Home › Tennessee › How-To Guide
Tennessee · How-To Guide

How do I get a copy of a birth certificate?

Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records (state level - Nashville) / Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) / Local County Health Departments (for some records)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Determine eligibility: TN birth records restricted. Eligible: the registrant (if adult), parents, legal guardian, legal representative, spouse, child, and others with direct and tangible interest.
  2. Choose your method:
  3. ONLINE (VitalChek - authorized): vitalrecords.tn.gov or through VitalChek; $15/copy + VitalChek fee; faster processing
  4. BY MAIL (TN Vital Records): Complete application (from tn.gov/health/vr); include photocopy of valid photo ID; check or money order payable to "Tennessee Vital Records"; mail to: Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Central Services Building, 421 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37243; fee $15/copy
  5. IN PERSON (TN Vital Records - Nashville): walk-in during business hours at Central Services Building, Nashville; bring photo ID; same-day service available
  6. IN PERSON (Tennessee State Library and Archives - Nashville): on-site fee $5.50 per certified document; some records available here too; call ahead at (615) 741-2764
  7. LOCAL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT: Many counties have computerized short-form certificates; short form: typically $8 first copy, $5 each additional (some counties charge different); long form (required for some purposes): $15; call your county health dept to confirm availability
  8. Submit with valid photo ID copy and proof of qualifying relationship
  9. Pay the fee
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Completed birth certificate application
  • Clear photocopy of valid government-issued photo ID
  • Proof of qualifying relationship if requesting for another
  • Payment: check or money order (mail); card accepted at some offices and online
Processing Time
TN Vital Records mail: up to 8 weeks (GoCertificates indicates current processing ~8 weeks); VitalChek: faster; in-person: same day; local county: faster
Online Option
VitalChek (authorized); vitalrecords.tn.gov
Where to Go
TN Vital Records (Nashville - in-person or mail); TSLA (Nashville); VitalChek online; local county health department (for short-form or local records)
County-specific variations apply

Many TN county health departments can issue short-form birth certificates for births in their county. Shelby County (Memphis), Davidson County (Nashville), Knox County (Knoxville), Hamilton County (Chattanooga) have well-established county health departments. Very small rural TN counties may have limited county-level vital records capability.

Tennessee Notes

Important state-specific details

  • TN Vital Records mail processing: currently approximately 8 weeks - use VitalChek or in-person for faster service.
  • State office also holds marriage and divorce certificates (unusual - most states do not).
  • TN has birth records dating to approximately 1908-1913 at state level; older records at TSLA or county level.
  • TSLA (Tennessee State Library and Archives): valuable for genealogical research and older records; on-site fee $5.50; call ahead.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
$15 per certified copy; $15 each additional copy at same time FEE - TSLA (State Archives): $5.50 per certified copy on-site FEE - LOCAL COUNTY: Short form: approximately $8 first copy, $5 additional; long form: $15; verify with specific county PROCESSING TIME: TN Vital Records mail: up to 8 weeks (GoCertificates indicates current processing ~8 weeks); VitalChek: faster; in-person: same day; local county: faster ONLINE OPTION: VitalChek (authorized); vitalrecords.tn.gov WHERE TO GO: TN Vital Records (Nashville - in-person or mail); TSLA (Nashville); VitalChek online; local county health department (for short-form or local records)