Certified Copies in Rhode Island: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in Rhode Island
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in Rhode Island, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $22.00 in person, $25.00 by mail
- Death certificate
- $22.00 in person, $25.00 by mail
- Marriage
- $22.00 in person, $25.00 by mail
- Divorce
- $25.00 through the Clerk of Family Court
Vital records
Issued by: Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Vital Records
Post to: RI Department of Health, Center for Vital Records, Simpson Hall, 6 Harrington Rd, Cranston, RI 02920
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $22.00 in person, $25.00 by mail |
| Death | $22.00 in person, $25.00 by mail |
| Marriage | $22.00 in person, $25.00 by mail |
| Divorce | $25.00 through the Clerk of Family Court |
What Rhode Island requires
- Send a photocopy of valid government picture ID, or two pieces of mail showing your correct name and address.
- Payment to General Treasurer, State of Rhode Island.
- Divorce: Clerk of Family Court, 1 Dorrance Plaza, Providence, RI 02903.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a Rhode Island entity come from Rhode Island Secretary of State, Division of Business Services, normally online and often the same day.
Rhode Island Secretary of State, Division of Business Services
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in Rhode Island goes through Rhode Island Secretary of State, Division of Business Services.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a Rhode Island birth certificate?
From Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Vital Records. Post to RI Department of Health, Center for Vital Records, Simpson Hall, 6 Harrington Rd, Cranston, RI 02920. A certified copy is $22.00 in person, $25.00 by mail.
Does the Rhode Island Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
What will Rhode Island reject?
Send a photocopy of valid government picture ID, or two pieces of mail showing your correct name and address.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
