What a vital records office does
The state office for birth and death certificates, with fees.
What the office does
Each state has a vital records office, usually part of the health department, that registers births, deaths and, in many states, marriages and divorces. It issues certified copies to people who qualify under state law, which usually means the person named, close family and legal representatives. Many states also let county or city offices issue copies, often faster and in person. Older records are often transferred to the state archives for genealogy after a set number of years.
See birth certificates and death certificates for ordering steps.
The office in each state
| State | Vital records office | Birth certificate fee |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | ADPH Center for Health Statistics; county health departments | $15.00 search fee incl. one certified copy |
| Alaska | Health Analytics & Vital Records Section, Alaska Department of Health | $30 first certified copy, $25 each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time |
| Arizona | ADHS Bureau of Vital Records (state registrar); county health department vital records offices | $20.00 per certified copy from ADHS (Certificate of Birth Registration) under A.A.C. R9-19-105 |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Department of Health, Vital Records | $12.00 first copy, $10.00 each additional copy ordered at the same time |
| California | County Recorder (all years) / Local Registrar of Births and Deaths (county health dept, current + prior year) / CDPH-Vital Records (state) | $31 per certified copy at CDPH-VR (effective Jan. 1, 2026) |
| Colorado | CDPHE Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics; local vital records offices | $25.00 first certified copy |
| Connecticut | Town Registrar of Vital Statistics (usually the Town Clerk) / DPH State Vital Records Office | $30 from the State Vital Records Office |
| Delaware | DHSS Division of Public Health, Office of Vital Statistics | $25.00 per certified copy (fee kept as a search fee if no record is found) |
| District of Columbia | DC Health Vital Records Division (State Registrar) | $23 |
| Florida | Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics / county health departments | DOH mail/walk-in: $9 first computer-generated certification (includes non-refundable search fee) |
| Georgia | County vital records office (with DPH State Office of Vital Records) | $25.00 (includes one certified copy or not-on-file letter) |
| Hawaii | Department of Health, Office of Health Status Monitoring, Issuance/Vital Statistics Section | $10.00 first certified copy, $4.00 each additional copy, plus $2.50 General Administration Fee per increment of up to 5 copies (1 copy = $12.50 total). |
| Idaho | Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics | $16 per certified copy. VitalChek online adds a $10.50 non-refundable fee |
| Illinois | County Clerk (local) / Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records (state) | IDPH: $15 long-form certified (information collected at birth) or $10 short-form certified |
| Indiana | Local health department / Indiana Department of Health, Division of Vital Records | State (IDOH): $10.00 first certificate, $4.00 each additional copy in the same order |
| Iowa | Iowa HHS Bureau of Health Statistics (State Registrar); County Recorder (county registrar) | $20 per certified copy (also the non-refundable search fee if no record is found) |
| Kansas | KDHE Office of Vital Statistics (State Registrar) | $20 per certified copy (each additional copy of same record also $20) |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics (CHFS) | $10 search/certified copy (search fee even if no record) |
| Louisiana | State Registrar, LDH Vital Records Registry | $15.00 per certified birth certificate |
| Maine | Municipal Clerk; State Registrar / Maine CDC Data, Research and Vital Statistics | $15.00 per certificate |
| Maryland | MDH Vital Statistics Administration, Division of Vital Records | $10 per certified copy (MDH) |
| Massachusetts | City/Town Clerk; state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (DPH) | RVRS: $20 in person |
| Michigan | State Registrar, MDHHS Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics | $34.00 search including one certified copy |
| Minnesota | State Registrar, MDH Office of Vital Records | $26 certified |
| Mississippi | MSDH Office of Vital Records | $17 first certified copy (long form), $6 each additional copy ordered at the same time |
| Missouri | DHSS Bureau of Vital Records (state registrar); local public health agencies (local registrars) | $15 per certified copy (state or local) |
| Montana | County Clerk & Recorder (local); DPHHS Office of Vital Records (state) | $16 per certified or informational copy (state fee schedule effective September 21, 2024) |
| Nebraska | DHHS Office of Vital Records | $17 per certified birth certificate (mail: check/money order to "Vital Records"). No-fee certified birth certificate for voters without a Nebraska driver's license/state ID who need it to obtain a state ID for voting. |
| Nevada | State Registrar, Office of Vital Records (DPBH); Southern Nevada Health District; Northern Nevada Public Health | State office: $25.00 per certified birth certificate in person/mail |
| New Hampshire | City/Town Clerk; state Division of Vital Records Administration (Secretary of State) | $15 search fee (includes one certified copy if found |
| New Jersey | Local Registrar (municipal) / NJ Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry | $25 search + one certified copy/certification/No Record Statement |
| New Mexico | State Registrar, Bureau of Vital Records & Health Statistics | $10 per certified copy, non-refundable search fee |
| New York | New York State Department of Health, Vital Records | NYS DOH: $30 by mail |
| North Carolina | Register of Deeds (county); NC Vital Records (state) | $24 search (one copy included if found), per three-year period, nonrefundable |
| North Dakota | ND HHS Vital Records Unit (State Registrar) | $15.00 per copy. No uncertified copies. |
| Ohio | Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics; local health department (local registrar) | $21.50 per certified birth record (search fee, charged even if no record found) |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Records Service | $15.00 non-refundable search fee including one certified copy if found |
| Oregon | Oregon Health Authority, Center for Health Statistics (state registrar); county vital records offices (first 6 months) | $25 computer-issued (short form) or $30 full-image (long form) birth certificate from OHA |
| Pennsylvania | PA Department of Health, Division of Vital Records | $20 per certified copy |
| Rhode Island | RIDOH Center for Vital Records / City or Town Clerk (local registrar) | $22 first copy in person |
| South Carolina | — | $12 search including one certified copy |
| South Dakota | Vital Records Office, South Dakota Department of Health (plus county Registers of Deeds) | $15 per copy (search fee, non-refundable) |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Office of Vital Records (Department of Health); county health departments | $15.00 per certified copy (first and each additional) |
| Texas | DSHS Vital Statistics Section (state registrar); local registrar (justice of the peace / county clerk / municipal clerk) | $22.00 certified copy (long or short form) at DSHS |
| Utah | Utah DHHS Office of Vital Records and Statistics (state registrar); local health departments | $25 first certified copy |
| Vermont | Town/City Clerk; State Registrar, Vermont Department of Health Office of Vital Records; VSARA (issuing agent) | $10.00 per certified copy (+$2 online processing) |
| Virginia | VDH Office of Vital Records (State Registrar); local health departments and DMV issue copies | $15 per certified copy or search (no refund if not found) |
| Washington | Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics (state registrar); local health jurisdictions | $25 per certified or informational copy (statutory) |
| West Virginia | Vital Registration Office, WV Health Statistics Center | $12 per copy (includes non-refundable search fee) |
| Wisconsin | DHS Wisconsin Vital Records Office (State Registrar); county Register of Deeds; Milwaukee and West Allis city health offices | $20 first copy (certified or uncertified, long or short form) |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Department of Health, Vital Statistics Services | $25.00 per certified copy (state Vital Statistics Services). |
Each state links to its guide, where every office and fee carries its official source and check date. Fees shown are the state’s fee for a copy; the state guide lists the others.