Vital Records

Vital Records are birth, death, marriage, and civil union documents. They are legal documents that contain information about the vital events of people in Jamestown. Certified copies of vital records are used for many purposes, such as to establish proof of age, receive social security benefits, and receive death benefits from life insurance policies.

Marriage License

• RESIDENCY: 

  If you currently live in Rhode Island

  • If both persons live in Rhode Island, you may apply for a marriage license at the city or town hall where either party has legal residency;
  • If only one person lives in Rhode Island, you must apply for a marriage license from the city or town hall where the Rhode Island resident lives; 
  If you currently live outside of Rhode Island
  • If neither person lives in Rhode Island, you must apply for a marriage license from the city or town hall of the city or town in which the marriage ceremony will be performed.  Applicants for a marriage license must know the city or town in which the marriage will be solemnized.   

• SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT: Please call 401-423-7282 to schedule an appointment. Appointments are being set Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm for couples applying for Marriage Licenses. 
  
  
• BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT: Please complete and return the following via email to Denise Gamon at dgamon@jamestownri.net:
  • MARRIAGE WORKSHEET
  • Scanned copies of your birth certificates and driver’s licenses/government-issued identification 
  • On the day of your appointment please bring original copies of your certified birth certificates with a raised seal and driver's license/government-issued identification.
    
    
• MARRIED PREVIOUSLY? If either of you has been married previously certified copies of your divorce decree(s) and/or death certificate(s) are required
  
  
• NEED A CERTIFIED COPY OF MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE? If so, you must request and pay for a copy(s). This can be done at the time of applying for the marriage license and/or anytime after the marriage has taken place.  Copies are not automatically mailed to you. 

• ONE-DAY MARRIAGE OFFICIANT CERTIFICATION: To use the One-Day Marriage Officiant Certificate program, the wedding ceremony must be performed in a city or town in Rhode Island. Neither the officiant nor the parties to be married are required to be Rhode Island residents. Learn more about marriage requirements in RI and explore our FAQs.

Request a Copy of Birth, Death, or Marriage Certificate

Birth, Death and/or Marriage certificates maybe obtain in the Town Clerk's Office.*

Alternatively, copies maybe obtained at RI Department of Health/Vital Records 

In the event of an error on a vital record, contact the State Office of Vital Records for information on how to make record corrections and required documentation.

State Office of Vital Records Contact Information:
Roseanne Giorgianni, Chief, State Registrar's Office
Office of Vital Records
Simpson Hall, 6 Harrington Road, Cranston, RI 02920

401-222-2811; 401-222-3364 

*If you were born before 1960, birth certificates must be obtained in the Town or City where your parents resided.

Forms and other helpful links are below: