Vital Records (Birth and Death Certificate) Changes Starting July 1, 2018
Act 46 was passed by the Vermont Legislature in May 2017 and establishes new statutes and rules for Vital Records, which are intended to bring Vermont in line with national best practices to enhance the safety and security of vital records,
provide greater protection against identity theft, and reduce the potential for misuse of these legal documents. Additionally, the new law and rules will streamline the statewide registration system’s processes for greater efficiency and reduced administrative
burden. The changes were developed from recommendations by the Vital Records Study Committee and testimony from stakeholders, including town clerks and members of the public.
The changes go into effect on July 1, 2018.
Key Items for Town Clerks:
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Applications will need to be fully completed and a valid form of identification presented to the town clerk before a certified birth or death certificate is issued.
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Applicants who refuse to complete the application or cannot provide valid identification will be ineligible applicants and referred to the Vital Records Office.
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Applications will need to be entered into the statewide vital records system and certified copies of birth and death certificates created only
from that statewide system. (Existing paper copies in vaults will remain, but will no longer be used for creating certified copies.)
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Birth certificates will no longer travel from the hospital to the town clerk’s office. They will be registered electronically in the statewide vital records system and available to the town clerk for search or printing.
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The layout of the birth certificate will be changed but the size will not.
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Corrections and amendments to birth and death certificates will be done at the Vital Records Office and new versions made immediately available to the town clerks via the statewide vital records system. Town clerks will receive
electronic notification of new or revised versions. This will eliminate the mailing of copies between towns and the Vital Records Office.
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The public will be allowed to apply for a certified copy of a birth or death certificate from any town, regardless of the town of occurrence or residence.
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All town clerks will have access to the entire statewide vital records system containing all birth and death certificates in the state from 1909-present.
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There will be new language regarding the protection of materials used to create certified copies.
The Vital Records Office will maintain a web page with information about the changes, frequently asked questions and more at
www.healthvermont.gov/stats/vital-records/changes-vital-records-law.
Patrick G. Cummings
Public Health Analyst
Health Surveillance, Vital Records
Vermont Department of Health
108 Cherry Street, Room #303
P.O. Box 70
Burlington, VT 05402-0070
Phone: (802) 863-7301
Fax: (802) 651-1787