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Oklahoma · How-To Guide

How do I get a copy of a birth certificate?

Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), Vital Records Service (state level - Oklahoma City)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Determine eligibility: Oklahoma birth records are restricted. Eligible: the registrant, parents, legal guardian, legal representative, and others with legal interest. Birth records over 125 years old and death records over 50 years old are open to all.
  2. Choose your method:
  3. ONLINE/PHONE - VitalChek (fastest - 2 business days to process): Order at vitalchek.com or call VitalChek by phone; select "Will Call" for pickup at Oklahoma City, Tulsa, or McAlester locations within 2 business days of order; or select mail delivery; complete application, pay with credit card, provide photo ID information; VitalChek charges additional service fees
  4. BY MAIL: Download birth certificate application from oklahoma.gov/health/services/birth-and-death-certificates; include copy of valid government-issued photo ID; check or money order payable to "OSDH"; mail to: Vital Records Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health, PO Box 248964, Oklahoma City, OK 73124-8964; allow 2-3 weeks (standard; longer if incomplete)
  5. WILL CALL PICKUP: Order online or by phone first; pick up at Will Call at 3 locations during hours of 12:00 PM-4:45 PM Mon-Fri; bring photo ID and order confirmation:
  6. Oklahoma City: OSDH, 1000 NE 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117
  7. Tulsa: James O. Goodwin Health Center, 5051 S. 129th East Ave, Tulsa, OK
  8. McAlester: Pittsburg County Health Department, 1400 East College Ave, McAlester, OK
  9. Submit with valid government-issued photo ID copy and proof of qualifying relationship
  10. Pay the fee
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Completed birth certificate application
  • Copy of valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID)
  • Proof of qualifying relationship if requesting for another
  • Payment: check or money order for mail; card for VitalChek/online
Fee
$15 per certified copy (state fee); VitalChek/online adds service fees; Will Call: no additional fee beyond VitalChek charge
Processing Time
VitalChek/online/phone: approximately 2 business days to process; mail: 2-3 weeks; Will Call: 2 business days after order
Online Option
Yes - VitalChek is the authorized online/phone vendor; Oklahoma.gov for links; also check ok2explore.health.ok.gov for index search
Where to Go
VitalChek online/phone (fastest); Will Call pickup at OKC/Tulsa/McAlester; OSDH by mail (Oklahoma City)
Oklahoma Notes

Important state-specific details

  • NO WALK-IN SERVICE at Oklahoma Vital Records lobbies; must order online, by phone, or by mail.
  • WILL CALL SERVICE: order online/phone first, then pick up at OKC, Tulsa, or McAlester within 2 business days; Will Call hours 12 PM-4:45 PM Mon-Fri; bring photo ID and order confirmation.
  • State has records since October 1908; pre-1908 records at Oklahoma Historical Society.
  • FREE SEARCHABLE INDEX: ok2explore.health.ok.gov allows searching birth and death indexes (births 20+ years old; deaths 5+ years old) to confirm existence of record before ordering.
  • Birth records open (no eligibility required) once 125+ years old; death records open once 50+ years old.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
OSDH Vital Records Service - oklahoma.gov/health/services/birth-and-death-certificates | (405) 426-8880 | [email protected] | PO Box 248964, Oklahoma City, OK 73124-8964; Free index: ok2explore.health.ok.gov