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Vital Records and Genealogy Information

Office of Vital Statistics
275 East Main Street 1E-A
Frankfort, KY 40621
(502) 564-4212

Contact Info       Purchase Options       FAQs

Kentucky's Vital Statistics Law, enacted by the General Assembly in 1910, provides for and legalizes the registration of births and deaths.

The Office of Vital Statistics does not have records of births or deaths prior to 1911, except delayed records of births for those born before 1911 which have been established by affidavits and documentary evidence.

Central registration of marriages and divorces began in Kentucky in June 1958. The Office of Vital Statistics does not have records of marriages or divorces prior to 1958. Copies of marriage certificates prior to June 1958 may be obtained from the county clerk in the county where the license was issued. Records of divorce proceedings are available from the clerk of the circuit court that granted the decree.

The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, P.O. Box 537, 300 Coffee Tree Road, Frankfort, KY 40602, (5O2) 564-8300, has birth and death records for the cities of Louisville, Lexington, Covington and Newport, which enacted records collection ordinances before 1911.  KDLA also has birth and death records (statewide coverage) prior to 1911 and 1911-1957 death records (statewide coverage).

Contact Information

Office hours:  8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, Monday-Friday, excluding official state holidays

For further information, please read the Business Procedures for Accepting Walk-In/Mail/Phone Orders.

Vital statistics is located on the first floor in the main lobby of the former Cabinet for Human Resources Building.

Phone number:  To contact Vital Statistics for information or to amend certificates call (502) 564-4212.  To order with a credit card call toll-free (888) 782-8759 or order by fax at (888) 690-7382.  Please go to VROS to obtain fax applications under Alternate Order Methods.

Mailing address: 
Office of Vital Statistics
275 East Main Street 1E-A
Frankfort, KY  40621

Parking:  Designated visitor and handicapped parking is located at the front of the lower (basement)-level main parking lot and on the first floor-level lot. Because of building security, all visitors must enter at the first floor lobby under the canopy.

Purchase Options

You can purchase a certificate on the Internet, by phone, by mail or by visiting the office.  See details below...

Cost of certificates:  Birth:  $10 per certificate;
Death, Marriage and Divorce:  $6 per certificate

In Person: Stop in our office at 275 East Main Street in Frankfort to complete an application for a certified copy of a birth, death, marriage or divorce certificate between the hours of 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. EST, Monday-Friday.  For futher information, please read the Business Procedures for Accepting Walk-In/Mail/Phone Orders.

Directions to Vital Statistics Office 

Map of Vital Statistics Office Location

By Mail:  Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer along with the necessary information to the following address: Office of Vital Statistics, 275 East Main Street 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621. Please include return address on envelope and application form.  For further information, please read the Business Procedures for Accepting Walk-In/Mail/Phone Orders.

Processing Time:  Please allow up to 30 working days for processing of all type of certificates ordered through the mail. 

Birth Records: Expect longer delays during peak request periods from May through September. We recommend requesting certified copies of birth certificates early to avoid delays for those planning retirement and for certificates needed for sports programs, travel/passports, school enrollment and other reasons. 

Death Records:  There may be delays in issuing new certified death certificates if the original certificate is not promptly filed in Frankfort by the funeral homes.

Phone, Fax, On-Line, or Credit Card: To purchase with a credit card a certified copy of a vital record by phone, fax or online, please go to VROS.

An additional fee is applied for all credit card purchases.  Discover, Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted.

UPS: For faster delivery, request delivery by UPS when placing orders for vital records, An additional fee is charged for this service.  

 

Other Info...
 

Business Procedures for Accepting Walk-In/Mail/Phone Orders

Registrar Guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions

Amending Certificates
A certificate on file in this office may be amended only in accordance with Kentucky statutes and administrative regulations.  If you need to correct information on a certificate, please contact the Vital Statistics office at (502) 564-4212 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (EST), Monday-Friday.

Apostille/Certificate of Authentication
An apostille/certificate of authentication is a document intended for international use and is obtained only through the Kentucky  Secretary of State's Office. 

A certified copy of a vital record may be used for this purpose and may be obtained during the Secretary of State's process.  When requesting a certified copy of a vital record for an apostille/certificate of authentication, the Office of Vital Statistics must be informed that it will be used for this purpose.  It is the responsibility of the customer to provide the certified copy to the Secretary of State's Office.

Pamphlet for Doctors

Death Registration Made Easy Pamphlet for physicians

 

Last Updated 2/25/2009
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