Purchasing a Birth Certificate
Beginning on January 1, 2021, a new vital records
law goes into effect that changes the ordering
requirements for birth certificates. For increased
security of personal information, only individuals with
specific relationships to the person on the birth
record being requested can receive a birth certificate.
Identity and proof documentation will be required.
To purchase a birth certificate, you must:
Be a qualified applicant and prove your relationship
by submitting proof documentation.
Provide identity documentation.
Provide required information.
Pay the fee. Fees start at $25.
New Requirements
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DOH 422-189 September 2020
To request this document in another format, call
1-800-525-0127. Deaf or hard of hearing customers,
please call 711 (Washington Relay) or email
Center for Health Statistics
Certification Services
Washington State Department of Health
360-236-4300
Eligibility
To purchase a birth certificate, you must be a qualified
applicant. Qualified applicants are: self, spouse or
domestic partner, parent, stepparent, legal guardian,
child, stepchild, sibling, grandparent, great grandparent,
legal representative, authorized representative, or
government agency or the courts if the birth certificate
is used for official duties. If you are not one of the people
listed above, you will not receive a birth certificate.
To prove you’re a qualified applicant, you must submit
documentation proving your relationship. The acceptable
documentation to prove qualifying relationship includes:
• Copies of vital records such as birth or marriage
certificates from this or another state that links you
to the requested birth record
• Copies of certified court orders linking you to the
requested birth record (e.g. legal guardianship court
order)
• Authorized Representative form
• Document of letter from a government agency or
court stating that the birth certificate will be used
for official purposes (for government agency or
court only)
In some cases, your identity documentation will
sufficiently link you to the birth record and serve as
your proof documentation.
Visit our website at www.doh.wa.gov for the Proof of
Eligibility (PDF) for examples of how to prove qualifying
relationship.
Identification
The acceptable identity documentation includes:
• One government issued identification document that
has not expired more than 60 days (must contain
photo, full name, and date of birth)
• If you do not have a government issued identification
document, then at least two documents from the
alternative list.
Visit our website at www.doh.wa.gov for the full list of
acceptable identity documentation, including the
alternative list.
Information
The required pieces of information to order a birth
certificate are:
• First, middle, and last name of the subject of the
record
• First and last name of all the parents listed on the
record
• Date of birth (Month, Day, Year)
• City or County where the birth occurred
Fees
The birth certificate fee is $25. Additional service fees
may be added depending on order method. Order
methods include online through www.VitalChek.com,
by phone 1-866-687-1464, mail, or in-person when
in-person services resume.
Important Note: No refunds will be given if a record
could not be located or the documentation you provided
did not prove you were eligible to receive a birth
certificate.
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