Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 23-3 - Vital Records
Section 23-3-25. - Fees for copies and searches.

§ 23-3-25. Fees for copies and searches.
(a) The state registrar shall charge fees for searches and copies as follows:
(1) For a search of two (2) consecutive calendar years under one name and for issuance of a certified copy of a certificate of birth, fetal death, death, or marriage, or a certification of birth, or a certification that the record cannot be found, and each duplicate copy of a certificate or certification issued at the same time, the fee is as set forth in § 23-1-54.
(2) For each additional calendar year search, if applied for at the same time or within three (3) months of the original request and if proof of payment for the basic search is submitted, the fee is as set forth in § 23-1-54.
(3) For providing expedited service, the additional handling fee is as set forth in § 23-1-54.
(4) For processing of adoptions, legitimations, or paternity determinations as specified in §§ 23-3-14 and 23-3-15, there shall be a fee as set forth in § 23-1-54.
(5) For making authorized corrections, alterations, and additions, the fee is as set forth in § 23-1-54; provided, no fee shall be collected for making authorized corrections or alterations and additions on records filed before one year of the date on which the event recorded has occurred.
(6) For examination of documentary proof and the filing of a delayed record, there is a fee as set forth in § 23-1-54; and there is an additional fee as set forth in § 23-1-54 for the issuance of a certified copy of a delayed record.
(b) Fees collected under this section by the state registrar shall be deposited in the general fund of this state, according to the procedures established by the state treasurer.
(c) The local registrar shall charge fees for searches and copies of records as follows:
(1) For a search of two (2) consecutive calendar years under one name and for issuance of a certified copy of a certificate of birth, fetal death, death, delayed birth, or marriage, or a certification of birth or a certification that the record cannot be found, the fee is twenty dollars ($20.00). For each duplicate copy of a certificate or certification issued at the same time, the fee is fifteen dollars ($15.00).
(2) For each additional calendar year search, if applied for at the same time or within three (3) months of the original request and if proof of payment for the basic search is submitted, the fee is two dollars ($2.00).
(d) Fees collected under this section by the local registrar shall be deposited in the city or town treasury according to the procedures established by the city or town treasurer except that six dollars ($6.00) of the certified copy fees shall be submitted to the state registrar for deposit in the general fund of this state.
(e) To acquire, maintain, and operate an electronic statewide registration system (ESRS), the state registrar shall assess a surcharge of no more than five dollars ($5.00) for a mail-in certified records request, no more than three dollars ($3.00) for each duplicate certified record, and no more than two dollars ($2.00) for a walk-in certified records request or a certified copy of a vital record requested for a local registrar. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (d), any such surcharges collected by the local registrar shall be submitted to the state registrar. Any funds collected from the surcharges listed above shall be deposited into the information technology investment fund (ITIF).
History of Section.G.L. 1909, ch. 121, § 12; by P.L. 1910, ch. 575, § 6; P.L. 1911, ch. 713, § 1; G.L. 1909, ch. 166, § 24; P.L. 1923, ch. 436, § 2; G.L. 1923, ch. 166, § 11; P.L. 1930, ch. 1603, § 1; P.L. 1932, ch. 1938, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 268, §§ 10, 23; P.L. 1942, ch. 1121, § 1; G.L. 1956, §§ 23-3-35, 23-3-37; G.L. 1956, § 23-3-25; P.L. 1961, ch. 87, § 1; P.L. 1974, ch. 75, § 1; P.L. 1981, ch. 127, § 1; P.L. 1983, ch. 198, § 2; P.L. 1984, ch. 261, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 65, art. 58, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 354, § 5; P.L. 1993, ch. 138, art. 31, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 370, art. 35, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 404, § 26; P.L. 2007, ch. 73, art. 39, § 26; P.L. 2008, ch. 475, § 34; P.L. 2012, ch. 241, art. 9, § 36; P.L. 2018, ch. 47, art. 7, § 4.