What Are Vital Records?
Vital records are official government documents that record significant life events, often used for legal, identification, and historical purposes. The most common types of vital records include:
- Birth Certificates: Documents that record the birth of an individual, including details such as the date, time, and place of birth, as well as the names of the parents.
- Death Certificates: Documents that record the death of an individual, including the date, time, and place of death, as well as the cause of death.
- Marriage Certificates: Documents that officially record the union of two people in marriage, including the date and place of the marriage, and the names of the individuals involved.
- Divorce Decrees: Documents that officially record the dissolution of a marriage, including the date and place of the divorce, as well as the terms agreed upon or decided by the court.
These records are maintained by government agencies, typically at the state or local level, and are essential for various legal processes, such as obtaining a passport, proving identity, settling estates, and accessing benefits.
