How to Get Tennessee Vital Records (Start Here)

Vital records in Tennessee, birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records, are handled at the state level by Tennessee Department of Health Office of Vital Records. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the County Clerk.

What this page covers: Tennessee vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).

Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Tennessee Department of Health Office of Vital Records. For marriage licenses, contact the County Clerk in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.

Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.

Statewide vital-records agency
Tennessee Department of Health Office of Vital Records
Parent agency
Tennessee Department of Health Office of Vital Records
Records back to
Vital Records at the Library and Archives | Tennessee Secretary of State
Online ordering
VitalChek is the only official vendor authorized by the state of Tennessee to pr
Marriage license issued by
TN County Clerk in either party's county
Local intake
State of Tennessee Department of Health
Population
7,227,750
Households
2,790,000
Median Income
$67,631
Median Home Value
$232,100
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by , Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Tennessee vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at www.tn.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.

Tennessee Vital Records, Key Facts (2026)

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Tennessee, who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
Who can request a Tennessee vital record
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.

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What Changed in 2026, Tennessee Vital Records

2026
Tennessee vital records portal active
The official Tennessee portal at www.tn.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements Tennessee state records.
2026
Tennessee access in 2026
For 2026, Tennessee continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check www.tn.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Tennessee's state portal, see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.

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The 4-Step Tennessee Vital Records Pathway

1
Step 1, Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in Tennessee, start with the Tennessee health department.
2
Step 2, Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3, Choose ordering method
Tennessee typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4, Genealogy fallback
Tennessee records older than 75-125 years are usually public, try FamilySearch or NARA.

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Five Things People Get Wrong About Tennessee Vital Records

MYTH"A death index entry and a death certificate are the same."
FACTThe index proves a death was recorded; the certified certificate carries the legal details. Banks and courts want the certificate, not a screenshot of the index.
MYTH"Marriage licenses come from the state."
FACTIn most states, Tennessee included for most purposes, you get the license at the county level, and the state only registers the completed record.
MYTH"The court divorce file and the divorce record are one document."
FACTTwo systems: the court keeps the case file, the vital records office keeps the divorce record/certificate. Which one you need depends on who's asking for it.
MYTH"Every birth was registered on time."
FACTHome births and older rural births often went unrecorded for years. Delayed registration files exist precisely because of this, ask the state archives.
MYTH"Anyone can order anyone's birth certificate."
FACTBirth certificates are restricted nearly everywhere, the person named, parents, spouse, child, or a legal representative. Strangers don't qualify.

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Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

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Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Sample Tennessee counties: Anderson · Bedford · Benton · Bledsoe · Blount

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Vital Records Databases

13 official Tennessee vital records sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Vital Records

Nashville/Davidson County Vital Health Statistics | Nashville.gov
Official Free
The Tennessee Department of Health collects vital statistics information from certificates of live birth, death, marriage, divorce, and reports of fetal death and induced terminations of pregnancy that are recorded in Tennessee by the Office of Vital Records and Statistics. Visit links below for information about births and deaths in Tennessee and Davidson County.
🌐 nashville.gov
Hamilton County Tennessee Genealogy Society
Official Free
Scoggins Cemetery is located near the intersection of Hwy 58 and Greenwood Road north of the Harrison community in Hamilton County, Tennessee. Take Greenwood Road (next to Winn-Dixie) east off Hwy 58, take immediate right on dirt road.
🌐 hctgs.org
Hamilton County Tennessee Genealogy Society
Official Free
Marriage Record Hamilton Co., TN Book 1919-1920; Page 384, No. 30887 Transcribed from Tennessee Library and Archive Roll no. 33 By Mary Stephens Scrudder 6 August 2002 State of Tennessee, Hamilton County Know all men by these present: That we Joe Scrudder of the County of Hamilton, and State ...
🌐 hctgs.org
About - Marriage licenses
Official Free
County Clerk's Office · Pre-Apply for a marraige license. Enter your names, addresses, and parent information ahead of your visit to the Clerk's Office. This will save you time and help ensure that the information is correct. This link will take you to the state website
🌐 marriagelicense.hamiltontn.gov
Local History & Genealogy - Chattanooga Public Library
Official Free
County records, covering both Tennessee and many surrounding Southeastern states, include wills, deeds, marriages, cemetery inscriptions, court records, church histories, and more (print and microfilm).
🌐 chattlibrary.org
Sand Ridge Cemetery, Henderson County, Tennessee
Official Free
Vital-record certificates connected to Henderson County are ordered here. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
🌐 tngenweb.org
1796-1850: Tennessee Marriages | Blount County TNGenWeb
Official Free
FamilySearch, the genealogy branch of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, offers a free database of statewide Tennessee marriages spanning 1790-1850. The index includes bride & groom names, place and date of marriage, and a reference to the source microfilm number from which the information was extracted. To access the database, click here. ... I am looking for a Elizabeth Weatherred marryng a James Graham after 1800.
🌐 tngenweb.org
OTHER KNOWN BLACK CEMETERIES, MADISON COUNTY, TENNESSEE
Official Free
Birth, death, and marriage record requests for Tennessee route through this office. Confirm details with the official vital record office before relying on them.
🌐 tngenweb.org
"Obituaries from Nineteenth Century Memphis Newspapers"
Official Free
This index is a compilation of names as they appear in funeral and obituary notices, as well as the mortuary reports of the Memphis Board of Health submitted to the "Memphis Appeal" and later in the "Commercial Appeal". Obituaries were often submitted from the surrounding Mid-South area.
🌐 digitalcommons.memphis.edu
Search | Tennessee Secretary of State
Official Free
NHPRC Funded Records Projects in Tennessee Through THRAB Serving as the review authority for all applications seeking funding support from the NHPRC for records projects, the THRAB advises the NHPRC on the suitability of the proposals ... Links to various sources grouped by Genealogy, Maps, Military, Newspapers, School & Career, and Library & Archives Collections. ... You can find information about marriage records in our Guide to Vital Records. ... Hardeman County Hardeman County was formed in 1823 from Hardin County and Indian lands (Private Acts of Tennessee 1823, Chapter 108) The…
🌐 sos.tn.gov
Not an Official Document
Official Free
Report Selection Criteria · Case Description · Related Cases No related cases were found. Case Event Schedule · Case Parties · Docket Entries
🌐 circuitdata.shelbycountytn.gov
Shelby County Records | Shelby County Register of Deeds
Official Free
The land-records trail for Shelby County runs through here: recorded deeds, liens, and related filings. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official vital record office.
🌐 register.shelby.tn.us

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Tennessee Counties

95 Tennessee counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net, top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Shelby Davidson Knox Hamilton Rutherford Williamson Montgomery Sumner Wilson Anderson Bedford Benton Bledsoe Blount

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Which Tennessee counties publish vital records information online

7 of Tennessee's 98 counties run their own online source for vital records information, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above, click a county for its full records page.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Certified birth certificates for events in Tennessee are issued by the Official Tennessee Vital Records at www.tn.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.

Tennessee death certificates are issued by the Official Tennessee Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at www.tn.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.

Tennessee marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official Tennessee Vital Records (www.tn.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.

Standard Tennessee vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official Tennessee Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at www.tn.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.

The Official Tennessee Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at www.tn.gov.