Daily AncestorGenealogy records by state
Where each state kept births, deaths, marriages, land and wills, from which year, and where you can see them for free.
California genealogy records
California's statewide birth, death, and marriage records begin July 1, 1905; anything earlier is held by the county recorder where the event took place.
State guide · GAGeorgia genealogy records
Georgia registered births and deaths statewide only from 1919; the Georgia Archives holds death certificates to 1943, and earlier families are traced in county probate and land records.
State guide · ILIllinois genealogy records
Illinois death certificates were filed with the state from 1916. Free Illinois State Archives indexes cover deaths before 1916, deaths from 1916 to 1972, and marriages before 1901.
State guide · INIndiana genealogy records
Indiana's state health department recorded deaths from 1900 and births from 1907. Earlier records from 1882 are at county health offices, and marriages stay with county clerks.
State guide · IAIowa genealogy records
Iowa began statewide registration of births, deaths, and marriages on July 1, 1880; the State Archives opens births and marriages at 75 years and deaths at 50.
State guide · KYKentucky genealogy records
Kentucky recorded births and deaths statewide from 1911. Death certificates from 1911 into the late 1950s can be copied at the state archives in Frankfort; older records are scattered county lists.
State guide · MDMaryland genealogy records
Maryland recorded births and deaths from 1875 in Baltimore City and 1898 in the counties; the Maryland State Archives has put birth records to 1924 and death records over 100 years old online.
State guide · MAMassachusetts genealogy records
Massachusetts has collected births, marriages, and deaths statewide since 1841. The Massachusetts Archives holds 1841 to 1935, and earlier records stay with each city or town clerk.
State guide · MIMichigan genealogy records
Michigan has recorded births and deaths since 1867, and the Archives of Michigan offers its death certificates from 1897 to 1952 free online; county clerks hold the oldest registers.
State guide · MOMissouri genealogy records
Missouri statewide birth and death records start in 1910, and the State Archives shows death certificates free online once they are 50 years old, now 1910 to 1975.
State guide · NJNew Jersey genealogy records
New Jersey has registered births, marriages, and deaths statewide since May 1, 1848; the State Archives holds births to 1925 and marriages and deaths to 1950, and searches them by mail.
State guide · NYNew York genealogy records
New York began statewide birth, marriage, and death records in 1880 and 1881, but New York City kept its own, now free online for births to 1909, deaths to 1948, and marriages to 1949.
State guide · NCNorth Carolina genealogy records
North Carolina began recording births and deaths statewide in October 1913. Death certificates before 1930 are at the State Archives in Raleigh; older births are at the county Register of Deeds.
State guide · OHOhio genealogy records
Ohio has statewide birth and death certificates from December 20, 1908. From 1867 until then, county probate courts kept birth and death registers, and marriages go back to each county's creation.
State guide · PAPennsylvania genealogy records
Pennsylvania issued statewide birth and death certificates from January 1, 1906. Earlier births and deaths are scattered county records, and county marriage licenses start September 30, 1885.
State guide · SCSouth Carolina genealogy records
South Carolina required birth and death certificates from January 1, 1915; death certificates become public after fifty years, and older ones can be seen at the state archives.
State guide · TNTennessee genealogy records
Tennessee kept statewide death records from 1908 to 1912 and again from 1914; 1913 is a gap. The State Library and Archives in Nashville holds the older birth and death certificates.
State guide · TXTexas genealogy records
Texas began registering births and deaths statewide in 1903; before that, look in county clerk records, and use the free state indexes to find a certificate number first.
State guide · VAVirginia genealogy records
Virginia recorded births and deaths statewide from 1853 to 1896 and again from June 14, 1912. Marriages run without a break from 1853, and older records sit in county court books.
State guide · WIWisconsin genealogy records
Wisconsin state vital records run from October 1907; earlier births, marriages, and deaths were registered county by county, some before statehood, and are indexed free online.