Vital records, such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees, are the foundation of almost everything we do. They’re used for identification and proof of citizenship, obtaining social security numbers, and registering with the government.
With so many uses for these documents, it’s no wonder there’s been an increase over the years in requests for online copies of vital records. You don’t have to leave your house or office to look up a birth certificate or a death record at the Division of Health Statistics and Informatics Vital Records Section. You can search for these documents 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the world with Internet access.
1. Faster and More Efficient Record Searches
Online services allow you to search by name or date of birth instead of using an index that may require several keystrokes per entry. In addition, many online databases will enable you to search by location, date, and place of birth or death.
2. Convenience
You can search from home or on the go! You don’t have to go anywhere or wait on hold with an operator while making your request for copies of birth certificates or other vital records documents. Many people have smartphones with wireless Internet access that allows them to use a mobile application to search for vital records anytime, anywhere.
3. Saves Time and Money
The cost for searching for vital records varies depending on the state in which the record was filed and whether you want certified copies or not. If you live in a rural area, you may travel long distances to obtain a copy of your birth certificate or other vital records. You may have to wait weeks to receive the document in the mail. When you order vital records online, you can get an expedited copy within 24 hours of placing your order. You can also save money by ordering your vital records through us because we charge less than most government offices charge for vital records.
Online services generally charge less than $20 per search and provide certified copies if needed at no extra charge (although there may be an additional fee for expedited shipping). When searching for vital records manually, especially if traveling out of state, keep in mind that some states charge fees for accessing their non-indexed records (for example, $15 per name searched). In contrast, other states do not charge any fees at all.
4. Easy to Navigate Through
Easy access means less time spent searching through microfilm or checking with different agencies to get copies of your vital record or others’. You can search quickly online by name or other identifying information, such as date of birth or location of the event.
Online access to vital records also makes it easy to find out if someone has filed for a divorce or is deceased without having to call each county office individually — another time-consuming process involving many phone calls and trips down memory lane!
