Nevada Public Records

Nevada is a large state with a semi-arid climate and a population of just over 2.7 million people. 1864. Nevada boasts a long and colorful western history, which began with the Silver Rush in 1859 and continuing through the legalization of gambling in 1931. Finding Nevada public records paves the way to a piece of this state’s illustrious history.  Southern Nevada Health District and the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services are the two core departments for Nevada birth and death, while the Clark County Recorder’s Office or the State of Nevada Health Division are home to NV marriage and divorce records.  Whether you are searching for records for historic, academic or personal reasons, knowing how and where to launch a Nevada public records search is critical to your success.

Before you begin a public records search in Nevada, consider these tips:

Eligibility for a Nevada Public Records Search

The state of Nevada, like other states across the country, restricts access to some types of vital records. Under Nevada law, only qualified applicants may have access to Nevada birth records and death certificates. The state defines a “qualified applicant” as the person whose name is listed on the document, a direct family member by blood or marriage, or a legal representative of either of these parties. 

The same restrictions do not apply to Nevada marriage records or divorce decrees. Anyone can request these NV public records, either using the online search found at the appropriate website, or by mail using the document that can be downloaded online.

Because of the restrictions in place, identification must be provided for any public records request in Nevada. Requests made by mail or online will require copies of appropriate identification. In addition, requests will need to include the relationship of the applicant to the person on the public record.

Locations for Nevada Public Records

Nevada holds its public records at a variety of government offices. Birth and death records can be found at both the Southern Nevada Health District and the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, depending on when the document was issued. Currently, the Southern Nevada Health District holds birth certificates from 1973 and death certificates from 1988 to present.

Any public records in Nevada that date back prior to this time can be located at the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, which holds records dating from 1911 to the present. Older records than this are typically held at the county recorder’s office in the county where the event took place.

Marriage and divorce records for Nevada can be found at two different locations as well. These records can be requested from the Clark County Recorder’s Office, or through the State of Nevada Health Division. The clerk’s office holds online marriage records from 2001 to present; all other requests must be made by mail.

In addition to these resources, the Nevada State Library and Archives holds a wealth of historic documents for the state sure to delight serious archivists, including social security indexes, census records and death records. The digital archive allows researchers to search public records in Nevada online as well.

Nevada Online Public Records

Many launching an online public records search in Nevada today want to be able to handle the process from the comfort of home as much as possible. Fortunately, the state makes this very possible, with a number of online options available for finding and requesting public records.

The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services partners with an online service called VitalChek to provide Internet records searches to interested individuals. Searches are fast and easy, but there is an additional charge to use the service. The Clark County Courts also provides an online search to help researchers find marriage and divorce records for the state.