Births & Deaths Before 1908

There was no official statewide registration of births and deaths in Tennessee before 1908. Four cities did keep some earlier birth and death records, which are available through the Tennessee State Library & Archives. Searches of these records can be requested by mail, if the year of the event is known.

Births & Deaths 1908 - 1912

These records were kept across the state by clerks in each Tennessee county. They have been microfilmed and are available at the Tennessee State Library & Archives. Searches can also be requested by mail.

Index to Tennessee Death Records 1908 - 1912

Births & Deaths 1913

The law requiring birth & death registration expired in 1913, and no records were recorded for that year.

Births 1914 - Present (Long Form Copies)

These records are available from the Office of Vital Records.

Births 1949 - Present (Short Form Copies)

These records are available from the Office of Vital Records.

Deaths 1914 - 1957

These records are available at the Tennessee State Library & Archives. Searches can also be requested by mail.

Statewide Index to Tennessee Death Records 1914-1931

Deaths 1958 - Present

These records are available from the Office of Vital Records.

The web site for the Shelby County Register of Deeds has posted an online index to Shelby County death records for the years 1848-1956 and to state-wide Tennessee death records for the years 1949-2005.