Kentucky genealogy records

Births and deaths from 1911

Kentucky's Vital Statistics Law, passed by the General Assembly in 1910, provided for the registration of births and deaths. The state Office of Vital Statistics in Frankfort has no births or deaths before 1911, except delayed birth records filed later by people born before 1911, which had to be backed by affidavits and documents.

The Office of Vital Statistics issues certified copies only. Its genealogy page says it does not issue uncertified copies or photocopies of any certificate for any year. For family history, the better route for older deaths is KDLA, which issues uncertified photocopies of death certificates. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services gives KDLA's range as 1911 to 1957, while KDLA's own request policy says its staff can search the state's death records from 1911 to 1959.

The state's genealogy page also points to indexes that outside sites bought from the state, including a Kentucky death index for 1911 to 2000, a marriage index for 1973 to 2000, and a divorce index for 1973 to 1993. It warns that an index entry may not match the original certificate, so always look at the certificate itself.

Births and deaths before 1911

Kentucky made earlier attempts. An 1850 act of the General Assembly had counties report births and deaths; that registration stopped in 1862, was revived in the mid 1870s, and many counties did not take part or soon dropped out. KDLA's policy lists the surviving county lists, called the Auditor's birth and death lists, for 1852 to 1862, 1874 to 1879, and 1891 to 1910. The Kentucky Historical Society also holds some of these county records, for 1851 to 1862.

Four cities kept their own registers under city ordinances: Covington, Lexington, Louisville and Newport. KDLA holds these, with coverage between 1866 and 1910 that varies by city. If your family lived in one of these cities, check the city register before giving up on a birth or death before 1911.

Marriages and divorces

Central registration of marriages and divorces began in Kentucky in June 1958. For a marriage before then, contact the county clerk in the county that issued the license; for a divorce, the circuit clerk of the county that granted it. KDLA has original and microfilmed local records from all 120 counties, and its staff can search indexed marriage records for you, so the archives is a useful second stop when a courthouse cannot help.

Census records

Kentucky's first two federal censuses are gone. The National Archives has no schedules for Kentucky in 1790 or 1800, so the earliest surviving federal census for the state is 1810. To place a family before 1810, use county tax lists and deeds instead.

KDLA's research room holds microfilm of Kentucky's census schedules from 1810 to 1930, except 1890, and staff can search the indexed years from 1810 to 1920. The 1890 census was almost entirely lost, but the special 1890 schedule of Union veterans and their widows survives for part of Kentucky, and KDLA staff can search it too.

Land, wills and court records

Kentucky land was granted through patents. The Kentucky Secretary of State's Land Office is the repository for all patents issued within Kentucky's borders, including those issued by Virginia before Kentucky became a state in 1792, and it has searchable databases online. A patent shows who first acquired a tract, and it can place an ancestor in a county years before any census.

Later deeds, wills and estate papers were recorded by each county, and KDLA holds originals or microfilm for many of them. Its staff will search indexed deeds, marriages, tax lists and wills, and indexed circuit court records such as case files and order books. Requests go on a written form, cover one person in one record, and come with a prepaid research fee; the policy lists $10 for Kentucky residents and $15 for others. Staff will not search unindexed records or answer genealogy requests by phone.

Military records

Kentucky sent men to both sides in the Civil War, and KDLA staff will search the index to Kentucky's compiled service records for both the Union and Confederate armies. They can also check the Kentucky Adjutant General's reports for the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War and the Spanish American War.

For a Confederate veteran who lived into old age, look for a state pension application filed by him or his widow; KDLA holds these. For the twentieth century, KDLA can search World War I draft registration cards, record of service cards and casualty lists.