Like other states in America, Delaware maintains copies of vital records for births, deaths, and marriages occurring in the state. Since 1913, these events have been recorded at the state level and kept on file for a variety of purposes. Prior to that year, births, deaths, and marriages were documented at the county level by the Recorder of Deeds, who then furnished these records to the State. If you need access to Delaware vital records for identification, legal, or genealogical reasons, keep reading to learn more about how to obtain this information for yourself or a loved one.- The following records are maintained by the state of Delaware and are available upon request: birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, and adoptee birth certificates.
- Records may be requested in person, by written request via U.S. mail, over the phone, or through an online ordering system.
- Heirloom birth certificates are also available for purchase and are commemorative certificates that can be framed or put into a baby book or scrapbook. Half of the proceeds from these certificates is donated to the Children’s Trust Fund for child abuse prevention activities.
- When requesting Delaware vital records, the requestor must submit an application for the request that includes questions about personal information of both the requestor and the individual listed on the form. Only certain people are allowed access to the records, including the individuals themselves, parents, guardians, spouses, legal representatives, and select others.
- Photo identification must also be provided with the application at the time of the request.
- A fee of $25 will be assessed for the records request. Checks and money orders are accepted for mail-in or in-person orders; credit cards are also accepted for online and phone orders, although an additional fee will be charged.
As an additional resource for Delaware vital records, the Delaware Public Archives contains thousands of birth, death, and marriage records that hold crucial information for those seeking answers to their family’s genealogical puzzle. For example, many records go beyond the standard name, date, and place, and may include extra information that will provide more clues. Birth certificates may state a person’s race, siblings, birth order among children in the family, and information about the mother and father. Marriage certificates may include information about the bride’s and groom’s families and other details of the event, while death certificates may list the cause of death, the address of the deceased, a spouse’s name, and even a place of burial. For those conducting genealogy research, this is all vital information that can lead to answers (or, in some cases, even more questions) in their hunt for family knowledge.
Delaware vital records provide important facts about the people and the events that have happened in the state. If you are trying to learn more about your ancestors or you need copies of certificates for legal or insurance reasons, use the information provided above to help you find the records you need.
