Rhode Island Vital Records

Access to Government Records

Birth and marriage records in RI are closed to the general public for 100 years.

Death records are closed for 50 years.

You must prove “direct and tangible interest” to obtain records within that time frame.

Birth Marriage Certificates	$15 each	1899 to present	Rhode Island Dept of Health Office of Vital Records Cannon Building, Room 101 3 Capitol Hill Providence, Rhode Island 02908-5097 (401) 222-2811, 2812 http://www.health.state.ri.us/chic/vital/index.php
Death Certificates	$15 each	1949 to present
Birth Marriage Records	$0.75 per microfilm copy	1636 - 1900	Rhode Island Historical Society Library 121 Hope Street Providence, Rhode Island 02906 (401) 273-8107 http://www.rihs.org
Death Records		1636 – 1920
Birth Marriage Certificates	Contact for fee information	1853 - 1898	Rhode Island State Archives 337 Westminster Street Providence, Rhode Island 02903 (401) 222-2353 http://www.sec.state.ri.us/Archives
Death Certificates		1853 – 1948
Birth Marriage Divorce Death Records	Copy fees vary	1636 - present	Contact town clerk's office in the town where the event occurred. (In most cases, you will receive your records more quickly from the city and town locations than from the Department of Health.)
Divorce	Contact for fee information	1749 - present	Judicial Records Center 5 Hill Street Pawtucket, RI 02860 (401) 721-2640 http://www.courts.state.ri.us/records/forms.htm http://www.courts.state.ri.us/records/locations.htm

The Rhode Island Historical Society Library

121 Hope Street

Providence, Rhode Island 02906

401-273.8107 x10

http://www.rihs.org