Division of Vital Records

The Division of Vital Records (DVR) is the official repository for the births, marriages, divorces and deaths in the Commonwealth. DVR provides the public certified copies of these events, often used to begin school or work, and to obtain passports, insurance, and driver’s licenses.

In addition to providing certified copies of vital events to our citizens, DVR also assists law enforcement agencies in criminal investigations. DVR has provided valuable data to the U.S. Marshals, Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of State, Department of Defense and local and state police departments throughout the country.

The Enumeration at Birth Program is a coordinated effort between DVR and the Social Security Administration (SSA). When a birth registrar presents a child’s birth certificate to the parent for review and signature, the parent can request the State Registrar to report the birth to SSA for the issuance of a Social Security card.

DVR also supplies copies of paternity forms and adoption files to the Department of Social Services (DSS). This information helps DSS establish child support payment and can also help an adoptive person locate their birth parents.