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How to order a Pennsylvania birth certificate

Who holds it: PA Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, for births registered in Pennsylvania since 19061

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. How to search and order
  2. Fees
  3. Who may order and what is restricted
  4. Older records and indexes
  5. More details
  6. Related records in Pennsylvania
  7. Birth certificates in Pennsylvania counties with a full guide
  8. Official warnings
  9. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  10. Sources

Fee

$20 per certified copy; online orders add a non-refundable $10 service fee2

Who may order

Person named; spouse; parent or step-parent; brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister; son or daughter; step-son or step-daughter; grandparent or great-grandparent; grandchild or great-grandchild; power of attorney; attorney or legal representative of the person named. Age 16+ for in-person/mail, 18+ online. If the registrant is deceased, other family members must also submit a copy of the death certificate.2

How to search and order

How to order
Online (VitalChek at mycertificates.health.pa.gov), by mail, or in person at a Vital Records Public Office2
Mailing address
Division of Vital Records, Birth Certificate Processing Unit, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 161032

Fees

Online fee
$10 non-refundable service fee via VitalChek (only authorized vendor)2
Fee waiver
Fee waived for members of the U.S. Armed Forces in active service or discharged other than dishonorably, or their spouse (incl. un-remarried widow/widower), per Act 137 of 2024; max 10 copies per applicant per calendar year; only for own, spouse's or dependent child's certificate; online service fee not waived2

Who may order and what is restricted

Restrictions
Birth records become public 105 years after birth, then available at the State Archives2

Older records and indexes

Pre
Births before 1906: contact the county courthouse (Register of Wills/Clerk of Orphans' Court)1

More details

Scam warning
VitalChek is the only authorized online vendor2
Death certificates: who holds it
PA Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, for PA deaths since 19063
Death certificates: fee
$20 per certified copy; online orders add a $10 service fee3
Older records: birth holdings
Original birth certificates 1906-1920 at the State Archives4

Birth certificates in Pennsylvania counties with a full guide

The local office, its official online search and its own fee, for each county with a full guide. Local fees can differ from the statewide figures above.

CountyOfficeSearch onlineFee
Adams CountyPA Department of Vital Records (after 1905); county Orphans' Court holds 1852-1854 birth records5——
Allegheny County———
Beaver CountyRegister of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court6——
Berks CountyPA Department of Health (county site links health.pa.gov for birth certificates)7——
Blair CountyBirths after 1906: PA Department of Health; 1893-1906 at the Clerk of Orphans' Court8—$20 per certified copy (state)9
Bucks CountyPennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records10—$20 per certified copy (state); online orders add a $10 processing fee11
Butler CountyPA Department of Health, Vital Records; nearest office 105 Nesbitt Road, New Castle, PA 16105, 724-656-310012——
Cambria CountyRegister of Wills / Clerk of Orphans' Court13——
Centre CountyRegister of Wills & Clerk of Orphans' Court14—State fee: $20 per certified copy (PA DOH)15
Chester CountyPA Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, for births registered in Pennsylvania since 190616—$20 per certified copy; online orders add a non-refundable $10 service fee17
Clearfield CountyRegister of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court18—State fee: $20 per certified copy; online orders add a non-refundable $10 service fee19
Crawford CountyPennsylvania Department of Health (1906 to present)20——
Cumberland CountyRegister of Wills & Clerk of Orphans' Court21—State fee: $20 per certified copy (PA DOH)22
Dauphin County1906 to present: Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records23——
Delaware CountyPA Department of Health, Division of Vital Records (births after 1906)24—$20 per certified copy (state)25
Erie County——$10.00 county certificate of death or birth (1893-1906) (Register of Wills schedule effective Dec. 1, 2025); state copies $2026
Fayette CountyRegister of Wills / Clerk of Orphans' Court27—State fee: $20 per certified copy (PA DOH)28
Franklin CountyArchives & Records Management29—State fee: $20 per certified copy (PA DOH)30
Lackawanna County———
Lancaster County———
Lawrence CountyPA Department of Health for births since 190631—$20 per certificate (state)32
Lebanon County———
Lehigh CountyPennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records (Orphans' Court holds only some 1893-1905 records)33——
Luzerne CountyLuzerne County Coroner34—$20 per certified copy; online orders add a non-refundable $10 service fee35
Lycoming CountyPost-1905 births and deaths: PA Department of Health; the Register & Recorder holds births 1893-190536——
Mercer CountyPA Department of Health, Division of Vital Records (after 1905); county holds 1893-1905 only37——
Monroe CountyPA Department of Health, not the county38——
Montgomery CountyPA Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, for births registered in Pennsylvania since 190639—$20 per certified copy; online orders add a non-refundable $10 service fee40
Northampton CountyNorthampton County Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court41——
Northumberland County———
Philadelphia County——Archival search fee: $10 to search three months of records; $40 to search one year (copy of certificate included if found)42
Washington County———
Westmoreland County——County fee: Birth (1893-1905)/Death records $10.0043
York CountyYork County Archives44—County fee: Certificate from original birth record (1893-1906) $20.0045

For any other county, see the county list on the Pennsylvania guide.

Official warnings

  • Vital records look-alike sites. Only VitalChek is authorized for online PA birth/death orders; other sites cost more and delay2
  • Vital Records appointment sites. Appointments only through PA Vital Records46

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Pennsylvania office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Rules in other states: birth certificates in every state. Everything else in Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania public records guide.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. GenealogyPennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  2. Ordering a Birth CertificatePennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  3. Ordering a Death CertificatePennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  4. Birth Records (State Archives)Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Pennsylvania State Archiveschecked November 4, 2026
  5. Genealogy Record InformationCounty of Adams, PAchecked November 4, 2026
  6. Beaver County - Register of WillsCounty of Beaver, PAchecked November 4, 2026
  7. Recorder of Deeds Fee ScheduleBerks County Recorder of Deedsarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  8. Clerk of Orphans' CourtBlair County, PAchecked November 4, 2026
  9. Ordering a Birth CertificatePennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  10. Genealogy (Vital Records)Pennsylvania Department of Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  11. Second-pass evidence: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/programs/vital-records/birth-certificatesCommonwealth of Pennsylvaniachecked November 4, 2026
  12. Pa-but-rowCounty of Butler, PAchecked November 4, 2026
  13. Cambria County: register-of-wills-clerk-of-orphans-court-officeCambria County, Pennsylvaniachecked November 4, 2026
  14. Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans' Court | Centre County, PA - Official Websitecentrecountypa.govchecked November 4, 2026
  15. Ordering a Birth CertificatePennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  16. GenealogyPennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  17. Ordering a Birth CertificatePennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  18. Register of WillsClearfield County, Pennsylvaniachecked November 4, 2026
  19. Ordering a Birth CertificatePennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  20. Clerk of CourtsCounty of Crawford, PAchecked November 7, 2026
  21. Register of Wills | Cumberland County, PA - Official WebsiteCumberland County, Pennsylvaniachecked November 4, 2026
  22. Birth CertificatesPennsylvania Department of Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  23. Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans' CourtDauphin County Register of Willschecked November 4, 2026
  24. Delaware County ArchivesDelaware County, Pennsylvaniachecked November 4, 2026
  25. Ordering a Birth CertificatePennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  26. ERIE COUNTY CLERK OF RECORDScourts.eriecountypa.govchecked November 4, 2026
  27. Register of WillsFayette County, PAchecked November 4, 2026
  28. Ordering a Birth CertificatePennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  29. Archives & Records ManagementFranklin County, Pennsylvaniachecked November 4, 2026
  30. Ordering a Birth CertificatePennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  31. GenealogyPA Department of Healthchecked November 7, 2026
  32. Birth certificatesPA Department of Healthchecked November 7, 2026
  33. Orphans' Court - Birth & Death InformationLehigh County Court of Common Pleaschecked November 4, 2026
  34. Coroner Records & PermitsLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  35. Ordering a Birth CertificatePennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  36. GenealogyLycoming County Register & Recorderchecked November 4, 2026
  37. Records maintained in the office of Clerk and RegisterCounty of Mercer, PAchecked November 4, 2026
  38. Birth CertificateMonroe County, PAchecked November 7, 2026
  39. GenealogyPennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  40. Ordering a Birth CertificatePennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  41. County Government (departments)Northampton Countychecked November 4, 2026
  42. Document recording and service feesCity of Philadelphiachecked November 4, 2026
  43. Register of Wills Fee ScheduleWestmoreland County Register of Willsarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  44. York County ArchivesYork County Archives (department of York County Government)checked November 4, 2026
  45. Fee Bill, Clerk of Orphans' Court Division (PDF)Court of Common Pleas of York County / Clerk of Orphans' Courtchecked November 4, 2026
  46. Vital Records Public OfficesPennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026