Family Tree Circles Locations
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Pennsylvania
Locations
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Wiki
State Offices
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Division of Vital Records
101 South Mercer Street, Room 401
New Castle, PA 16103-1528
Tel: (724) 656-3100
Mailing Address:
Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
The Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records maintains records of births and deaths that occurred in Pennsylvania from 1906 to the present. The Division of Vital Records issues only certified copies of birth and death records.
The Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records office does not issue copies of Pennsylvania marriage and divorce records. Copies of these vital records may be obtained by contacting the courthouse in the county where the marriage license was issued or divorce decree was granted.
Remarks:
The individual requesting a correction must include a completed
application, legible copy of his/her valid government issued photo
ID, such as state-issued driver's license or non-driver photo ID
verifying his/her current mailing address, and the required fee or
Armed Forces information.
Apostilles and Authentications
Many foreign governments require that a certified copy of a birth certificate also include an Apostille or Certification for various matters such as foreign adoptions, international business transactions, marriage, and dual citizenship.
This Apostille or Certification is issued by the Bureau of Commissions, Elections & Legislation of the Department of State.
Remarks:
Apostilles and Certifications are not issued for documents that
will be used within the United States.
The amendment process varies depending on the type of legal change needed, and how recently the record was filed.
Division of Vital Records Attn: Corrections Unit 101 S. Mercer Street, Room 401 PO Box 1528 New Castle, PA 16101
Tel: 1-877-PA-HEALTH
Tel: (724) 656-3130
Remarks:
Fees for amendments vary. In most cases where a hospital,
birthing center or funeral home requests a correction within a year
of the birth or death, the $30 amendment fee is waived.
Order In Person
In person at a public office (see 6 locations below):
Remarks: If a birth is unknown, an applicant may request for a multi birth year.
Mail requests are processed in approximately sixteen to eighteen weeks from the date of receipt.
The birth record(s) or a response to your request will automatically be shipped by UPS Air unless you select regular mail delivery for the Shipping Option.
If you do not change the Shipping Option to regular mail, the UPS Air delivery fee will be charged to the credit card used for ordering the certificate. Normal processing time for UPS delivery is approximately seven to ten business days or less.
Vital Records
Birth
Location:
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Division of Vital Records
101 South Mercer Street, Room 401
New Castle, PA 16103-1528
Tel: (724) 656-3100
Mailing Address:
Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
The Division of Vital Records maintains records of births that occurred from 1906 to the present. Certified copies of birth certificates (with a raised seal) are issued and acceptable for various uses.
If the person named on the birth certificate is deceased, a family member who is not an immediate family member must submit a copy of the death certificate to be eligible to receive a certified copy of the birth certificate.
Fee: $10.00 per copy
Time-frame: since January
1906
Notes:
This fee may be waived for individuals who served or are
currently serving in the Armed Forces or their dependents.
Remarks:
Pennsylvania birth certificates prior to 1906 can be accessed
through the courthouse in the county where the person was
born.
Corrections to Birth Certificates
The individual requesting a correction must include a completed application, legible copy of his/her valid government issued photo ID, such as state-issued driver's license or non-driver photo ID verifying his/her current mailing address, and the required fee or Armed Forces information.
An application form may be downloaded by selecting the application form link.
Remarks:
Mail requests are processed in approximately ten to twelve
weeks from the date of receipt.
If available, the Court will provide either or both of the following documents to the Pennsylvania Division at the time the Certificate of Adoption of a Foreign-Born Child (Pursuant to 23 Pa. C.S. � 2908) is filed:
- Copy of the adopted child�s U.S. Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560)
- Copy of the adopted child�s U.S. Passport
If neither document is submitted by the Court or with the Application for Certified Copy of Birth Record, the Division must, by law, include a notation on the certificate that it is not evidence of U.S. citizenship.
Fee: $10.00 per copy
Note:
This fee may be waived for the dependent of an individual who
served or is currently serving in the Armed Forces.
Remarks:
A copy of this child�s U.S. Certificate of Citizenship (Form
N-560) or U.S. Passport may be submitted to the Division at a later
date so that a certified copy of the child�s birth record may then
be issued without this notation.
Death
Location:
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Division of Vital Records
101 South Mercer Street, Room 401
New Castle, PA 16103-1528
Tel: (724) 656-3100
Mailing Address:
Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
The Division of Vital Records maintains records of deaths that occurred from 1906 to the present. Certified copies of death certificates (with a raised seal) are issued and acceptable for various uses.
Death certificates maintained by the Division of Vital Records are not public certificates and, therefore, cannot be released under the provisions of Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know-Law.
Fee: $9.00 per copy
Time-frame: since January
1906
Notes:
This fee may be waived for individuals who served or are
currently serving in the Armed Forces or their dependents. The
Armed Forces fee waiver does not apply to genealogical
requests.
Remarks:
Pennsylvania death certificates prior to 1906 can be accessed
through the courthouse in the county where the person
died.
Corrections to Death Certificates
The individual requesting a correction must include a legible copy of his/her valid government issued photo ID, such as state-issued driver's license or non-driver photo ID verifying his/her current mailing address.
Remarks:
Mail requests are processed in approximately 8 to 10 weeks from
the date of receipt.
The Division of Vital Records issues only certified copies of fetal death records with the raised seal. Fetal death certificates maintained by the Division of Vital Records are not public certificates and, therefore, cannot be released under the provisions of Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know-Law.
Fee: $9.00 per copy
Remarks:
This fee may be waived for the dependent of an individual who
served or is currently serving in the Armed Forces.
Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth
Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth applications may be filed in person at a public office; however, the Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth will be mailed from the central office in New Castle, Pennsylvania.
Fee: $9.00 per copy
Remarks:
This fee may be waived for the dependent of an individual who
served or is currently serving in the Armed Forces.
Marriage
Location:
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Division of Vital Records
101 South Mercer Street, Room 401
New Castle, PA 16103-1528
Tel: (724) 656-3100
Mailing Address:
Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
Since September 30, 1885, marriage licenses have been required in Pennsylvania and are maintained by the Marriage License Clerk in the county courthouse of the county issuing the license.
Before September 30, 1885 the issuing of licenses was not obligatory, but was intended for those cases where the banns were not published or the marriage in church was dispensed with.
For these earlier marriages, church records and newspapers may provide information.
Fee: Varies
Notes:
Make application to the Marriage License Clerks, County Court
House, in county where license was issued.
Divorce
Location:
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Division of Vital Records
101 South Mercer Street, Room 401
New Castle, PA 16103-1528
Tel: (724) 656-3100
Mailing Address:
Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
Since 1804, Divorce Records have been kept in the Prothonotary's Office in the county where the divorce was granted. In addition, local newspapers frequently published notices of divorce actions.
Divorces were rare in colonial Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary War and early statehood. Some Pennsylvania divorces granted by the Legislative Assembly and the Supreme Court are in the Statutes At Large of Pennsylvania.
Fee: Varies
Notes:
In 1847, the Court of Common Pleas alone began to govern
divorce action. Since 1804, these records have been kept in the
Prothonotary's Office in the county where the divorce was
granted.
Remarks:
Make application to the Prothonotary, Court House, in county
seat of county where divorce was granted.
