Birth Certificates Available at Most Tennessee Health Departments
Tuesday, October 07, 2008 | 10:47am
NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health reminds individuals that birth certificates for those born in the state of Tennessee in 1949 or later are now available at most Tennessee county health departments. Today 83 of Tennessee’s 95 county health departments offer this important service to citizens. TDOH provides this service through the Office of Vital Records.
Lewis and WayneCounties are the newest additions, and as of August 1 began offering copies of birth certificates at their county health departments. In the 12 counties where walk-in service for birth certificates is not available, clients may still apply for the documents in their local offices and the certificates will be mailed to them from the nearest regional office within two business days.
“Since this project’s inception in 1988, each year new county health departments have added birth certificate issuance to the services that they offer to their communities,” said State Registrar Sharon Leinbach. “By next summer, we expect that three more Tennessee counties will be providing this service.”
Birth certificates offered in county health department locations are computer generated documents from the TDOH Office of Vital Records birth file. They are valid for any legal purpose. Individuals requesting a birth certificate must meet the following requirements:
· The requestor must be the person listed on the certificate or his or her spouse, child, parent or guardian, or legal representative.
· The requestor must show government-issued identification.
· The fee is $7 per copy for each certificate requested.
The Department of Health can also provide copies of birth certificates for persons born in Tennessee before 1949, but these documents must be requested from the Office of Vital Records in Nashville. Birth certificates for persons born in another state must be requested from the state where the birth occurred. Any Tennessee county health department can provide application forms for requesting Tennessee birth certificates, along with instructions on how to order them.
The Office of Vital Records also maintains and issues copies of death, marriage and divorce certificates for events that have occurred during the last 50 years. Certificates of marriage and divorce, as well as many death certificates, are not available at county health department locations, but may be requested from the Office of Vital Records in Nashville. Local county health departments can provide forms and assistance with this process.
Birth certificates, as well as death, marriage and divorce certificates, may also be ordered online at www.tennessee.gov by clicking “Order Vital Records” if the requestor uses a credit card and is willing to pay an additional fee. Application forms may also be downloaded at no cost from this Web site. Payment is required when the request is made online, via mail or in person. Payments for mailed requests should be made by check or money order; do not send cash with these requests.
For more information about the Office of Vital Records, visit the Web site above or call 615-741-1763.
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