When available, vital records can play a vital role in locating our ancestors. Because availability, restrictions, fees, and request procedures vary from state to state and change periodically, it is a good idea to check with the appropriate agency for the state of interest to make sure you have the most current information. This week's reference corner contains a list of links for each state in the U.S. for requesting vital records.

I was happy to see that there were a number of states with links to indexes available from the vital records pages, but also saddened to see the additional restrictions placed on requests for some states.

Also enjoy access to a growing collection of vital records. To access a complete list of Birth, Marriage & Death records, go to:
http://www.ancestralfindings.com/collection.htm

For a list of records by state, go to:
http://www.ancestralfindings.com/database831.htm
(Under "Location Specific Resources," just click on the location you are interested in.)

Delaware
http://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/ss/vitalstats.html

District of Columbia
http://www.dchealth.dc.gov/services/vital_records/index.shtm

Florida
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/planning_eval/vital_statistics/index.html

Georgia
http://health.state.ga.us/programs/vitalrecords/

Hawaii
http://www.state.hi.us/health/vital-records/vital-records/index.html

Idaho
http://www2.state.id.us/dhw/vital_stats/appmenu.html

Illinois
http://www.idph.state.il.us/vitalrecords/index.htm

Indiana
http://www.in.gov/isdh/bdcertifs/birth_and_death_certificates.htm

Iowa
http://www.idph.state.ia.us/eh/health_statistics.asp

Kansas
http://www.kdhe.state.ks.us/vital/

Kentucky
http://publichealth.state.ky.us/vital.htm

Louisiana
http://www.oph.dhh.state.la.us/recordsstatistics/vitalrecords/

Maine
http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/bohodr/recorder.htm

Maryland
http://mdpublichealth.org/vsa/html/apps.html

Massachusetts
http://www.state.ma.us/dph/bhsre/rvr/rvr.htm

Michigan
http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-4645---,00.html

Minnesota
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/chs/osr/index.html

Mississippi
http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/phs/index.htm

Missouri
http://www.health.state.mo.us/BirthAndDeathRecords/BirthAndDeathRecords.htm

http://vhsp.dphhs.state.mt.us/dph_l2.htm

Nebraska
http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/ced/cedindex.htm

Nevada
http://health2k.state.nv.us/Forms/formindex.htm

New Hampshire
http://www.sos.nh.gov/vitalrecords/index.html

New Jersey
http://www.state.nj.us/health/vital/vital.htm

New Mexico
http://dohewbs2.health.state.nm.us/VitalRec/Vital%20Records.htm

New York
http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/consumer/vr.htm#application

North Carolina
http://vitalrecords.dhhs.state.nc.us/

North Dakota
http://www.vitalnd.com/

Ohio
http://www.odh.state.oh.us/vitalstatistics/vitalstats.aspx

Oklahoma
http://www.health.state.ok.us/program/vital/brec.html

Oregon
http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/chs/order/index.shtml

Pennsylvania
http://webserver.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?a=168&Q=229939

Rhode Island
http://www.health.ri.gov/chic/vital/index.php

South Carolina
http://www.state.sc.us/scdah/vit.htm#birth

South Dakota
http://www.state.sd.us/doh/VitalRec/Vital.htm

Tennessee
http://www2.state.tn.us/health/vr/

Texas
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/vs/default.shtm

Utah
http://health.utah.gov/vitalrecords/silver/index.htm

Vermont
http://www.healthyvermonters.info/hs/vital/vitalhome.shtml

Virginia
http://www.vdh.state.va.us/vitalrec/index.asp

Washington
http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehsphl/chs/cert.htm

West Virginia
http://www.wvdhhr.org/bph/oehp/hsc/vr/birtcert.htm

Wisconsin
http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/VitalRecords/index.htm

Wyoming
http://wdh.state.wy.us/vital_records/certificate.asp