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Kentucky Vital Records

Vital (literally: 'life') records are records of birth and death, but the term is used loosely to include marriage and divorce records.

The Vital Statistics Law of Kentucky, providing for and legalizing the registration of births and deaths, was enacted by the General Assembly of 1910, and became effective January 1, 1911.

The Office of Vital Statistics has no records of births and deaths occurring prior to the above date except delayed records of births for persons born before 1911, which have been established by affidavits and documentary evidence. Vital records prior to 1911, if they exist, are held at the county level.

Central registration of marriages and divorces began in Kentucky in June 1958. The Office of Vital Statistics has no records of marriages and divorces prior to that date. Copies of marriage certificates prior to June 1958 may be obtained from the County Clerk in the county where the license was issued. Records of divorce proceedings are available from the Clerk of the Circuit Court that granted the decree.

Check or money order should be made payable to Kentucky State Treasurer. Personal checks are accepted. To verify current fees, the telephone number is (502) 564-4212, or visit the Kentucky Cabinet for Health & Family Services website.

Event: Birth, 1911-current
Cost of copy: $10.00
Address:
Office of Vital Statistics
Department for Health Services
275 East Main Street
Frankfort, KY 40621		 Event: Death, 1911-current
Cost of copy: $6.00
Address:
Office of Vital Statistics
Department for Health Services
275 East Main Street
Frankfort, KY 40621
 
Event: Marriage (State), 1958-current
Cost of copy: $6.00
Address:
Office of Vital Statistics
Department for Health Services
275 East Main Street
Frankfort, KY 40621
Remarks: Records since June 1958

 Event: Marriage (County), prior to 1958
Cost of copy: Varies
Address: See remarks
Remarks: Clerk of County Court in county
where license was issued
Event: Divorce (State), 1958-current
Cost of copy: $6.00
Address:
Office of Vital Statistics
Department for Health Services
275 East Main Street
Frankfort, KY 40621
Remarks: Records since June 1958		 Event: Divorce (County), prior to 1958
Cost of copy: Varies
Address: See remarks
Remarks: Clerk of County Court in county
where license was issued

Other Options for Getting Vital Record Information

Unless you are applying for membership in a lineage organization, you may not need an official (certified) record for your research. Many vital record indexes and images of vital records are being made available on the Internet.
 
  • Search the Kentucky Vital Records Index for marriage, divorce or death records.
  • Go to the Data Files on this website for a searchable index of Bracken County birth records from 1911
  • Visit the Ky Vital Records Project to view and print actual images of many death certificates. Still a work in progress, as of April 2008, project volunteers have completed indexing of death certificates from 1911 through 1918.

For birth and death records prior to 1911, marriage and divorces records prior to 1958, you must inquire at the county level. In most counties, vital record keeping consisted of an entry in a register book, not issuance of a certificate. Below is a comprehensive listing of ALL records (not just vital records) held by Bracken County and neighboring counties.



County Records


Under each county below is a list of existing records originating in that county. Records destroyed by courthouse fire or other disaster are not included.

Caution: All Kentucky counties are in the process of transferring original courthouse documents to the central court repository for the commonwealth, located in Frankfort. Some counties, budgets permitting, chose to create duplicate files for local use before turning over their original court documents. Those counties may still be able to respond directly to requests for documents. Other counties, many lacking the resources to carry out such a project, can no longer fulfill such requests and will refer you to the central repository.

Bracken County Government
Bracken County Clerk
Rae Jean Poe
PO Box 147
Brooksville, KY 41004-0147
Phone: (606) 735-2952
FAX: (606) 735-2687
Email: bcclerk2006@yahoo.com

 County records available:
  • Birth Records - From 1852
  • Marriage Records - From 1797
  • Death Records - From 1852
  • Land Records - From 1797
  • Probate Records - From 1797
  • Court Records - From 1798
However, please note that most pre-20th Century county records are in the custody of the Bracken County Historical Society.
City of Augusta
City Clerk
Main Street
Augusta KY
(606) 756-2183
City of Brooksville
City Clerk
City Building
Brooksville, KY
(606) 735-2501

Campbell County Government
(Campbell is a parent county of Bracken)
Fiscal Court Clerk
Sandra Mulligan
24 West Fourth St.
Newport, KY 41071
(859) 292-3838
Fax (859) 292-3888		 County records available:
  • Administrator Records - From 1795
  • Appraisal Records - From 1814
  • Birth Records - From 1852, gaps
  • Circuit Court - From 1803
  • Civil War - 1861-1865
  • County Court - From 1794
  • Death Records - From 1852, gaps
  • Deeds - From 1795
  • Executor - From 1795
  • Guardian - From 1815
  • Inventory - From 1814
  • Marriage Records - From 1795
  • Mortgage Records - From 1852
  • Naturalizations - 1895-1900
  • Pension - Rev and 1812
  • Procession - From 1854
  • Sales - From 1814
  • School - From 1877
  • Settlement - From 1853
  • Stray - From 1795
  • Survey - From 1853
  • Tax - From 1795
  • Will - From 1793
County Clerk
Jack Snodgrass
Newport Courthouse
340 York Street
Suite 2
Newport, KY 41071-1682 Phone: (859) 292-3885 FAX: (859) 292-3887 (NEWPORT) Email: jsnodgrass@campbellcountyky.org
Circuit Court Clerk
Tom Calme
Campbell Co. Courthouse
4th & York Sts.
2nd Floor
Newport, KY 41071
(859) 292-6314

Mason County Government
(Mason is a parent county of Bracken)
Kirk Tolle
Circuit Clerk
100 W. 3rd Street
Maysville, Ky 41056
(606) 564-4340		 County records available:
  • Administrator Records - From 1852
  • Apprentice Records - From 1866
  • Birth Records - From 1852, gaps
  • Circuit Court - From 1840
  • County Court - From 1789
  • Death Records - From 1852, gaps
  • Deeds - From 1789
  • Executor - From 1852
  • Guardian - From 1852
  • Land Records - 1779 to 1801
  • Marriage Records - From 1789
  • Militia - 1860 to 1875
  • Mortgage Records - From 1870
  • Procession - From 1819
  • Settlement - From 1875
  • Stray - From 1793
  • Survey - From 1800
  • Tax - From 1790
  • Trustee - From 1794
  • Will - From 1791
Frances Cotterill
County Clerk
P.O. Box 234
Maysville, Ky 41056-0234
(606) 564-3341

Pendleton County Government
(Pendleton is a child county of Bracken)
Pendleton County Clerk
Rita Spencer
PO Box 112
Falmouth, KY 41040-0112
Phone: (859) 654-3380
FAX: (859) 654-5600
Email: pendclerk1@fuse.net
 Courthouse Records Available:
  • From 1799: Administrator, County Clerk, Deed, Executor,
    Marriage, Settlement, Stray, Tax
  • Apprentice - From 1878
  • Birth - (1852-9, 1874-9)
  • Circuit Court - From 1806
  • Death - (1852-9, 1874-8)
  • Inquest - (1883-92)
  • Inventory - From 1834
  • Militia - (1861-70)
  • Mortgage - From 1869
  • Revolutionary War - (1820-37)
  • School - From 1895
  • Survey - From 1834

Robertson County Government
(Robertson is a child county of Bracken)
Robertson County Courthouse
Stephanie A. Bogucki, County Clerk
P.O. Box 75
Mount Olivet, KY 41064-0075
Telephone: (606) 724-5212
FAX: (606) 724-5022
County Records Available:
  • Birth Records from 1874
  • Marriage Records from 1867
  • Death Records from 1874
  • Land Records from 1868
  • Probate Records from 1864
  • Court Records from 1867

Link to an official statewide listing of Kentucky County Clerks

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