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District of Columbia vital records

The DC Vital Records Division is the vital records office for the District of Columbia.1 It issues certified birth certificates and death certificates2. It does not issue marriage certificates or divorce records; this page shows who does.3

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Records and where to get them
  2. Local offices
  3. Access rules and the law
  4. The vital records office
  5. Questions people ask
  6. Sources

Current notices from the office

  • Remote orders take 2-4 weeks plus shipping4
  • Shipping notice: carrier delays are handled with the carrier2

Records and where to get them

RecordWho issues itYears heldFirst copyShortest published time
Birth certificateDC Health Vital Records Division1August 1874 to today1$235In person: Same day2
Death certificateDC Health Vital Records Division6August 1874 to today6$187In person: Same day2
Marriage certificateDC Superior Court, Marriage Bureau81811 to today8$108–
Divorce recordsDC Superior Court, Family Court, Domestic Relations Branch91957 to today (held by DC Superior Court)10–At a local office: 5 to 10 business days10

Birth certificate

Older records
DC Archives (unofficial copies of open records)1
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek, by mail, in person, by phone

How to get a District of Columbia birth certificate

Death certificate

Older records
DC Archives (unofficial copies of open records)6
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek, by mail, in person, by phone

How to get a District of Columbia death certificate

Marriage certificate

Who holds it
Marriage records are held by the court, not DC Health8
Older records
DC Archives also holds marriage records for early years11
Ways to order
Online, by mail, in person

How to get a District of Columbia marriage certificate

Divorce records

Who holds it
Divorces 1957 to present: DC Superior Court. Divorces 1902-1956: U.S. District Court for DC.10
Older records
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, 1902-195610
Ways to order
At a local office: DC Superior Court, Domestic Relations Branch, at a local office: U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Clerk's Office

How to get District of Columbia divorce records

Local offices

Local offices issue certified copies
No12

Access rules and the law

Who may get certified copies
Closed: certified copies only to entitled applicants; birth opens after 125 years, death after 751

Laws and rules the office cites

  • D.C. Official Code § 7-231.25 (certification, entitlement)12
  • D.C. Official Code § 7-231.24 (confidentiality, open-record periods)13
  • D.C. Official Code § 7-231.27 (fees, birth fee waivers)14
  • D.C. Official Code § 7-231.20 (amendments)15

The vital records office

Office
DC Vital Records Division (DCVRD)1
Mailing address
Vital Record Mail Services, ATTN: DC Vital Records, P.O. Box 222130, El Paso, TX 79913
5
Walk-in address
2201 Shannon Place SE, Washington, DC 20020
2

Questions people ask

How much do birth and death certificates cost in District of Columbia?

A certified birth certificate costs $23 for the first copy and a death certificate $18.57

Where do I get a marriage certificate in District of Columbia?

DC Superior Court, Marriage Bureau. Marriage records are held by the court, not DC Health.8

Where do I get divorce records in District of Columbia?

DC Superior Court, Family Court, Domestic Relations Branch. Divorces 1957 to present: DC Superior Court. Divorces 1902-1956: U.S. District Court for DC.910

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

  1. Birth certificatesDC Health, Vital Records Division
  2. Vital recordsDC Health, Vital Records Division
  3. DC Health Search Exchange Return of Fees policy PDFDC Health, Vital Records Division
  4. Dc vital records important noticesDC Health, Vital Records Division
  5. DC Birth Application (PDF)DC Health (form hosted by VitalChek; linked from the DC Health vital records page)dated June 1, 2022
  6. Death certificatesDC Health, Vital Records Division
  7. DC Death Application (PDF)DC Health (form hosted by VitalChek; linked from the DC Health vital records page)dated April 1, 2024
  8. DC Superior Court Family Court Operations Division - Marriage Bureau pageDistrict of Columbia Courtsdated February 17, 2026
  9. DC Superior Court Family Court - Domestic Relations BranchDistrict of Columbia Courtsdated February 11, 2026
  10. U.S. District Court for DC, Court Records (divorces 1902-1956)U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  11. DC Office of the Secretary, DC ArchivesDC Office of Public Records and Archives
  12. DC Official Code § 7-231.25 (Council of the District of Columbia, code.dccouncil.gov)Council of the District of Columbiadated October 30, 2018
  13. DC Official Code § 7-231.24 (Council of the District of Columbia, code.dccouncil.gov)Council of the District of Columbiadated October 30, 2018
  14. DC Official Code § 7-231.27 (Council of the District of Columbia, code.dccouncil.gov)Council of the District of Columbiadated March 16, 2021
  15. DC Official Code § 7-231.20 (Council of the District of Columbia, code.dccouncil.gov)Council of the District of Columbiadated October 30, 2018