltimore 1875-1942 & 1950-1972 and outside of Baltimore 1898-1944: http://guide.mdsa.net/viewer.cfm?page=death

Massachusetts	Births 1841	Open immediately	Access to records since 1916 with index is allowed at the State Register’s research room State Archives has records 1841-1915 with index	www.familysearch.org 1841-1915 – images of birth records www.ancestry.com – paid site 1906-1960, 1967-1970 – birth index
Massachusetts	Deaths 1841	Open immediately	Access to records since 1916 with index is allowed at the State Register’s research room State Archives has records 1841-1915 with index	www.familysearch.org 1841-1915 – images of death records www.ancestry.com – paid site 1901-2003 – death index

Michigan	Births 1906	Open after 100 years	Library of Michigan has index of births up to 1914
Michigan	Deaths 1906	Open immediately	Seeking Michigan: online database of images 1897-1952 (in three separate groupings) http://seekingmichigan.org/	www.familysearch.org 1921-1952 – extracted data from death records www.ancestry.com – paid site 1971-1996 – death index

Minnesota	Births 1900	Only certified copies are restricted to certain persons	State Archives has microfilm copies up to 1934 with online index http://people.mnhs.org/bci/	www.familysearch.org 1863-1983 – images of county birth records www.familysearch.org 1935-2002 – birth index www.ancestry.com – paid site 1935-2002 – birth index
Minnesota	Deaths 1900	Only certified copies are restricted to certain persons	State Archives has microfilm copies up to 2001 with online index http://people.mnhs.org/dci/	www.familysearch.org 1866-1916 – extracted data from death records www.ancestry.com – paid site 1908-2002 – death index

Mississippi	Births 1912	Restricted to certain persons	None
Mississippi	Deaths 1912	Restricted to certain persons	State Archives has microfiche copies and index available up to 1943

Missouri	Births 1910	Restricted to certain persons
Missouri	Deaths 1910	Open after 50 years	State Archives online database of images 1910-1966: http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/deathcertificates/advanced.asp

Montana	Births 1907	Restricted to certain persons	None	www.familysearch.org 1840-2004 – county birth and death records www.ancestry.com – paid site 1840-2004 – county birth and death records
Montana	Deaths 1907	Restricted, however anyone may request copies	None	www.familysearch.org 1840-2004 – county birth and death records www.familysearch.org 1860-2007 – death index www.ancestry.com – paid site 1840-2004 – county birth and death records www.ancestry.com – paid site 1860-2011 – death index

Nebraska	Births 1904	Restricted, however does allow genealogical requests.	None
Nebraska	Deaths 1904	Restricted, however does allow genealogical requests.	None

Nevada	Births 1911	Restricted to certain persons	None	www.familysearch.org 1871-1992 – county birth and death records
Nevada	Deaths 1911	Restricted to certain persons	None	www.familysearch.org 1871-1992 – county birth and death records www.ancestry.com – paid site 1911-1965 – death records

New Hampshire	Births 1640	Open to 1909	State Archives has records up to 1909
New Hampshire	Deaths 1640	Open to 1959	State Archives has records up to 1959	www.familysearch.org 1654-1947 – images of death records www.familysearch.org 1938-1959 – images of death certificates

New Jersey	Births 1901	Restricted, however non-certified copies are available to anyone after 80 years	State Archives has microfilm copies and index available up to 1923
New Jersey	Deaths 1901	Restricted, however non-certified copies are available to anyone after 40 years	State Archives has microfilm copies and index available up to 1940

New Mexico	Births 1920	Restricted to certain persons	None
New Mexico	Deaths 1920	Restricted to certain persons	None	http://www.usgwarchives.net/nm/nmdi.htm 1899-1949 – New Mexico Death Index Project www.familysearch.org 1889-1945 – extracted data from death certificates

New York	Births 1881	Open after 75 years	State Archives has index outside of NYC of records over 75 years NYC Municipal Archives has births prior to 1910	www.familysearch.org 1846-1909 – index of New York City births
New York	Deaths 1881	Open after 50 years	State Archives has index outside of NYC of records over 50 years NYC Municipal Archives has deaths prior to 1949	www.familysearch.org 1795-1949 – images of New York City municipal death records

North Carolina	Births 1913	Only certified copies are restricted to certain persons	None	www.familysearch.org 1800-2000 – birth index www.ancestry.com -- paid site 1800-2000 – birth index
North Carolina	Deaths 1913	Only certified copies are restricted to certain persons	State Archives has records 1913-1975 with index to 1979	www.familysearch.org 1906-1930 – images of death certificates www.familysearch.org 1931-1994– extracted data from death certificates www.ancestry.com -- paid site 1908-1975 – images of death certificates with index up to 2004

North Dakota	Births 1923	Restricted to certain persons
North Dakota	Deaths 1923	Restricted, however anyone may obtain copies, but Social Security number and cause of death are redacted	State online index of deaths https://secure.apps.state.nd.us/doh/certificates/deathCertSearch.htm

Ohio	Births 1908	Open immediately	None	www.familysearch.org 1841-2003 – county birth records
Ohio	Deaths 1908	Open immediately	Ohio State Historical Society has certificates from 1908-1963, online index 1913-1963 http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/death/	www.familysearch.org 1841-2001 – county death records www.familysearch.org 1908-1953 – images of death certificates www.ancestry.com – paid site 1958-2007 – death index

Oklahoma	Births 1908	Restricted, however if the person is deceased anyone may obtain copies	None
Oklahoma	Deaths 1908	Restricted, however anyone may request copies	None

Oregon	Births 1903	Open after 100 years	State Archives has records over 100 years with index
Oregon	Deaths 1903	Open after 50 years	State Archives has records over 50 years with index, online index of some deaths up to 1948 http://genealogy.state.or.us/	www.ancestry.com – paid site 1903-1998 – death index

Pennsylvania	Births 1906	Open after 105 years	State Archives has records over 105 years with online index. Note that some counties continued to record births after 1905, one as late as 1936.	http://www.portal.state.pa.us/ 1906-1912 – birth index www.ancestry.com – paid site 1906-1910 – images of birth certificates
Pennsylvania	Deaths 1906	Open after 50 years	State Archives has records over 50 years with online index. Note that some counties continued to record deaths after 1905, one as late as 1936.	http://www.portal.state.pa.us/ 1906-1967 – death index www.ancestry.com – paid site 1906-1966 – images of death certificates

Philadelphia	Births 1860-1915	Open	Available at Philadelphia Archives	www.familysearch.org 1860-1906 – images of birth records
Philadelphia	Deaths 1803-1915	Open	Available at Philadelphia Archives	www.familysearch.org 1803-1915 – images of death records

Rhode Island	Births 1636	Open after 100 years	State Archives has records over 100 years	www.ancestry.com – paid site 1636-1930 – birth index
Rhode Island	Deaths 1636	Open after 50 years	State Archives has records over 50 years with index from 1853-1945	www.ancestry.com – paid site 1640-1930 – death index

South Carolina	Births 1915	Restricted to certain persons	None
South Carolina	Deaths 1915	Open after 50 years	State Archives has death records with index 1915-1960 Public viewing of above records at http://www.scdhec.gov/administration/vr/vrdi.htm	www.familysearch.org 1915-1943 – images of death certificates 1944-1955 – extracted data from certificates www.ancestry.com -- paid site 1915-1955 – images of death certificates

South Dakota	Births 1905	Restricted, however, has "for informational purposes only" copies	online extracted data of birth records over 100 years http://apps.sd.gov/applications/ph14over100birthrec/index.asp
South Dakota	Deaths 1905	Restricted, however, has "for informational purposes only" copies	None	www.ancestry.com – paid site 1905-1955 – death index

Tennessee	Births 1914	Open immediately	State Archives has birth records 1908-1912	1874-1906 – images of Shelby County birth records http://register.shelby.tn.us/
Tennessee	Deaths 1914	Open immediately - cause of death redacted for non-certified copies for 50 years after the event	Images of Shelby County death records up to 1959, website includes statewide index of deaths 1949-2005 http://register.shelby.tn.us/ Statewide index 1914-1925 http://www.tn.gov/tsla/history/vital/tndeath.htm	https://familysearch.org 1914-1955 – images of death certificates http://register.shelby.tn.us/ 1949-2009 – statewide death index 1848-1964 images of Shelby County death records

Texas	Births 1903	Open after 75 years	Index at State Library/Archives 1903 – to most recent year available	www.familysearch.org 1903-1935 – images of birth certificates www.ancestry.com – paid site 1903-1997 – extracted information
Texas	Deaths 1903	Open after 25 years	Index at State Library/Archives 1903 – to most recent year available	www.familysearch.org 1890-1986 – images of death certificates www.familysearch.org 1903-2000 – death index www.ancestry.com – paid site 1903-2000 – death index

Utah	Births 1905	Open after 100 years	Online index of births from 1905-2010 http://archives.utah.gov/research/indexes/20842.htm	www.ancestry.com – paid site 1892-1944 – images of birth registers
Utah	Deaths 1905	Open after 50 years	Online index of deaths 1904-1964 – with images of certificates http://archives.utah.gov/research/indexes/20842.htm	www.familysearch.org 1904-1964 – images of death certificates

Vermont	Births 1857	Open immediately	Records available at the State Archives 1760's-2004	www.familysearch.org 1760-2008 – images of births, marriages and deaths www.ancestry.com – paid site 1909-2008 – births, marriages and deaths
Vermont	Deaths 1857	Open immediately	Records available at the State Archives 1760's-2004	www.familysearch.org 1760-2008 – images of births, marriages and deaths www.ancestry.com – paid site 1909-2008 – births, marriages and deaths

Virginia	Births 1912	Open after 100 years	None	www.ancestry.com – paid site 1854-2014 – birth records
Virginia	Deaths 1912	Open after 50 years	Library of Virginia has death certificates from 1912-1939 and the index up to 1954	www.ancestry.com – paid site 1912-2014 – death records

Washington	Births 1907	Open immediately	State index of records and images available 1907-1929 http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/	www.ancestry.com – paid site 1907-1935 – death index
Washington	Deaths 1907	Open immediately	State index of death records 1907-2000 http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/	www.familysearch.org 1907- 1960 – extracted info from certificates www.ancestry.com – paid site 1883-1960 – death records www.ancestry.com – paid site 1940-1996 – death index

Washington, DC	Births 1874	Open after 100 years	District of Columbia Archives has records 1874-1928
Washington, DC	Deaths 1874	Open after 50 years	District of Columbia Archives has records 1874-1932	www.familysearch.org 1874-1961 – images of death records & certificates

West Virginia	Births 1917	Open after 100 years	State Archives has images of records online to 1910 www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_select.aspx
West Virginia	Deaths 1917	Open after 50 years	State Archives has images of records online to late as 1970 www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_select.aspx	www.familysearch.org 1959-1997 – index of death records

Wisconsin	Births 1907	Restricted, however has uncertified copies	None
Wisconsin	Deaths 1907	Restricted, however has uncertified copies	None

Wyoming	Births 1909	Open after 100 years	State Archives has records over 100 years
Wyoming	Deaths 1909	Open after 50 years	State Archives has records over 50 years

** The free website www.familysearch.org/ is administered by Family Search – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

** Most states prior to the dates listed above required the recording of births and deaths at the county or city level. These records are sporadic and nearly in all cases are open records and available for public inspection.

(updated January 31, 2018)

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