How to get a Massachusetts birth certificate

In Massachusetts, order a certified birth certificate from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics.¹ City or town clerk where the event occurred also issues certified copies.² Each certified copy costs $32³. You can order online, by mail, in person, at a local office or by phone. Only the people the state lists below can order a certified copy. The fastest published option is in person: same day³.

Last checked November 5, 2026 against official sources.

On this page

Ways to order
What a Massachusetts birth certificate costs
How long it takes
Who can order a Massachusetts birth certificate
ID you need
What the application asks for
Forms
Years held and older records
Special situations
The state office
Questions people ask
Sources

Current notice from the office

1931-1935 birth, marriage and death records moved to the Massachusetts State Archives¹

Ways to order

How	Cost per copy	Processing time	Payment
Online through VitalChek	$54⁴ first, $42³ each extra copy + 4 possible extra charges	Up to 10 business days³	Card³
By mail	$32³ + one extra charge	–	Check and money order³
In person	$20³	Same day³	–
At a local office	Set by each office, for example $12⁵ or $14⁵	–	–
By phone	$54⁴ first, $42⁴ each extra copy	Up to 10 business days³	Card³

Online through VitalChek

Vendor: VitalChek³
Fees: First copy $54⁴
Each additional copy in the same order $42³
Processing or service fee $12³
First copy $62.50³
Each additional copy in the same order $50.50³
Standard USPS First Class Mail $0³
UPS Second Day Shipping $12.50³
UPS Next Day Shipping $19.50³
Processing time: Up to 10 business days³
Expedited service: Processed and shipped the next business day; expedited prices are $62.50 first copy and $50.50 each additional copy instead of $54.00/$42.00³
Payment: Card³

Good to know

Search-only (research) requests are not available by phone⁴

Go to the ordering site⁴

By mail

Run by: Registry of Vital Records and Statistics⁴
Fees: Per copy $32³
Expedited Mail Request $42³
Expedited service: $42. Expedited Mail Service: $42.00 per copy instead of $32.00; processed and shipped within 10 business days of receipt³
Payment: Check and money order³
Make payable to: Commonwealth of Massachusetts⁴
Mail to: Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS), 150 Mt. Vernon St, 1st floor, Dorchester, MA 02125
⁶

Good to know

Limit of five searches per mail request⁶
A postage-paid, self-addressed envelope or prepaid carrier envelope is required⁶

Open the application or mail instructions⁴

In person

Run by: Registry of Vital Records and Statistics⁴
Fees: Per copy $20³
Processing time: Same day³
Make payable to: Commonwealth of Massachusetts⁴
Office: 150 Mount Vernon St., 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125
⁷
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m.⁴

Open the official page¹

At a local office

Run by: City or town clerk where the event occurred (e.g. City of Boston Registry Division)²
Fees: Per copy $12⁵
Per copy $14⁵

Find a local office⁸

By phone

Run by: VitalChek⁴
Fees: First copy $54⁴
Each additional copy in the same order $42⁴
Processing time: Up to 10 business days³
Expedited service: Processed and shipped the next business day at $62.50 first copy / $50.50 each additional³
Payment: Card³

Good to know

Research is not available via phone⁴

What a Massachusetts birth certificate costs

First certified copy: $32³
Each additional copy, same order: $32⁶
Expedite fee: $42³
Each extra year searched: $32⁶
Fees in effect since: 2026 fee schedule (no exact effective date printed)⁹

Types of copies

Copy	Accepted for	Fee
Certified copy⁴	–	$32⁴
Negative Statement³	Required to establish a delayed record or correct an existing record⁶	$32³
Non-certified record of birth prior to adoption¹⁰	–	$32¹⁰

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

How you order	Processing time	Counted
Online through VitalChek	Up to 10 business days³	Before shipping
In person	Same day³	From receipt
By phone	Up to 10 business days³	Before shipping

Who can order a Massachusetts birth certificate

The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.

The person named on the record and a parent named on the record: if the conditions in the state’s rule are met⁴
Father not listed on the record (this requires documentation supporting paternity)⁴
Proof: Documentation supporting paternity⁴
Legal guardian⁴
Proof: Documentation supporting guardianship⁴
Attorney or legal representative⁴
Proof: Documentation supporting representation⁴
Person named in a court order¹¹

ID you need

Photo ID: Required⁴
Accepted ID: Driver’s license (even expired)
Government issued Photo ID⁴
Without that ID: Photo ID from Work or School
Personal Documents (Utility Bills, W-2 Form, Pay Stub, Library Card, Military ID, etc.)
Massachusetts Issued ID Cards (RMV, SNAP, DTA, etc.)
Correctional Facility ID
⁶
ID copy with a mail order: Include a copy of your ID⁶

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.⁶

Name of subject (first, middle, surname at birth or adoption)
Date of birth
Massachusetts city/town of birth
Parent 1 name
Parent 2 name
Relationship of requester
Reason for request

Forms

Application for Vital Record (mail order form)⁶

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds: 1936 to today⁶
Older records: Massachusetts Archives (1841-1935); city/town clerks (earlier, some from 1635)¹²

Special situations

If no record is found: A certified Negative Statement is issued when no record is found; it is needed to establish a delayed record or correct a record⁴ Details
Use abroad: Apostilles are issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth on copies bearing the original signature of the Registrar of Vital Records or a city/town clerk¹³ Details
Delayed registration: A Negative Statement plus evidence of birth (hospital record, notarized midwife/physician affidavit, parents' marriage license, proof of residence for home births); $50 per record; filed in person at the city/town clerk or RVRS¹⁴ Details
Adoption: Adult adoptees born in Massachusetts (and certain descendants/adoptive parents) may get the pre-adoption birth record without a court order; no year-of-birth restriction since 11/3/22¹⁰ Details
Sex marker: Amend sex on a Massachusetts birth record by affidavit (notarized if mailed); $50 amendment fee¹⁵ Details

The state office

Office: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS)¹
Phone: (617) 740-2600¹
Email: [email protected]¹
Mailing address: Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS), 150 Mt. Vernon St, 1st floor, Dorchester, MA 02125
⁶
Walk-in address: 150 Mount Vernon St., 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125
⁷
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:45 am-4:45 pm (genealogical research: Mon 1-4, Tue 9-12, Thu 1-4, Fri 9-12)⁷
Website: Official website¹

Questions people ask

How much is a certified Massachusetts birth certificate?

Each certified copy costs $32.³⁶

How long does it take to get a Massachusetts birth certificate?

Online through VitalChek: up to 10 business days. In person: same day. By phone: up to 10 business days.³

Can I order a Massachusetts birth certificate online?

Yes. Online through VitalChek.³

Who do I make the check or money order payable to?

Write it exactly as the office prints it: Commonwealth of Massachusetts.⁴

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: Driver’s license (even expired); Government issued Photo ID.⁴

Where are older Massachusetts birth certificates kept?

Massachusetts Archives (1841-1935); city/town clerks (earlier, some from 1635).¹²

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.

Registry of Vital Records and StatisticsMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
Learn about records available through RVRSMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
Vital records service feesMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
Order a birth, marriage, or death certificateMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
How to get a birth certificateCity of Boston Registry Divisiondated August 5, 2026
Application for Vital Record (mail order form, DOCX)Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (location)Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
Researching Vital Records at the Massachusetts ArchivesSecretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Archivesdated September 17, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
2026 RVRS Service Fees (PDF)Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
Apply for a pre-adoption birth record (how-to)Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statisticsdated November 3, 2022
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
Learn about conducting genealogical researchMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
Apostilles and Certification of DocumentsSecretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Commissions Sectiondated October 4, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
Establish a delayed record of birthMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
Amend a birth certificate for sex of the subjectMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics