Most people don’t spend a lot of time thinking about vital statistics – until they need them. It’s only when you need a copy of that all-important birth certificate or marriage record that you begin to wonder about the particulars concerning these vital records. If you need Colorado vital records, below is a list of frequently asked questions that will give you the information you need to obtain a copy of your certificate.What Colorado vital records are kept on file?
In the state of Colorado, birth and death certificates and marriage and divorce verifications are kept on file with the Vital Records Section within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The Vital Records Section has on file birth records since 1910, death and marriage certificates from 1900 to present, and divorce records from 1851 to present. Marriages that occurred between the years of 1940 and 1974 and divorces that occurred between 1940 and 1967 are maintained at the county offices in which the events occurred and must be requested from that office.
What are heirloom certificates?
Heirloom marriage and birth certificates are available to buy as well. These certificates are commemorative and are ideal for framing to help you remember that special day.
How do I get a copy of my vital records?
Colorado vital records can be requested by mail, fax, phone, in person, or through an online service that is utilized by the Vital Records Seciton.
What information is needed for a records request?
Any person making a request for vital records must provide the following information: an application for the request, photo identification, full name of the person(s) listed on the application, and the date and place of the event. There are stipulations about who can request records, and the relationship of the requester to the individual on the certificate must be provided.
How much does it cost to obtain a copy?
Copies of Colorado vital records range from $17.00 to $17.75 for the first copy. Additional copies of the same record requested at the same time are $10.00, and heirloom birth and marriage certificates are $50.00. If the certificate is ordered by phone, fax, or online, there is an additional convenience charge.
Can I look up my certificates online?
There are limited records available for viewing online. Most online records are used by individuals conducting genealogy research as the records are not current and are historic in nature.
Why do people need vital records?
Vital records serve a wide range of purposes. Oftentimes, they are used for identification purposes in applying for passports or verifying citizenship, but they are also used for legal reasons, such as qualification for insurance benefits. They are also frequently used to show proof of age of an individual, and they are very beneficial for people doing genealogy research. Vital records contain important information about a person’s ancestors that can help fill in the blanks on a family tree by providing full names, ages, and information about important events and the dates they occurred.
