User:HardestyPN/Sandbox Finding BirthsEdit This Page

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FINDING U.S. BIRTH RECORDS

Why would I want to search for a birth record?

• May give the exact date and place where the child was born
• May indicate where the parents were born
• Help you extend a generation to the parents of the child.

What information does a birth record include?

• Name of child
• Birth date and place of child
• Father’s name
• Mother’s name including maiden
• Birthplaces of parents

What you need to know about birth records in the U.S.:

• Each state has a different year when births began to be recorded depending on when their state law was passed.
• Information gathered by state and county officials differs from each state.
• Most states began recording births between 1900 and 1930.
• New England states started recording births on the town level starting as early as the first residents of the town.
• Some states in the Midwest began recording births on the county level as early as 1860s.

How to find your ancestor’s birth record:
Process for finding birth records:

1. Check online indexes and digital images
2. Check repositories, such as archives and libraries (FHL)
3. Obtain certificate from the government agency ($$)

Step 1: Where Did the Birth Occur?

Choose one of the following:

• I know the state — West Virginia
• I don't know the state — Go to Estimating Birth Information

• This page was last modified on 31 January 2013, at 20:02.
• This page has been accessed 63 times.