Birth Records in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, the Division of Vital Records provides certified copes of birth records. These are the certificates with the official raised seal that are often requested as proof of identification. Information concerning vital records in Pennsylvania can be obtained at the following website: www.health.state.pa.us/vitalrecords

Individuals who are permitted to request a copy of a birth certificate:

� Legal representative of the estate of the individual named on the birth certificate.
� Immediate and extended family members including spouse, son, daughter, mother, father, brother, half brother, sister, half sister, grandparent/great grandparent (maternal or paternal), grandchild, great grandchild, stepparent, stepson, or stepdaughter. Additional information may be required from extended family members and legal representatives.
� Applicant must be at least eighteen years of age.

Basic information to be included with requests for birth certificates:

� Full name of the person named on the birth certificate.
� Date of birth. If the exact date of birth is unknown, an additional fee may be charged for retrieval of the information.
� County and city of birth.
� Gender of the individual named on the birth certificate.
� Parents� names. Mother�s name must include her maiden name.
� Social security number of the individual named on the birth certificate.
� Relationship to the person whose name is on the birth certificate.
� Reason for the request for an official copy of the birth certificate.
� Applicant�s signature.
� Applicant�s daytime telephone number. This includes the area code.
� Applicant�s mailing address.
� Items for which you do not know the correct response should be filled in with the word �unknown.�

Fees associated with acquiring a copy of an official birth certificate:

� No fee is required for active and inactive members of the Armed Forces and their dependents.
� A $10.00 fee per copy for civilians. Payment may be made by check or money order written to �Vital Records.� Online and fax requests must be paid with Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. The credit card must be in the name of the requestor. An additional fee of $7.00 is charged for online and facsimile requests.
� If you use an express carrier including UPS, FedEx, and Express Mail, an additional $13.50 will be added to your cost.

Additional fees are typically charged to locate birth certificates when the date of birth is unknown. The initial fee generally covers a range of years with an additional fee being assessed for continued searches.

Four different methods are available to obtain a copy of a birth certificate: postal mail, in person, fax, and online. To submit a request for a birth certificate in Pennsylvania, the following link can be used: www.vitalchek.com/

How to Apply for Certified Copied of Birth Certificates Online

Before you can submit an online request, you will be required to read and agree to a disclaimer form located at the following link: www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/

Next, you need to use drop down selection menus to fill in some of the information that pertains to your request including: type of certificate, city, county, date of the event, and the reason for the request. Select continue once the information has been filled in and you will be taken to a page to select your shipping options. Following this step, you will be required to complete the application.

The certificate will only be mailed to the address that corresponds to the credit card
account that is used for payment. Requests are generally processed within three to five business days. Birth certificates will be sent through postal mail unless a request and payment has been made for an express carrier including UPS, FedEx, and Express Mail. A signature is required to receive a certified copy of the birth certificate through an express carrier. An additional charge is assessed for the use of an express carrier.

Requests for records pertaining to births that occurred during any of the following years must be faxed: 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. Additionally, requests for records for records for genealogical reasons will not be processed.

How to Apply for Certified Copied of Birth Certificates by Postal Mail

A postal mail application to request an official copy of a birth certificate can be obtained at the following link: www.dsf.health.state.pa.us

Send the completed form with signature, a legible copy of a government issued photo identification card, and payment information to the following address:

Division of Vital Records
101 South Mercer Street
Room 401
PO Box 1528
New Castle, Pa 16101

Acceptable forms of identification include a state issued driver�s license or non-driver photo identification card that includes the current address. Photo identification should be enlarged by 150% or more. Please note that photo identification will be shredded after it has been processed.

How to Apply for Certified Copied of Birth Certificates by Fax

Obtain an application for facsimile requests at the following link: www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/.

Send the completed form with signature, a legible copy of a government issued photo identification card, and payment information to 724-652-8951. Acceptable forms of identification include a state issued driver�s license or non-driver photo identification card that includes the current address. Photo identification should be enlarged by 150% or more. Please note that photo identification will be shredded after it has been processed.

The certificate will only be mailed to the address that corresponds to the credit card account that is used for payment. Requests are generally processed within three to five business days. Birth certificates will be sent through postal mail unless a request and payment has been made for an express carrier including UPS, FedEx, and Express Mail. A signature is required to receive a certified copy of the birth certificate through an express carrier. An additional charge is assessed for the use of an express carrier.

How to Apply for Certified Copied of Birth Certificates in Person

Six public different public offices are available for in person requests. They are listed here:

Division of Vital Records
Erie Branch Office
1910 West 26th Street
Erie, Pa. 16508-1148

Division of Vital Records
Harrisburg Branch Office
Health & Welfare Building
Room 129
Harrisburg, Pa. 17120-0012

Division of Vital Records
Philadelphia State Office Building
1400 West Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, Pa 19130-4090

Division of Vital Records
Pittsburgh State Office Building
Room 512
300 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pa 15222-1210

Division of Vital Records
Scranton State Office Building
Room 112
100 Lackawanna Avenue
Scranton, Pa 18503-4595

Division of Vital Records
Central Building
Room401
101 South Mercer Street
New Castle, Pa 16101

Office hours are between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays. State holidays are excluded. A legible copy of a government issued photo identification card is required. Acceptable forms of identification include a state issued driver�s license or non-driver photo identification card that includes the current address.

The Erie Branch maintains birth records to the present. Requests for records for genealogical reasons will be processed. Same day service is available if the requestor can return for pick up prior to 2:00 p.m. that day.

The Harrisburg Branch accepts requests for all years. Requests for records for genealogical reasons will be processed. However, there will be no same day service available for those.

The Philadelphia Branch only maintains birth records to the present. Same day service is available if the requestor can return for pick up prior to 2:00 p.m. that day. However, same day service is not available for genealogical requests.

The Pittsburgh Branch maintains birth records to the present. Same day service is available if the requestor can return for pick up prior to 2:00 p.m. that day. However, same day service is not available for genealogical requests.

The Scranton Branch maintains birth records to the present. Same day service is available if the requestor can return for pick up prior to 2:00 p.m. that day. However, same day service is not available for genealogical requests.

The New Castle Branch maintains birth records to the present. Same day service is available and usually takes one hour. However, same day service is not available for genealogical requests.

Interested in obtaining your birth certificate?

Here is a list of counties, offering information on who to contact, so that you can apply for your own birth certificate today:

Pennsylvania: ~ http://www.statelocalgov.net/state-pa.htm

Adams County ~ http://dsf.pacounties.org/adams/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=461597&adamsNav=|27138|
Gettysburg, PA
717 - 334 - 6781

Allegheny County ~ http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/cofc/
Pittsburgh, PA
412 - 350 - 4230

Armstrong County
Kittanning, PA
724 - 543 - 2500

Beaver County ~ http://www.co.beaver.pa.us/Clerkofcourts/services.htm
Beaver, PA
724 - 728 - 5700

Bedford County
Bedford, PA
814 - 623 - 4833

Berks County ~ http://www.co.berks.pa.us/berks/cwp/view.asp?a=1157&q=456655
Reading, PA
610 - 478 - 6617

Blair County
Hollidaysburg, PA
814 - 693 - 3080

Bradford County ~ http://www.bradfordcountypa.org/ElectedOfficials/
Towanda, PA
570 - 265 - 1703

Bucks County ~ http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/
Doylestown, PA
215 - 348 - 6257

Butler County ~ http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/
Butler, PA
724 - 284 - 5354

Cambria County ~ http://www.co.cambria.pa.us/cambria/lib/
Ebensburg, PA
814 - 472 - 1440

Cameron County
Emporium, PA
814 - 486 - 3349

Carbon County ~ http://www.carboncounty.com/archives.htm
Jim Thorpe, PA
570 - 325 - 2261

Centre County ~ http://www.co.centre.pa.us/224.asp
Bellefonte, PA
814 - 355 - 6724

Chester County
Westchester, PA
215 - 344 - 6335

Clarion County ~ http://www.co.clarion.pa.us/offices.html
Clarion, PA
814 - 226 - 4000

Clearfield County ~ http://www.clearfieldco.org/Departments/Register
Clearfield, PA
814 - 765 - 2641

Clinton County ~ http://www.clintoncountypa.com/register_&_recorder.htm
Lock Haven, PA
570 - 893 - 4010

Columbia County
Bloomsburg, PA
570 - 389 - 5615

Crawford County ~ http://co.crawford.pa.us/register_and_recorder/
Meadville, PA
814 - 333 - 7442

Cumberland County ~ http://www.ccpa.net/cumberland/cwp/
Carlisle, PA
717 - 240 - 6345

Dauphin County ~ http://www.dauphinc.org/deeds/
Harrisburg, PA
717 - 257 - 1591

Delaware County
Media, PA
610 - 891 - 4400

Elk County ~ http://www.co.elk.pa.us/electedofficials.html
Ridgway, PA
814 - 776 - 5349

Erie County ~ https://secure.eriepa.us/default.aspx?id=rw
Erie, PA
814 - 451 - 6264

Fayette County ~ http://www.fayettepa.org/County/index.html
Uniontown, PA
724 - 430 - 1206

Forest County
Tionesta, PA
814 - 755 - 3526

Franklin County ~ http://www.co.franklin.pa.us/franklin
Chambersburg, PA
717 - 261 - 3805

Fulton County
Mc Connellsburg, PA
717 - 485 - 4212

Greene County
Waynesburg, PA
412 - 852 - 1171

Huntingdon County ~ http://huntingdoncounty.net/hunt%5Fco/site/default.asp
Huntingdon, PA
814 - 643 - 2740

Indiana County ~ http://www.countyofindiana.org/Court2.htm
Indiana, PA
724 - 465 - 3860

Jefferson County
Brookville, PA
814 - 849 - 1610

Juniata County ~ http://www.co.juniata.pa.us/
Mifflintown, PA
717 - 436 - 7709

Lackawanna County ~ http://www.lackawannacounty.org/
Scraton, PA
570 - 963 - 6702

Lancaster County ~ http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco/cwp/
Lancaster, PA
717 - 299 - 8243

Lawrence County ~ http://www.co.lawrence.pa.us/rr/index.htmll
Newcastle, PA
724 - 656 - 2440

Lebanon County ~ http://dsf.pacounties.org/lebanon/cwp/
Lebanon, PA
717 - 228 - 4414

Lehigh County ~ http://www.lehighcounty.org/elect/elect.cfm?doc=elect_deeds.htm
Allentown, PA
610 - 782 - 3173

Luzerne County ~ http://www.luzernecounty.org/luzerne/cwp/
Wilkes-Barre, PA
570 - 825 - 1668

Lycoming County ~ http://www.lyco.org/lyco/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=428676
Williamsport, PA
570 - 327 - 2262

Mc Kean County
Smethport, PA
814 - 887 - 3260

Mercer County ~ http://141.151.130.246/resolution/
Mercer, PA
724 - 662 - 3800

Mifflin County ~ http://www.co.mifflin.pa.us/mifflin/site/default.asp
Lewistown, PA
717 - 242 - 1449

Monroe County ~ http://www.co.monroe.pa.us/planning_records/
Stroudsburg, PA
570 - 420 - 3400

Montgomery County ~ http://www.montcopa.org/rod/
Norristown, PA
610 - 278 - 3000

Montour County ~
Danville, PA
570 - 271 - 3012

Northampton County ~ http://www.northamptoncounty.org/northampton/
Easton, PA
610 - 559 - 3060

Northumberland County ~ http://www.northumberlandco.org/
Sunbury, PA
570 - 988 - 4143

Perry County ~ http://www.perryco.org/perry/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=412975
New Bloomfield, PA
717 - 582 - 2131

Philadelphia County
Philadelphia, PA
215 - 685 - 7681

Pike County ~ http://www.pikepa.org/recorder.htm
Milford, PA
570 - 296 - 7231

Potter County
Coudersport, PA
814 - 274 - 8370

Schuylkill County ~ http://www.co.schuylkill.pa.us/Offices/
Pottsville, PA
570 - 622 - 5570

Snyder County ~ http://www.snydercounty.org/snyder/cwp/view.asp
Middleburg, PA
570 - 837 - 4226

Somerset County ~ http://www.co.somerset.pa.us/recorder.htm
Somerset, PA
814 - 445 - 2096

Sullivan County ~ http://www.sullivancounty-pa.us/
La Porte, PA
570 - 946 - 7351

Susquehanna County ~ http://www.susqco.com/
Montrose, PA
570 - 278 - 4600

Tioga County
Wellsboro, PA
570 - 724 - 9281

Union County ~ http://dsf.seda-cog.org/union/lib/union/orphanscourtfees2005.pdf
Lewisburg, PA
570 - 524 - 8761

Venango County ~ http://www.co.venango.pa.us/Reg_Recorder/Index.html
Franklin, PA
814 - 432 - 9577

Warren County
Warren, PA
814 - 723 - 7550

Washington County ~ http://www.co.washington.pa.us/maindepartment.php?menuDept=28
Washington, PA
724 - 228 - 6806

Wayne County ~ http://www.co.wayne.pa.us/
Honesdale, PA
570 - 253 - 5970

Westmoreland County ~ http://www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/westmoreland/
Greensburg, PA
724 - 830 - 3177

Wyoming County ~ http://www.pacounties.org/wyoming/CWP/view.asp
Tunkhannock, PA
570 - 836 - 3200

York County ~ http://www.york-county.org/prothonotary.html
York, PA
717 - 771 - 9615

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