Rhode Island vital records are held by the Department of Health Center for Vital Records under R.I. Gen. Laws Title 23, Chapter 3. Certified birth and death records cost $25 (first copy) / $20 each additional; marriage records cost $25. Orders are placed via VitalChek or at the state office in Providence.
About Rhode Island Vital Records
Rhode Island Vital Records
County Records
Court Records, Hearings, Payments, Warrants
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Rhode Island Judiciary criminal court record, court hearing, and active warrant searches, and online criminal and traffic case payments.
Inmates
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Use this Rhode Island Department of Corrections service to search for currently incarcerated inmates or home-confined offenders by name, ID, race.
Deaths | Cemetery Transcriptions
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Search or browse this RootsWeb database by name for gravestone transcriptions in Rhode Island.
Births & Christenings 1600-1914
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Rhode Island christenings and births for the period 1600-1914.
Deaths & Burials 1802-1950
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Rhode Island death and burial records recorded between 1802 and 1950.
Marriages 1724-1916
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Search this database of just over 200,000 records for Rhode Island marriages between 1724 and 1916.
Deaths | Social Security Administration
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Deaths reported to Social Security Administration that Rhode Island was the last residence, last benefit paid, or was the state the number was first issued.
Statewide Records
Rhode Island Attorney General | BCI
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Criminal background check information from the Rhode Island Attorney General Bureau of Criminal Identification.
Federal Records
U.S. District Court Records
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U.S. District Court of Rhode Island PACER access to Federal criminal court records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I get a Rhode Island birth or death certificate?
Rhode Island's state vital records office issues certified copies. County clerks or local health departments often handle local copies faster.
Are vital records free to view online?
Indexes may be free; certified birth, death, marriage, and divorce copies cost a fee.
Who can request a confidential record?
Certified birth and death copies are typically restricted to the registrant and immediate family. Informational copies are open.
How do I find older marriage or divorce records?
Older records often reside with the county clerk or town clerk where the event occurred — see the County tab.