Understanding Massachusetts Vital Records
Massachusetts has maintained comprehensive vital records since 1841. This guide focuses on records from 1931 to 2024, explaining how to obtain both official certificates and genealogical transcriptions for births, marriages, and deaths.
"Massachusetts Law Requires City and Town Clerks to Record all Vital Events Occurring in That Town or City to the State."
Official Vital Records
Official records are state-certified documents required for legal purposes such as obtaining passports, driver's licenses, or settling estates.
Birth Certificates
Available for events from 1931 to present. Essential for passports, school enrollment, and more.
Order Official Birth CertificateMarriage Certificates
Crucial for name changes, insurance purposes, and other legal matters. Available for events from 1931 to present.
Order Official Marriage CertificateDeath Certificates
Essential for estate settlements and other legal matters. Available for events from 1931 to present.
Order Official Death CertificateGenealogical Records
For family history research, we offer transcribed vital records that provide detailed information from birth, marriage, and death certificates.
What's Included
- Full transcriptions of official records
- Details not always available in standard certificates
- Information from birth, marriage, and death records in one place
Note: Transcriptions are for genealogical purposes only and cannot be used for legal matters.
For detailed information on specific record types, visit our dedicated pages on birth records, marriage records, and death records.
Massachusetts Vital Record Research Guidelines
Basic Search Requirements
The fundamental requirement for a successful search at the State Registry of Vital Records and Statistics is a first and last name. For common surnames, additional identifying information is crucial.
Recommended Information for Searches
- Middle name or initial
- City, town, or at least the county where the event occurred
- Approximate year or range of years (e.g., 1931 - 1940)
Available Records and Indexes
| Record Type | Computer Index | Digitized Book Index |
|---|---|---|
| Births | 1953 - 2024 | 1931 - 1952 |
| Marriages | 1980 - 2021 | 1931 - 1979 |
| Deaths | 1977 - 2024 | 1931 - 1976 |
Important Notes for Researchers
- Only certified copies are available for purchase.
- Photocopying is not permitted, but researchers can hand-transcribe records.
- Effective September 1, 2024: A $6 hourly research fee applies in addition to the cost of certified records.
Resources
Birth Records
- Guide to Massachusetts Birth Records
- Guide to Massachusetts Restricted Birth Records
- Massachusetts Index to Birth Records 1860-1970 (Requires Ancestry.com Subscription.) Usually Free at Your Local Library. Use with Caution. Large Gaps.
Marriage Records
- Guide to Massachusetts Marriage Records
- Guide to Massachusetts Restricted Marriage Records
- Massachusetts Index to Marriage Records 1901-1970 (Requires Ancestry.com Subscription.) Usually Free at Your Local Library. Use with Caution. Large Gaps 1956-1965.
Death Records
- Guide to Massachusetts Death Records
- Massachusetts Index to Death Records 1901-1980 (Requires Ancestry.com Subscription.) This is Usually Free at Your Local Library. However, Use with Caution! This Database is Missing Data, Missing Years, Missing Sections of Alphabet, Contains Incorrect Years, and Incorrect Volumes and Page Numbers.
- Massachusetts Index to Death Records 1970-2003 This Index Supplies the State Death Certificate Number, Which is Awesome for Ordering the Record, and Sometimes has a Complete Date of Birth. (Free Access at FamilyHistory.org with Email Registration.) Overall, this Database is Quite Accurate but Sometimes Oddly Missing Certificate Numbers.
Historical Records
Additional Resources
About the Author
J. James Simonson, a graduate of Suffolk University's Journalism and Marketing Communications program, with a minor in Local History, has been instrumental in genealogy research since the early 1990s. Known for his expertise in Massachusetts vital records, he has helped many piece together intricate family histories and is passionate about assisting individuals in discovering their ancestral narratives.