Requesting a Birth Certificate

ACCESSING A BIRTH CERTIFICATE

Access to a birth certificate is limited to:

• 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.
• An adult child of the person named on the certificate.
• The spouse of the person named on the certificate.
• The legal guardian of the person named on the certificate.
• The legal representative of the person named on the certificate.

PROVIDING INFORMATION

You will be required to provide the following information about the person whose birth certificate you are requesting:

• First name on birth certificate.
• Last name on birth certificate.
• Month, day and year of birth.
• Mother’s first name.
• Mother’s maiden last name.

PROVIDING DOCUMENTATION

The person requesting a birth certificate must provide:

• A completed and signed Birth Certificate Request Form.
• A Sworn Statement (not required for in-person requests)
• One of the following types of official photo identification (ID):
  • 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. Citizenship and Immigration Services).
  • Temporary Resident Alien Card (Form I-668 issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services).
  • Government passport issued by a country.
  • Military ID card issued by the U.S. Armed Forces.
  • Matricula card.

• An additional document if you are 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 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 or 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

Please wait at least two weeks after the birth before requesting a birth certificate.

REQUESTING A BIRTH CERTIFICATE

You can request a birth certificate in any of the following ways:

• In person: Obtain, complete and submit a Birth Certificate Request Form at:

Vital Records
Suite 191
Richardson Health Center
445 Winn Way
Decatur, GA 30030
Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (closed state holidays)
Phone: (404) 294-3700

• By fax: Print the Birth Certificate Request Form, complete it and fax it to 404-508-7895.
• By mail: Print the Birth Certificate Request Form, complete it (or write the requested information on a sheet of paper) and mail it to:

DeKalb County Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 639
Decatur, GA 30031

 PURCHASING A BIRTH CERTIFICATE

Georgia law requires payment before a service can be provided. Fees are not refundable after a service has been provided.

The fees are:

• Search fee: $25.00: Includes one certified copy of birth certificate, if the record is found.
• If exact birth date unknown, multi-year search (covering up to 3 years; includes one certified copy of birth certificate, if the record is found):  $25.00.
• Each additional certificate of the same record requested at the same time:  $5.00.
• First class postage for birth certificate that will be mailed.

Fees may be paid by:

• Ordering Online
• Cash (in person only).
• Credit card (in person only).
• Certified check.
• Money order.

Make certified checks and money orders payable to: DeKalb County Vital Records Office.  Do NOT send cash in the mail.

Source: Georgia Department of Public Health

Note:  This information was prepared as a public service of the DeKalb County Board of Health to provide general information, not to advise on any specific legal problem.  It is not, and cannot be construed to be, legal advice.