Tennessee - How to obtain a Birth Certificate

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Procedure

In Person

Requests for certified copies of certificates are accepted at the Tennessee Office of Vital Records in Nashville. The request must be made by the person named on the certificate, or a parent, guardian, child or spouse of the named person. Most requests for certified copies can be handled while you wait at
Tennessee Vital Records
1st Floor, Central Services Building
421 5th Avenue, North
Nashville, TN 37243

By Mail

The completed and signed application for certified copy of certificate of birth with valid identification proof and a check or money order made payable to "Tennessee Vital Records" for the appropriate fee.
Mail to:
Tennessee Vital Records
1st Floor, Central Services Building
421 5th Avenue, North
Nashville, TN 37243

Apply Online (VitalChek)

• Tennessee Office of Vital Records does not directly accept online orders. However, for your convenience, we have contracted with an independent company to provide you with this service.
• Additional fees will be collected by the independent company.
• It's the easiest and most efficient method for ordering official birth certificates and other vital records because there is less room for error when you enter the information yourself. Our simple forms have built-in editing features to help ensure the accuracy of your order.
  

Order by Phone (VitalChek)

• To place your order by phone, please call 866-233-0740. Have your credit card information and certificate information ready when you place your call to help speed up the order process.
  

Order official, certified birth certificates from Tennessee Vital Records online quickly and securely:

• VitalChek is an official service, authorized by Tennessee Vital Records, to securely order certified Tennessee vital records, like birth certificates. Other online services may not be authorized by Tennessee Vital Records, and may charge additional fees without providing approved services or guaranteeing confidentiality of your data.
• As a government-approved organization for 25 years, VitalChek safely delivers millions of vital records every year and is Americas No.1 resource for ordering certified vital records across the nation. VitalChek makes purchasing your familys most important documents, such as Tennessee birth certificates, simple, fast and secure:
  • Simple step-by-step ordering with easy to use editing features to help ensure the accuracy of your order.
  • Fast online ordering, processing & delivery options to help get your certificate as quickly as possible.
  • Secure ordering processes that are designed to help protect your identity online.
• VitalChek offers the convenience of ordering Tennessee birth certificates for yourself or your family from the privacy of your home or office, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, with no hidden fees or unexplained charges. No traffic, no standing in line, no parking, no hassles.

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Required Documents

• A photocopy of a government-issued identification card which includes the signature of the requester
• If the application is signed and notarized, no additional identification documents are required.
• If the actual mothers copy of a birth certificate for the current year and previous two years is submitted as the application and the response is being mailed to a parent, no additional identification documents are required.

Accepted Forms of Identification
One item from the following list:

• Current drivers license, including the issue and expiration date.
• Current passport
• Military I.D. card
• Alien, temporary or permanent resident card
• Employment authorization card
• U.S. Certificate of Naturalization
• Certificate of Citizenship or Citizenship I.D. card

Two items from the following list:

• Current pay stub or W2
• Vehicle registration with name and current address
• Voter Registration card
• Military Discharge (DD214)
• Utility Bill, Bank Statement or deposit slip with name and current address
• Health care coverage card
• Medical record
• Application page of an insurance policy
• Signed Social Security Card
• For those person who have had their I.D. stolen, a copy a police report or other official documents which support the theft.

Office Locations & Contacts

Tennessee Vital Records

1st Floor, Central Services Building
421 5th Avenue, North
Nashville, TN 37243

Office Hours

Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Central Time (excluding holidays)

Certificates may also be obtained from your local county. Use the contact information below to inquire.

Anderson County : 100 N Main Street Clinton, TN 37716-3615
Phone: 865.457.6232

Bedford County  : 100 N Side Square Shelbyville, TN 37160
Phone: 931.684.1921

Benton County : 1 E Court Square Camden, TN 38320
Phone: 901-584-6053 Website

Bledsoe County : PO Box 149 116 Main St Pikeville, TN 37367-0212
Phone: 423-447-2137

Blount County : 345 Court Street Maryville, TN 37804
Phone: 865.273.5800 Website

Bradley County : PO Box 46 Cleveland, TN 37364-0046
Phone: 423.476.0520 Website

Campbell County : Main Street Jacksboro, TN 37757
Phone: 423.562.3496 / 1-423-562-4985

Cannon County : County Courthouse Woodbury, TN 37190
Phone: 615.563.5936 Website

Carroll County : 625 High Street; PO Box 110 Huntingdon, TN 38344
Phone: 731.986.1960 Website

Carter County : 801 E Elk Avenue Elizabethton, TN 37643
Phone: 423.542.1814 Website

Cheatham County  : 100 Public Square Ashland City, TN 37015
Phone: 615.792.5179 Website

Chester County : 126 Crook Avenue Henderson, TN 38340
Phone: 731.989.7171 Website

Claiborne County  : PO Box 173; Tazewell, TN 37879
Phone: 423.626.3284 Website

Clay County : 100 Courthouse Square Celina, TN 38551
Phone: 931.243.3145

Cocke County : 111 Court Avenue Newport, TN 37821
Phone: 423.623.6176 Website

Coffee County : 300 Hillsboro Boulevard; PO Box 8 Manchester, TN 37355
Phone: 931.723.5106 Website

Crockett County : 1 S Bells Street Alamo, TN 38001
Phone: 731.696.5452

Cumberland County : 2 N Main Street; #206; Crossville, TN 38555
Phone: 931.484.6442

Davidson County : 700 2nd Ave South Nashville, TN 37210
Phone: 615.862.5710

Decatur County : PO Box 488; Decaturville, TN 38329-0488
Phone: 731.852.3417 Website

DeKalb County : County Courthouse Rm 205 Smithville, TN 37166
Phone: 615.597.5159 Website

Dickson County : 4 Court Square Charlotte, Tennessee 37036
Phone: 1-615-789-4171 [http://www.dicksoncountytn.gov/ Websi

Eligibility

Person named on the certificate, or a parent, guardian, child or spouse of the named person are eligible to request the certified copy of birth certificate.

Fees

• Birth Certificate - Long Form: $15.00

Additional copy: $5.00 each

• Birth Certificate - Short Form: $8.00

Additional copy: $5.00 each

Online (VitalChek)

• Birth Certificate - Long Form: $15.00

Additional copy: $5.00 each

• Birth Certificate - Short Form: $8.00

Additional copy: $5.00 each

Note

• If, after searching three years of records, the requested certificate cannot be located, you will be given a letter certifying that no record was found. The fee for a no record found is the same as for a certified copy.
• Must be the same certificate and ordered at the same time

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

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Related Videos

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Instructions

• The Tennessee Division of Vital Records (Tennessee Vital Records) issues certified copies of Tennessee birth certificates for events that occurred within the State of Tennessee.
• Many county health departments issue short form birth certificates for births which occurred anywhere in Tennessee since 1949.
• The Birth certificate long copy is an exact certified duplicate of the original record. Long forms are available for events that occurred in the State of Tennessee from 1900 to present. The Birth Long copy is an exact certified duplicate of the original record.
• Requests for certified copies of certificates are accepted at the Tennessee Office of Vital Records in Nashville.
• Most requests for certified copies can be handled while you wait.
• There are three ways to obtain a copy of your certificate: in person, by mail or by Internet
• Payment could be in cash (in person), check or money order made payable to "Tennessee Vital Records" for the appropriate fee.

Required Information

• Full name at birth
• The date of birth
• The place of birth
• Gender
• The mother's maiden name
• The father's name
• Older or younger brothers and sisters name
• Hospital where birth occurred
• Name and address of the applicant
• Phone number, including area code
• Reason for requesting the certificate
• Relationship to the person named on the Certificate

Need for the Document

There are many situations in which you might need your birth certificate. It is a record of your own birth, and so you should be able to find a certified copy quite easily, by following simple steps.

Information which might help

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Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

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