PublicLibraries.com Public Records Rankings

Public Records Rankings

The PublicLibraries.com Public Records Rankings compare how easy, how fast and how affordable it is to get certified copies of the four most requested public records (birth, marriage, divorce and death records) in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The rankings were performed on October 26, 2026.

What the rankings measure

Most people looking for public records want the same few documents: a birth certificate, a marriage or divorce record, or a death certificate. Getting them can be quick and cheap in one state and slow, expensive or confusing in the next. The PublicLibraries.com Public Records Rankings look at each of these four record types and compare every state on four broad factors:

• CostWhat the issuing office charges for a certified copy.
• Processing timeHow long the office says it takes to process an order.
• Ease of orderingWhether one statewide office can issue the record or you have to track down the county or court where it was filed, which ways you can order (online, by mail or in person), and the ID and eligibility rules you have to meet.
• Time until the copy is in your handsThe total wait from ordering to receiving the record. Where an office posts only its processing time, we estimate the total by adding typical mail delivery, and we label those figures as estimates.

How the rankings were built

We gathered fees, processing times and ordering rules from official government sources: state vital records offices and, where they hold the records, county and court offices. Each record type was ranked separately, then the results were combined into one overall rank for each state, from 1 (easiest, fastest and most affordable overall) to 51. States where certified copies come only from county or court offices rank lower on ease of ordering, because you have to find and contact the right local office yourself.

The rankings reflect official information as it stood on October 26, 2026. Fees, processing times and ordering rules change, so always confirm the details with the issuing office before you order.

Note: The PublicLibraries.com Public Records Rankings were performed on October 26, 2026. Prices and processing times may have changed since then. The rankings are for general information only and are not legal advice.