How to Find Birth Information in Utah

United StatesVital Records United States Birth Records How to Find Birth Information in the United States See also Utah Utah Vital Records  See also United States, How to Use Birth Records

Introduction
Looking for a birth certificate for an ancestor might seem like the first place to start your genealogical research, but no government agencies in Utah were required by law to record birth before 1898. Though not required to do so, Salt Lake City and Ogden began registering births in 1890 and Park City began registering births in 1892. State registration of births began in 1905 and generally complied with by 1917. During the time period from 1898 to 1905 or later, you may wish to search individual county records. See Utah Vital Records.

Birth records are considered confidential for a period of 100 years so access to more recent records may require proof that you are a direct descendant of the person whose record you seek. To obtain more recent birth records in Utah see "Obtaining Birth Records Research Guide" from the Utah State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records.

Fortunately, there are many other record sources that contain birth information besides official state birth certificates.

Sources for Birth Records

 * Family records including Family Bibles and personal histories
 * Birth records including city and county civil registrations
 * Death records often contain birth information
 * Marriage records
 * Census records sometimes give ages and in some records tell the month and year of birth
 * Church records of births and christenings
 * Obituaries often give birth information
 * Cemetery records including Tombstonesusually give birth and death dates
 * Funeral home records
 * Emigration and immigration records
 * Military records
 * Newspapers often listed new births
 * Probate records
 * Land and Property records
 * Territorial Records
 * Court Records