Tennessee Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

See Also Researching in Vital Records - Vital records, as their name suggests, are connected with central life events: birth, marriage, and death. Maintained by civil authorities, they are prime sources of genealogical information; but, unfortunately, official vital records are available only for relatively recent periods. These records, despite their recent creation in the United States, are critically important in genealogical research, often supplying details on family members well back into the nineteenth century.......

Several early attempts were made to record births and deaths statewide, but the attempts were not effective until the twentieth century. The best reference for this information is Guide to Public Vital Statistics in Tennessee (Nashville, Tenn.: Tennessee Historical Records Survey, 1941). Only one type of vital record was maintained consistently throughout the history of the state and territory, and that was the marriage record. Some marriage records were recorded as early as 1778, but a law requiring registration did not pass until 1815. A subsequent law in 1838 required marriages to be registered in “well-bound” books. Many county vital records began in that same year.

A 1914 state law required statewide registration of births, marriages, and deaths, but general compliance was not complete until the late 1920s. Birth and death records between 1 July 1908 and 30 June 1912 and from 1 January 1914 to the present are available from the Vital Records Office, State Department of Public Health, Cordell Hull Building, Nashville, Tennessee 37219. When requesting copies, first write for the form, then complete the required information on it, including relationship and purpose.

There are indexes for 1908–12 available at the Tennessee State Library and Archives (see Archives, Libraries, and Societies). Statewide death records are available there from 1936, as is an index to death notices from Nashville newspapers.

Beginning in 1881 some counties maintained birth and death records. A few continued for a longer period. These original records are housed in the county courthouses with many microfilm copies at the Tennessee State Library and Archives and the FHL.

Birth records for Nashville from June 1881, Knoxville from July 1881, and Chattanooga from January 1882 are available at the Division of Vital Records in Nashville, although these records are incomplete. Records for Memphis are extant from 1 April 1874 through December 1887 and from 1 November 1898 to 1 January 1914. These are available from the Memphis-Shelby County Health Department, Division of Vital Statistics, 814 Jefferson Street, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.

Some deaths were recorded for Nashville as early as July 1874, Knoxville from 1 July 1887, and Chattanooga from 6 March 1872. These are maintained in the Vital Records Office in Nashville. Records for Memphis are extant from 1874–86 and from 1898 to 1 January 1914. Some Memphis death records are extant from 1 May 1848. These can be obtained from the Memphis-Shelby County Health Department (address above).

Beginning 1 July 1945, marriage records for Tennessee are available from the Division of Vital Records in Nashville. Prior to 1945, records of marriage can be found at the county clerk's office in the county where the license was obtained. Some marriages were recorded as early as 1783, and most counties maintained marriage records from the time of county organization.

Search Tennessee Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

Some marriage records for Tennessee have been compiled and published. See Silas E. Lucas and Ella L. Sheffield, 35,000 Tennessee Marriage Records and Bonds, 1783–1870, 3 vols. (Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1981); Byron Sistler and Barbara Sistler, Early East Tennessee Marriages (Nashville, Tenn.: Byron Sistler and Associates, 1987); Byron Sistler and Barbara Sistler, Early Middle Tennessee Marriages (Nashville, Tenn.: Byron Sistler and Associates, 1988); Silas Emmet Lucas, Jr., ed., Marriages From Early Tennessee Newspapers, 1794–1851 (Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1978); and Pollyanna Creekmore, ed., Tennessee Marriage Records, 3 vols. (Knoxville, Tenn.: the author, 1958–68). Edythe Rucker Whitley compiled separate marriage records for twenty-two counties, and these are published.

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How to Order Tennessee Birth, Death, Divorce and Marriage Certificates

A 1914 state law required statewide registration of births, marriages, and deaths, but general compliance was not complete until the late 1920s.

Tennessee State Vital Records, is located at Central Services Building, 1st Floor, 421 5th Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee 37243; Phone (615) 741-1763, FAX (615) 741-9860. The Tennessee Office of Vital Records registers and maintains the original certificates of births, deaths, marriages and divorces that occur in Tennessee. They have the following records:

  • Birth Certificates: Records are available beginning with January 1914, for Nashville since June 1881, for Knoxville since July 1881, and for Chattanooga since January 1882. Records of some births that occurred in the major cities from 1881-1913 are also available. A certified photocopy of the original record may be obtained at a fee of $12.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy of the same record requested at the same time. For persons born from 1949 to the present, a certified copy produced by computer is also available at a fee of $7.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy of the same record requested at the same time. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates. For Earlier Records See Tennessee State Library and Archives Below.
  • Death Certificates: Death records are available for the past 50 years (1957). The fee is $7.00 per certified copy. The cause of death is not normally included on a certified copy unless specifically requested and then is available only to certain family members or legal representatives. You can download an application online for Death Certificates. For Earlier Records See Tennessee State Library and Archives Below. Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREEicon
  • Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Marriage and divorce records are available for the past 50 years at a fee of $12.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy of the same record requested at the same time. You can download an application online for Marriage Certificates or Divorce Certificate. For Earlier Records See Tennessee State Library and Archives Below.
  • Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.

Make certified checks and money orders should be made payable to "Tennessee Vital Records". Credit Cards may be uses by using VitalChek services. Please do not send cash or checks. Fees are non refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service. Mail all Applications to: Tennessee State Vital Records, Central Services Building, 1st Floor, 421 5th Avenue North, Nashville, TN, 37243.

Tennessee State Library and Archives have the following records:

  • Birth Records & "Delayed" Birth Certificates: Tennessee began keeping birth records statewide in 1908. TSLA has statewide birth records for the years 1908-1912. To find a birth record, we need the following information: name of child, date of birth or approximate date of birth, county of birth (if known) and names of parents (if known). The larger cities in Tennessee did keep earlier birth records: Nashville (beginning in 1881); Knoxville (beginning in 1881); Chattanooga (beginning in 1879); and Memphis (beginning in 1874). Only the early Nashville birth records are indexed. For birth records after 1912 or for "delayed" birth certificates filed for persons born after 1903, contact the Office of Vital Records above.
    TSLA also has "delayed" birth certificates for persons born 1869 - 1903. These delayed certificates were filed at the request of the individual or that person's representative for legal reasons. To locate a delayed birth certificate, we need the following information: name of child, date of birth or approximate date of birth, county of birth (if known) and names of parents (if known). E-mail TSLA and they can check thier index to the "delayed" birth records for a specified name. Please specify that you are requesting a "delayed" birth certificate.


    There is a $20 fee to search for a birth record. If the record is found, they will mail a copy to you. If the record is not found, you will be notified by mail. The $20 fee is not refundable. Payment in advance by check, money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Research Department, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312. [GO TO FORMS PAGE].

  • Death Records: Tennessee began keeping death records statewide in 1908. TSLA has statewide death records for the years 1908-1912 and 1914-1955. To find a death record, we need the following information: name of individual, date of death (or three year range to search), county of death (if known) and name of spouse (if known). Please keep in mind that some deaths were not recorded, due to poor record-keeping by local officials. For death records from 1956 to the present, contact the Office of Vital Records above.
    The larger cities in Tennessee did keep earlier death records: Nashville (beginning in 1874); Knoxville (beginning in 1881); Chattanooga (beginning in 1872); and Memphis (beginning in 1848). Only the early Nashville and Memphis death records are indexed. TSLA can search the unindexed records for one year only; you must provide us with the name of individual, date of death, the city, and the name of the spouse (if known).
    There is a $20 fee to search for a death record. If the record is found, they will mail a copy to you. If the record is not found, you will be notified by mail. The $20 fee is not refundable. Payment in advance by check, money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Research Department, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312. [GO TO FORMS PAGE]

Links For Birth Records

Links For Marriage Records

Links For Death Records

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