Tennessee Vital Records

Tennessee Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death records, also known as vital records, provide details about important events in your ancestors life. They can include information like the event date and place, parents’ names, occupation and residence. The cause of death is also included in most Tennessee death records. Tennessee vital records are a cornerstone of Tennessee family history research because they were typically recorded at or near the time of the event, making the record more likely to be accurate. This page includes links that can help you request copies from Tennessee state and county vital records keepers.

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

Tennessee Office of Vital Records files, stores, and issues certified copies of vital records including birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates for events that occurred in Tennessee. A 1914 state law required statewide registration of births, marriages, and deaths, but general compliance was not complete until the late 1920s.

• Physical Address: Tennessee Office of Vital Records, 1st Floor, Central Services Building, 421 Fifth Avenue, North, Nashville, TN 37243; 615-741-1763
• Website Address: http://health.state.tn.us/
• Birth 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. For Earlier Records See Tennessee State Library and Archives.
• Death Records:are available for the past 50 years (1957). 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. For Earlier Records See Tennessee State Library and Archives.
• Marriage and Divorce Records:  are available for the past 50 years. For Earlier Records See Tennessee State Library and Archives.
• Ordering Vital Records Online - get the certificates within 2-5 days with a credit or debit card from USAVital.com or VitalChek.com
• Ordering Vital Records by Mail: You can download an application online for Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Application
• Tennessee Vital Records Description - from Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.

Birth, Death, Divorce and Marriage Records at the TN State Library and Archives

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. 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 and also has “delayed” birth certificates for persons born 1869 – 1903.
• Death Records: Tennessee began keeping death records statewide in 1908. TSLA has statewide death records for the years 1908-1912 and 1914-1955.

The following are links to Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Resources relating to Tennessee. These Vital Records links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some are have free access some require a payment. This is just a list that has been collected or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one site above another. Feel free to submit your own favorite vital record related sites.

Links For Tennessee Birth Records

• Order Tennessee Birth Records Online (archives.com)
• Order Birth Certificates Online. (vitalchek.com)
• Tennessee Births and Christenings, 1828-1939 (familysearch.org)

Links For Tennessee Marriage Records and Divorce Records

• Order Tennessee Marriage Records or Tennessee Divorce Records Online. (archives.com)
• Order Marriage Certificates or Divorce Certificates Online. (vitalchek.com)
• Tennessee County Marriages, 1790-1950 (familysearch.org)
• Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002  (search.ancestry.com)
• Tennessee, Marriages, 1796-1950 (familysearch.org)
• Tennessee Marriages, 1851-1900  (search.ancestry.com)
• Tennessee Records: Bible Records and Marriage Bonds  (search.ancestry.com)
• Tennessee Marriage and Bible Records  (search.ancestry.com)
• Tennessee Marriages to 1825  (search.ancestry.com)
• Tennessee Divorce and Other Records, 1800-1965  (search.ancestry.com)
• Tennessee, State Marriage Index, 1780-2002 (familysearch.org)
• Orena V. Grant genealogical collection (marriages and cemetery records)  (search.ancestry.com)
• Tennessee Marriages Project (usgenweb.org) – Name index to marriage records from the state of Tennessee.

Links For Tennessee Death Records

• Order Tennessee Death Records Online. (archives.com)
• Index to Tennessee Death Records 1908-1912 (www.state.tn.us)
• Order Death Certificates Online. (vitalchek.com)
• Tennessee Deaths and Burials, 1874-1955 (familysearch.org)
• Tennessee, Death Records, 1914-1955 (familysearch.org)
• Tennessee, Death Records, 1908-1959  (search.ancestry.com)
• Tennessee, Deaths and Burials Index, 1874-1955  (search.ancestry.com)
• Find Obituaries in The World’s Largest Newspaper Archive (newpaperarchive.com) Find thousands of Tennessee obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a Tennessee newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers from Tennessee.
• Search America’s Obituaries (1977 to current) (genealogybank.com) Obituaries contain helpful information such as names, dates, places of birth, death, marriage and family information. Over 28 million obituaries make this the most complete collection from the 20th and 21st centuries – includes over 1,100 U.S. newspapers. New content added daily!