At one time or another all of us need copies of birth, marriage, or death certificates for driver's licenses, passports, jobs, social security, family history research, or for simple proof of identify. But the requirements and fees needed to obtain copies of vital records vary from state to state and from country to country, often requiring a time-wasting exchange of correspondence before the appropriate forms can be obtained. The International Vital Records Handbook puts an end to all that, as it offers complete, up-to-date information on how and where to request vital records. It also includes copies of the application forms, where available, thus simplifying and speeding up the process by which vital records are obtained.
This new 5th edition of the International Vital Records Handbook contains the latest forms and information for each of the fifty states in the United States and also furnishes details about records that were created prior to statewide vital records registration. In addition, it identifies vital records collections, online databases, and institutions of interest to genealogy researchers. Then, in alphabetical sequence, it covers the other countries of the world, giving, where available, the current application forms and instructions, as well as the key addresses of repositories or embassies that might help you obtain copies of vital records.
If you are doing genealogy research and are not eligible to access a restricted record, you may be able to obtain an "informational copy" of the record, which will contain all of the information found on the certified copy but will have a statement stamped on it saying that the document is for informational purposes only and cannot be used to establish identity. When a state does provide an informational copy for research, it is noted in this book. A number of searchable, free databases containing vital records are now available online, and many of these too have been noted in this book, as have specific repositories containing vital records collections that are accessible by genealogists.
Please note: that just over half of the book relates to addresses and forms for the states of the USA, the rest relates to other countries.
Contents:
About the Author
Introduction
Acknowledgements
1. United States
- United States - Citizens Abroad
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- New York (City and State)
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
2. U.S. Trust Territories
- American Samoa
- Guam
- Panama Canal Zone
- Puerto Rico
- Virgin Islands (St Croix, St Thomas and St John)
3. International
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Andorra
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Arentina
- Armenia
- Australia (all states & territories)
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bermuda
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burindi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada (all provinces)
- Cape Verde
- Cayman Islands
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China (inc Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan)
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Congo (Republic of)
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Costa Rica
- Cote d'Ivoire
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
(and another 151 countries)
Reviews (for previous editions):
"This book is the best one-volume guide to vital records
available . . . Genealogists, biographers, local historians, and government
officers will find the International Vital Records Handbook essential to
their work. Local public and university libraries will want the book for patrons
who need an occasional certificate for a passport or social security
application."--Government Publications Review (Winter 1990)
"First [this] is a wonderful compilation of
vital-records application forms. . . . Second, the group of forms for each
locale is preceded by a data page which includes the correct name and address of
the vital-records office, the phone number, the fees and the method of payment,
and special notes on the records themselves. This volume is a must for any
genealogical reference collection."--National Genealogical Society Quarterly
(Sept. 1988)
