Birth Certificates

To protect the privacy of sensitive information and to prevent identity theft, birth certificates are not public records. As required by state law, we restrict access to these certificates, but they are readily available to individuals, family members, guardians, or beneficiaries. We require individuals to produce photo identification and/or other documentation before releasing these confidential records or portions of the records.

Requesting Birth Certificates

Birth certificates are commonly requested for identification, to prove citizenship, and for other purposes. The State Office of Vital Statistics, located at 1217 Pearl St., Jacksonville, FL, maintains the original copies of birth records from all counties within the State of Florida. DOH-Nassau provides you with a certified certificate that you can legally keep and use.

Who Can Obtain a Copy of a Birth Certificate?

• Individuals 18 years of age and older may obtain their own certificate.
• Parents or guardians (with court documents showing legal custody).
• Attorneys representing children and adolescents under 18 (with required documentation).

Required Information

• A valid form of photo identification (driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military ID).
• For mailed or faxed requests, provide readable photocopies.
• A completed Birth Certificate Application Form.
• Additionally, you will need to provide:
  • Full name of the person on the certificate.
  • Date of birth.
  • County of birth.
  • Mother’s full name (including maiden name).
  • Father’s full name (if applicable).

Processing Time

• Mailed requests: Processed within 2 business days from receipt.
• In-person requests: Processed immediately, typically within 15 minutes.

Fees and Application

• $15 for one certified copy.
• Application for Florida Birth Record.

Additional Information

• Accepted payment methods: cash, checks, money orders, or major credit cards (except Discover cards). Do NOT send cash by mail.
• Faxed requests must be paid by credit card (include a legible copy of the credit card and a valid photo ID).
• For overnight delivery, include a paid overnight envelope with your request or send additional money to cover the overnight fees.

How to Obtain a Copy of a Birth Certificate

1. Visit our main office: 1620 Nectarine Street, Fernandina Beach, FL (across from Baptist Medical Center–Nassau). Open Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
2. Mail a request to:
   • Office of Vital Statistics
     Florida Department of Health in Nassau County
     1620 Nectarine St.
     Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
3. Fax a request to: 904-428-5632

Birth Certificates for Other States

For information on obtaining vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce) for other states, visit the National Center for Health Statistics website.