Order a birth, marriage, or death certificate

Before making a request for a vital record, you will need:

• The subject’s name
• Date of the event
• Place of the event
• Proof of your identification (ID)
  • Acceptable forms of ID: Preferably a driver’s license (even expired) or Government issued Photo ID

You may also be required to provide documentation showing how you are related to the subject of the record. This includes legal guardian and representative. 

Years available

Records of Births, Marriages, and Deaths that occurred in Massachusetts from 1931 through 1935 have recently been transferred to Massachusetts State Archives. Please check this webpage for updates and contact the Archives Reference Staff for more information: archives@sec.state.ma.us or 617-727-2816.

Pre-1936 Birth and Death records may also be available at the City/Town where the event occurred. Pre-1936 Marriage records may also be available at the City/Town where the Marriage intentions were filed.

Only certified copies of records are issued by the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, regardless of intended use. 

The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics maintains indexes and records on site at the Registry offices. There is no specific records information or index online. 

If you are looking for Vital Record information but do not need or want a certified copy we have genealogical research hours available.

Access to records of births to unwed parents is restricted to the:

• Child
• Parents
• Father not listed on the record (this requires documentation supporting paternity)
• Legal guardian (this requires documentation supporting guardianship)
• Legal representative (this requires documentation supporting representation)

Access to marriage records of a person born to unwed parents is restricted to the:

• Bride
• Groom
• Legal representative (this requires documentation supporting representation)
• Parents
• Legal guardians (this requires documentation supporting guardianship)

Access to birth records prior to adoption is restricted to the:

• An adult adoptee (18 years or older) who was born in Massachusetts.
• An adult child (18 years or older) of a deceased parent who was an adoptee born in Massachusetts.
• The parent or legal guardian of a child (under 18 years of age) whose deceased parent was an adoptee born in Massachusetts.
• The adoptive parent of a child (under 18 years of age) born in Massachusetts.

Access to death records with a Social Security number (SSN) are restricted to:

• The spouse or domestic partner of the decedent identified in the record of death 
• The parent or legal guardian of the decedent identified in the record of death
• The child of the decedent identified in the record of death
• The grandchild of the decedent identified in the record of death
• The grandparent of the decedent identified in the record of death
• The sibling of the decedent identified in the record of death
• The informant listed on the record of death
• A funeral director, licensed in accordance with M.G.L. c. 112, § 83, who is listed on the record of death
• A conservator, personal representative, or legal representative of the decedent’s estate
• A government official who needs access to a decedent’s social security number to fulfill an official government function
• A person identified through court order to have access to the decedent’s social security number 
• Any other person with a direct tangible interest in the estate of the decedent, at the discretion of the Registrar of Vital Records and Statistics or the local clerk where the death occurred

Required documentation for each relationship differs. Review the Death Record SSN guide for more information. 

The State of Massachusetts passed an amendment to M.G.L. c. 46, § 1 that takes effect on July 1, 2026. The law now states that the full SSN on a record of death may only be released to individuals with a legitimate need. 105 CMR 304 defines those individuals with a legitimate need (currently in progress).