What happens to the records of birth and marriage after the specified time?

When records of birth and marriage reach the specified retention period, they typically transition to become public records. This transformation means that these vital records can be accessed by individuals or entities not directly involved with the events documented. Archiving these records allows for historical research, genealogical studies, and other purposes without compromising individual privacy, as statutory requirements and legal frameworks dictate the accessibility of such documents over time.

The option indicating that they are destroyed is often not applicable to vital records, which serve essential functions in maintaining civic documentation. Sealing records indefinitely would counter the state’s interest in maintaining public transparency regarding vital statistics. Lastly, while archiving may sound similar, it is not quite the same as becoming public; archiving pertains more to the preservation and storage of documents rather than granting access to the public.