Thursday, August 15, 2013

District Of Columbia Public Records Free List Online

District Of Columbia Public Records Free List Online

By Christopher Evans


If you are interested in obtaining public documents in Washington DC, there are specific steps you need to take in order to access the District of Columbia public records you want without difficulties. There are procedures that every individual requesting a certified copy of a public document must observe. Like in every state in the country, Washington DC deals with vital documents, such as birth certificates, death reports, marriage licenses and divorce decrees, with great care and consideration. And although these types of data are generally accessible by any member of the public, thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, policies must still be put in place to protect the well being of every citizen.

If you wish to acquire a copy of your birth certificate or a family member's death report, for instance, the Vital Records Division in Washington DC has the capacity to disseminate these kinds of documents to the general public. Under the authority of the District of Columbia's Department of Health, the Vital Records Division houses records of birth and death since August of 1874. Birth certificates only become open to the public 100 years after the listed date of birth, while 50 years is the allotted time for death certificates before they can be accessed by any individual. Only the next of kin can obtain copies of the documents at any given time.

To be eligible to acquire a certified copy of a birth or death certificate, you will need to fill out the correct request form and submit it at the appropriate office. The application form can be picked up in person at the Vital Records Division office. Or, you can download the form in PDF format at the official website of the District of Columbia Department of Health. In the homepage of the website, you will find the Vital Records portal, which will direct you to a page containing the download link, along with other important information regarding the current fees and the record acquisition process.

For marriage records and divorce decrees, the procedures and requirements involved may by slightly different, not to mention the source. For these public documents, the DC Superior Court is the ultimate entity that handles the storage, maintenance, and dissemination of all marital documentations in the District of Columbia. Requests are accepted at the district court offices, which is also where you will get the request forms to fill out. If you have no time to visit the office in person, you can also download the form in the DC Courts website. Additionally, if you and your partner are planning to get married, this is where you can obtain a marriage license as well.

There is, however, an alternative source of vital documents that is much more convenient and practical, especially for those performing background checks. If you are running a public records search online, there are several data retrieval websites that cater to your specific needs. All it requires is a one-time membership fee and you are free to do as many record searches as you want. With an extensive database of vital records, from Alabama to Wyoming, including the District of Columbia and the nation's territories from Guam to the Virgin Islands, you will never have to visit multiple websites or contact a variety of offices and entities to gather the information you need.




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