The Government of the Commonwealth of Kentucky kept no birth or death records prior to 1852. The first vital statistics law, passed by the Kentucky General Assembly in January, 1852, required the Auditor's Office assessors of the tax to record births, marriages, and deaths each year as they assessed property for the tax. The Auditor's Office never did the job well, and constantly complained about this additional task assigned it. This vital statistics law was repealed in 1862.
The original lists, returns, and certificates of births, marriages, and deaths which survive are in the State Archives. They are arranged by county and are for the years 1852-1859. Between 1862 and 1911, when the present Office of Vital Statistics was established, several attempts were made to again require the recording of births, marriages, and deaths at the state government level. Some records for 1874-1878 survive as a result of a second vital statistics law. A few scattered records exist for the years 1860-1873 and 1879-1911. These records, arranged by county and date, are also in the State Archives. For information on how to request these records, see the Genealogical Reference Correspondence Policy.
The Office of Vital Statistics, 275 East Main Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, maintains birth and death certificates dating from 1911 and marriage certificates dating from 1958. Vital Statistics will furnish copies of birth certificates for $9.00, and marriage and death certificates for $6.00. Death certificates are also available from the State Archives for the years 1911-1948. For information on how to request these records, see the Genealogical Reference Correspondence Policy.
Marriage certificates are also maintained at the local government level by the county clerk in each county since the founding date of the county. With few exceptions, these records are in good order. To obtain marriage records prior to 1958, contact the appropriate county clerk. Marriage records are also available at the State Archives. For information on how to request these records, see the Genealogical Reference Correspondence Policy. It is possible that the county clerk may also have birth and death data.
The school census, which the General Assembly required
to be kept beginning in 1888, is a valuable source for birthdates
of individuals who attended public schools in Kentucky. The census
may be consulted at the local boards of education or county clerks'
offices. A few of these records are also available at the State
Archives.