Birth Certificates
Ordering a Birth Certificate
You can order a birth certificate in person, by mail or online. Certificates from 1919 to the present are available.
For a newborn’s certificate, please wait at least two weeks after the birth of the child before placing an order.
Accessing a Birth Certificate
Access to a birth certificate is limited to:
- The person named on the certificate.
- An adult child of the person named on the certificate.
- A parent named on the certificate.
- A grandparent of the person named on the certificate.
- An adult sibling of the person named on the certificate.
- The spouse of the person named on the certificate.
- The authorized legal guardian or agent of the person named on the certificate.
Providing Required Documents
You must bring, mail or upload:
- A completed and signed Birth Certificate Request form (English / Spanish). (Or provide the requested information on a plain sheet of paper.)
- A valid photo ID or a photocopy. Acceptable ID includes:
- State of Georgia driver’s license.
- Photo ID card issued by a government agency.
- Photo ID card issued by an employer.
- Photo ID card issued by a college or university.
- Resident Alien Card (Form I-551 issued by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service).
- Temporary Resident Alien Card (Form I-668 issued by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service).
- Government passport issued by a country.
- Military ID card issued by the U.S. Armed Forces.
- Matricula card.
- Additional documentation if you’re ordering the birth certificate of a person other than yourself or your child. See the table below.
If your relationship to the person named on the birth certificate is: | You must provide: |
| A grandparent | The birth certificate of your child who is the parent of the person |
| A sibling (age 18 or over) | Your birth certificate showing at least one parent in common with the person |
| A child (age 18 over over) | Your birth certificate showing the person is your parent |
| The spouse | Your marriage license, a notarized letter of permission or a notarized power of attorney |
| The temporary or permanent legal guardian | A court order or other legal documentation proving custody |
| The attorney serving as a temporary or permanent legal representative | A letter on your law firm’s letterhead stating that you have been retained to serve as the person’s legal representative |
| The individual or agency representative empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on the person’s behalf | A court order or other legal documentation proving representative status |
Making Payment
Georgia law requires payment before a service can be provided. Fees are not refundable after a service has been provided.
The fees are:
If exact birth date is known | Search fee: $25 (includes one certified copy of certificate, if record is found) |
If exact birth date is unknown | Multi-year search fee: $25 (covers up to 3 years and includes one certified copy of certificate, if record is found) |
Each additional certificate of same record ordered at same time | $5 |
Online orders through our website | Additional $5 processing fee |
Fees can be paid as follows:
In person | By mail | Online | |
Cash | √ | ||
Credit or debit card | √ | √ | |
Certified check* | √ | √ | |
Money order* | √ | √ |
*Make payable to: DeKalb County Vital Records Office. Personal checks not accepted.
Placing an Order
In person
Bring the required documents and payment to a Vital Records office:
Richardson Health Center, Suite 191
445 Winn Way
Decatur, GA 30030
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Phone: (404) 294-3857
North DeKalb Health Center
3807 Clairmont Road, NE
Chamblee, GA 30341
Hours: Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Phone: (678) 475-4308
Please arrive more than 15 minutes before closing time. Offices are closed on state holidays.
By mail
Send the required documents and payment to:
DeKalb County Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 639
Decatur, GA 30031
Online
- Through DeKalb Public Health website
- Be sure to have the required documents and your credit/debit card information ready.
- Click here
- Through a third-party vendor: VitalChek.
- Through DeKalb Public Health website
Correcting or Changing a Birth Record
If a birth record has already been created and you want to make a correction or change:
- Call the Georgia Office of Vital Records: (404) 679-4702
- Write to:
Georgia Office of Vital Records
1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30349
Filing a Record for a Home or Other Out-of-Institution Birth
Records of home and other out-of-institution births should be filed in compliance with Georgia Department of Public Health rule 511-1-3-.05. All out-of-institution births in DeKalb County must be filed in person at the DeKalb County Vital Records Office, Richardson Health Center, Suite 191, 445 Winn Way, Decatur, GA 30030.
