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Who can order a birth certificate

You can always order your own birth certificate once you are an adult. Ordering someone else’s depends on the state where they were born: most states limit certified copies to the person, parents named on the record, some close relatives, guardians and legal representatives.

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Born in another country?
  2. Who the states name
  3. Open and closed records
  4. Proof of relationship
  5. Sources

Born in another country?

A U.S. state only has records of births in that state. A U.S. citizen born abroad to U.S. citizen parents usually proves citizenship with a Consular Report of Birth Abroad instead; see the CRBA guide.

Who the states name

StateWho the state names for a certified copy
AlabamaAnyone1
AlaskaThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Legal guardian, Attorney or legal representative and Government agency2
ArizonaThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Spouse, Grandparent, Child, Grandchild, Brother or sister, Legal guardian, Person named in a court order and Attorney or legal representative3
ArkansasAnyone4
CaliforniaThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Legal guardian, Child, Grandparent, Grandchild, Brother or sister, Spouse, Domestic partner, Person named in a court order, Government agency, Executor or estate administrator and Attorney or legal representative5
ColoradoThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Spouse, Brother or sister, Child, Legal guardian and Attorney or legal representative67
ConnecticutThe person named on the record, Child, Grandchild, Spouse, A parent named on the record, Legal guardian, Grandparent, Attorney or legal representative, Genealogist or family researcher, Government agency and Person named in a court order8
District of ColumbiaThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Child, Brother or sister, Grandparent, Legal guardian and Attorney or legal representative9
FloridaAnyone10
GeorgiaThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Legal guardian, Grandparent, Child, Brother or sister, Spouse, Attorney or legal representative, Government agency and Person named in a court order1112
HawaiiThe person named on the record, Spouse, A parent named on the record, Child, Grandchild, Brother or sister, Grandparent, Legal guardian, Attorney or legal representative, Executor or estate administrator and Person named in a court order13
IdahoThe person named on the record and Attorney or legal representative14
IllinoisThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Legal guardian, Attorney or legal representative, Person named in a court order and Government agency1516
IndianaThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Grandparent, Brother or sister, Child, Grandchild, Spouse, Legal guardian, Attorney or legal representative, Government agency and Genealogist or family researcher17
IowaThe person named on the record, Spouse, Child, A parent named on the record, Brother or sister, Grandparent, Grandchild, Attorney or legal representative, Legal guardian, Executor or estate administrator and Funeral director1819
LouisianaThe person named on the record, Spouse, A parent named on the record, Child, Brother or sister, Grandparent, Grandchild, Legal guardian and Attorney or legal representative20
MaineThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Spouse, Domestic partner, Legal guardian, Child, Grandchild, Grandparent, Brother or sister, Attorney or legal representative and Government agency2122
MarylandThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Legal guardian, Spouse, Attorney or legal representative and Person named in a court order232425
MassachusettsThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Legal guardian, Attorney or legal representative and Person named in a court order2627
MinnesotaThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Child, Spouse, Grandparent, Grandchild, Attorney or legal representative, Executor or estate administrator, Government agency and Person named in a court order28
MississippiThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Spouse, Brother or sister, Grandparent, Child, Grandchild, Legal guardian, Attorney or legal representative, Person named in a court order and Government agency2930
MissouriThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Legal guardian, Grandparent, Child, Attorney or legal representative, Government agency and Person named in a court order31
NevadaThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Grandparent, Child, Brother or sister, Grandchild, Spouse, Domestic partner, Attorney or legal representative, Government agency and Legal guardian3233
New HampshireThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Spouse, Child, Brother or sister, Grandparent, Grandchild, Legal guardian, Attorney or legal representative and Genealogist or family researcher34
New JerseyThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Legal guardian, Attorney or legal representative, Spouse, Child, Brother or sister, Grandchild, Government agency, Person named in a court order and Executor or estate administrator35
New MexicoAnyone36
New YorkThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record and Person named in a court order37
New York CityThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Legal guardian, Attorney or legal representative, Spouse, Domestic partner, Child, Brother or sister and Grandchild383940
North CarolinaThe person named on the record, Spouse, A parent named on the record, Child, Brother or sister, Grandparent, Grandchild, Legal guardian and Attorney or legal representative4142
North DakotaAnyone43
Ohio–
OklahomaThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Attorney or legal representative, Person named in a court order, Legal guardian, Spouse, Grandparent, Government agency and Genealogist or family researcher44
PennsylvaniaThe person named on the record, Spouse, A parent named on the record, Brother or sister, Child, Grandparent, Grandchild and Attorney or legal representative45
South DakotaThe person named on the record, Spouse, Child, A parent named on the record, Legal guardian, Grandparent, Brother or sister, Grandchild, Attorney or legal representative and Funeral director4647
TennesseeThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Child, Spouse, Legal guardian and Attorney or legal representative48495051
TexasThe person named on the record, Child, A parent named on the record, Brother or sister, Grandparent, Spouse, Legal guardian and Attorney or legal representative52
UtahThe person named on the record, Spouse, Child, A parent named on the record, Brother or sister, Grandparent, Grandchild, Legal guardian, Attorney or legal representative, Funeral director, Government agency and Person named in a court order5354
VermontThe person named on the record, Spouse, Child, Grandchild, A parent named on the record, Brother or sister, Grandparent, Legal guardian, Executor or estate administrator, Attorney or legal representative, Person named in a court order and Government agency55
VirginiaAnyone56
WashingtonThe person named on the record, Spouse, Domestic partner, Child, A parent named on the record, Brother or sister, Grandparent, Grandchild, Legal guardian, Attorney or legal representative and Government agency57
West VirginiaThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Grandparent, Child, Grandchild, Brother or sister, Spouse, Legal guardian and Attorney or legal representative5859
GuamThe person named on the record, A parent named on the record, Legal guardian and Attorney or legal representative60

Open and closed records

Most states treat birth records as closed for many decades before anyone may get a copy; the period is set by each state's law. See are vital records public?

Proof of relationship

When you order for a relative, states often ask for proof that links you to the person on the record, such as your own birth certificate showing the same parent. Each state page lists what it asks for, where the state publishes it.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked between November 5, 2026 and November 6, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

  1. Code of Alabama section 22-9A-21 (ALISON, Alabama Legislature)Alabama Legislature (Code of Alabama, ALISON)
  2. Vital Records OrdersAlaska Department of Health, Health Analytics and Vital Recordsdated October 24, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  3. ADHS Vital Records: Who Can Obtain a Birth CertificateArizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Vital Records
  4. 2022 Vital Records Rule (PDF)Arkansas Department of Healthdated May 2, 2022
  5. Authorized Copy vs. Informational CopyCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated October 23, 2025
  6. Birth Certificate Application, REV. 10/2024Colorado Department of Public Health and Environmentdated October 1, 2024
  7. 5 CCR 1006-1 Vital Statistics, current version effective 04/14/2026Colorado Secretary of State, Code of Colorado Regulationsdated April 14, 2026
  8. C.G.S. Chapter 93, Registrars of Vital StatisticsConnecticut General Assemblydated January 1, 2026
  9. Birth certificatesdchealth.dc.gov/service/birth-certificatesDC Health, Vital Records Division
  10. The Florida Legislature: StatutesThe Florida Legislature
  11. GA R&R - GAC - Subject 511-1-3 VITAL RECORDSGeorgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgiadated September 27, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  12. Order certificates from the Georgia Office of Vital Records for births and deaths that occurred in…Georgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Records
  13. Hawaii Birth & Marriage CertificatesHawaii State Department of Health, Office of Health Status Monitoring
  14. Ordering a Birth CertificateIdaho Department of Health and Welfare
  15. Birth recordsIllinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records
  16. Birth record application (PDF)Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Recordsdated August 1, 2026
  17. Who is Eligible to Obtain a Birth Certificate?Indiana Department of Health
  18. Iowa Admin. Code 641 Ch. 95 Vital Records: General Administration (IAC 6/10/26)Iowa Legislaturedated July 1, 2026
  19. Vital RecordsIowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics
  20. How to order birth recordsLouisiana Department of Health, Center for Vital Records and Statistics
  21. Request DocumentsMaine DHHS, Maine CDC, Data, Research and Vital Statistics (DRVS)
  22. 22 MRS §2706 Disclosure of vital recordsMaine Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes
  23. Request Birth CertificatesMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
  24. Md. Code, Health-General § 4-217Maryland General Assembly (Annotated Code: Health-General Article)
  25. Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Birth RecordMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administrationdated October 1, 2021
  26. Order a birth, marriage, or death certificateMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
  27. M.G.L. c. 46, s. 2AGeneral Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusettsdated July 2, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  28. Minnesota Department of Health pageMinnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 27, 2026
  29. Mississippi State Department of Health Revised 02/2026 Form No. 522Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated February 1, 2026
  30. 1 Rev. October 10, 2025Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 10, 2025
  31. Order a Copy of a Vital Record | Missouri Department of Health and Senior ServicesMissouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records
  32. Attachment A - Proof Required ListNevada DPBH Office of Vital Recordsdated January 5, 2023
  33. Application for a Certified Copy of Birth CertificateNevada DPBH Office of Vital Records
  34. RSA Chapter 5-C Vital Records AdministrationNew Hampshire General Courtdated October 24, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  35. Department of HealthNew Jersey Department of Healthdated June 15, 2026
  36. 7.2.2 NMAC Vital Records and Health StatisticsNew Mexico State Records Center and Archives (NMAC)dated December 27, 2022
  37. Birth Certificates - New York State Department of HealthNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023
  38. Premium Mail Service ApplicationNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygienedated April 1, 2025
  39. Birth Certificates - NYC HealthNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  40. Application To Request an NYC Birth CertificateNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygienedated April 1, 2025
  41. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-93 Access to vital records; copiesNorth Carolina General Assemblydated February 13, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  42. NC Birth Certificate App (PDF)NC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Records (application form PDF hosted on vitalchek.com, linked from vitalrecords.nc.gov/order.htm and forms.htm)dated February 1, 2025
  43. NDCC chapter 23-02.1 Health Statistics ActNorth Dakota Legislative Branch
  44. Authorized Birth/Death Certificate Applicants and Document RequirementsOklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Recordsdated December 18, 2024
  45. Birth certificatespa.gov/agencies/health/programs/vital-records/birth-certificatesPennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records
  46. Vital Records Eligibility & IdentificationSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated January 9, 2025
  47. South Dakota Vital Records Request (application)South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  48. May I pick up a copy of a certificate for someone else?Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  49. Entitlement GuidelinesTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  50. I am the legal guardian of a child. May I request their birth certificate?Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  51. Get Copy of Birth CertificateMetro Public Health Department, Nashvilledated August 8, 2025
  52. Persons Qualified to Request or Change RecordsTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  53. Order a Vital Record CertificateUtah DHHS Office of Vital Records and Statistics
  54. Utah Code 26B-8-125Utah State Legislaturedated November 1, 2025
  55. 18 V.S.A. chapter 101 (Vital Records), full chapterVermont General Assemblydated May 9, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  56. Code of Virginia § 32.1-271 (disclosure; records made public)Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System (Code of Virginia)
  57. Chapter 70.58A RCW Vital Statistics (full text)Washington State Legislature
  58. Application for Certified Copy of West Virginia Birth Certificate (birthfm26.pdf)West Virginia Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health, Health Statistics Center (Vital Registration Office)dated January 9, 2009
  59. 64CSR32 Vital Statistics, Final File (effective May 8, 2025)West Virginia Secretary of State (Code of State Rules), rule of the WV Department of Healthdated May 8, 2025
  60. 26 GAR Chapter 2 Vital StatisticsGuam Compiler of Laws (Supreme Court of Guam)