Local Government Records

In Vermont, all land records are recorded and preserved at the local level, primarily in the office of the clerk of the town where the property is located. Vital records were also originally recorded at the local level. Individuals conducting land records research or early vital records research must contact town clerks directly with land record or early vital record requests. Town clerk contact information is available through the Secretary of State, Elections Division’s page on Town Clerks & Election Workers. 

As a courtesy to those conducting in-person research at the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA), self-service microfilm copies of some original town clerk volumes are available. Depending on the town, the volumes may include land records, vital records, proprietors’ records, town meeting records, cemetery records, and/or church records. A card index to town records available on microfilm is accessible through our Reference Room.

For those unable to visit our Reference Room or town clerk offices to conduct their own research, some of town records have been digitized and are available through FamilySearch.org. Please note that VSARA cannot respond to requests for town records, including those available on microfilm in our Reference Room or through FamilySearch.