The National Vital Statistics System is the basis for the Nation's official statistics on births, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages, and divorces. These data are provided through vital registration systems which are maintained and operated by the individual States and territories where the original certificates are filed. While the legal authority for vital registration rests with the States and territories, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is required to produce national vital statistics by compiling data from the central vital records office in all of the 57 registration areas. Therefore NCHS closely collaborates with the States to develop standard certificates and reports for data collection and administrative purposes as well as standardized procedures for data preparation and processing to promote a uniform national data base. NCHS pays a portion of the costs incurred by the States through contractual agreements with each State.