asset: birth-certificate-fees-by-state

asset_type: fee-schedule

body: For each US state (and DC, NYC and the territories — 57 vital-records jurisdictions): what a certified birth certificate costs when ordered directly from the state's vital records office, how to order, and what the state itself says about third-party ordering services. The federal compilation of exactly this — CDC's 'Where to Write for Vital Records' — was last updated March 2023 and its pages 403 automated fetchers, so the assembled answer is stale or unreachable, and the gap is filled by commercial middlemen: VitalChek and lookalike sites charge processing markups on top of the state fee, and Washington's health department itself warns that 'other third-party companies charge customers high fees'. Actual fees vary threefold (Minnesota $26, New York $45 plus vendor fee). Answers 'how much does a birth certificate cost in [state]', 'how do I order a birth certificate directly from the state', and 'is [ordering site] official or a middleman'. Every value comes from the state health department's own page.

key_field: state

licence: unknown

title: Ordering a birth certificate: each state's own fee and process

type: dataset


body:
**Jurisdiction:** Minnesota

**How to order direct:** Order Minnesota vital records, certificates, and related services through the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) by mail or fax

> Order Minnesota vital records, certificates, and related services through the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) by mail or fax. This includes:

Source: <https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/index.html>

state: Minnesota

title: Minnesota — Ordering a birth certificate: each state's own fee and process

type: fee-schedule


body:
**Jurisdiction:** Minnesota

**Certified copy fee:** $26

> Birth certificate Certified birth record issued on security paper | <https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/docs/bcappia.pdf> Birth Certificate Request (PDF) <https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/docs/bcappspanish.pdf> Solicitud de copia certificada del acta (partida) de nacimiento - Spanish (PDF) <https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/docs/bcappsomali.pdf> Codsiga Shahaadada Dhalshada - Somali (PDF) <https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/docs/bcapphmong.pdf> Daim Ntawv Thov Ntawv Pov Thawj Yug - Hmong (PDF) <https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/docs/bcappkaren.pdf> Birth Certificate Application in the Karen Language (PDF) | $26 | All vital records offices* |

Source: <https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/birthnc.html>


body:
**Jurisdiction:** New York State

**Certified copy fee:** $45 + vendor processing fee per transaction (not per copy)

> ORDER TYPE | FEES (per copy) | Online/Phone orders | $45 + vendor processing fee per transaction (not per copy) See vendor website for current processing fee | Mail orders | $30

Source: <https://www.health.ny.gov/vital_records/birth.htm>

state: New York State

title: New York State — Ordering a birth certificate: each state's own fee and process


body:
**Jurisdiction:** Washington

**Certified copy fee:** Nonrefundable fees start at $25 per certified or noncertified informational copy

> What Does It Cost? Nonrefundable fees start at $25 per certified or noncertified informational copy. Other fees may apply depending on ordering or shipping method.

Source: <https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/vital-records/ordering-vital-record/birth-record>

state: Washington

title: Washington — Ordering a birth certificate: each state's own fee and process


body:
**Jurisdiction:** Washington

**State's word on third-party services:** VitalChek is our ONLY contracted and approved third-party vendor. Other third-party companies charge customers high fees to “process” or “help apply” for vital record certificates.

> Important note: VitalChek is our ONLY contracted and approved third-party vendor. Other third-party companies charge customers high fees to “process” or “help apply” for vital record certificates.

Source: <https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/vital-records>