Find Birth Records in Lehigh Acres
Birth records for Lehigh Acres are kept by the Lee County Health Department. Lehigh Acres is a large census-designated place in eastern Lee County, and like all unincorporated communities in Florida, it relies on the county health department for vital records services. You can order a birth certificate online, by mail, or by visiting the Lee County vital records office in person. The process is straightforward and the same for all Lee County residents.
Lehigh Acres Quick Facts
Lee County Health Department
The Lee County Health Department manages vital records for Lehigh Acres and the rest of the county. The main office is in Fort Myers, which is about a 20-minute drive from Lehigh Acres. The office handles birth certificates, death certificates, and other vital records for the whole county.
Lehigh Acres residents need to visit the Fort Myers office for in-person requests. Bring a valid photo ID. The staff will ask you to complete a form and pay the fee. Under Florida Statute 382.013, every birth in the state must be registered within five days. The hospital takes care of the paperwork. So if the birth happened in Florida, the record should be in the system. County-level records go back to 1917. Older records from before 1930 may only be at the state office in Jacksonville.
Check the Lee County Health Department website for the latest office hours, forms, and contact information. The site has downloadable forms you can fill out before your visit.
| Office | Lee County Health Department, Vital Records |
|---|---|
| Location | Fort Myers, FL (Lee County) |
| Hours | Monday - Friday (call for current hours) |
| Website | lee.floridahealth.gov |
How to Get a Birth Certificate in Lehigh Acres
Lehigh Acres residents have three options for ordering a birth certificate. You can go in person to the Lee County office in Fort Myers, order online through VitalChek, or submit a request by mail.
Going in person is the quickest way. Drive to the Lee County Health Department office in Fort Myers. Bring your photo ID and fill out the form at the counter. Pay the fee and wait for your copy. Most same-day requests are ready before you leave. This is the best choice if you need the certificate fast. The drive from Lehigh Acres is short, and the office usually processes requests while you wait.
Online orders use VitalChek. This is the only online vendor approved by the Florida Department of Health. VitalChek charges a service fee on top of the state fee. You pay with a card and the certificate comes by mail. Processing takes about three to five business days, plus mailing time. This works well for Lehigh Acres residents who cannot get to the Fort Myers office during the week.
Mail requests take the longest. Send a completed form, a photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order to the Lee County Health Department. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow two to four weeks for your order to arrive. Double-check that the fee amount is right before mailing.
Birth Certificate Fees for Lehigh Acres
The cost is $15 for the first certified copy. Extra copies ordered at the same time cost $10 each. These fees are based on Florida Statute 382.0255. The Lee County office accepts cash, checks, and money orders for in-person and mail requests.
VitalChek orders come with an extra service fee. The total is higher than what you would pay at the counter. If you need several copies for things like school, a passport, or insurance, order them all at once. The extra copy rate is lower, so you save money by getting them in one order. Lehigh Acres residents on a budget should consider the in-person option at the Fort Myers office since it is the cheapest route.
Who Can Request Lehigh Acres Birth Records
Birth records in Florida are not open to everyone. Under Florida Statute 382.025, they are confidential for 125 years. Only specific people can order a certified copy.
The person named on the record can order a copy if they are 18 or older. Parents, legal guardians, spouses, children, siblings, and grandparents also qualify. An attorney who represents any of those people can request one too. You must show a valid photo ID. Legal guardians need court documents. Attorneys need proof they represent a qualified person. Anyone who does not fit these categories can still get an informational copy, which has a stamp saying it is not certified.
If you have questions about your eligibility, contact the Lee County Health Department before making the trip from Lehigh Acres.
Correcting a Birth Certificate for Lehigh Acres Residents
Errors on a birth certificate happen. Maybe a name is misspelled or a date is wrong. The Florida Department of Health handles amendments to vital records. The process is set out in Florida Statute 382.016.
Small corrections might be done at the county level. Larger changes, like adding or changing a father's name, usually need a court order or a signed acknowledgment of paternity. Adoption-related changes go through the courts as well. Once the court signs off, the state updates the birth record. You can then order a corrected copy. Amendment fees are separate from the cost of a regular copy. Processing times vary depending on the type of change needed.
State Resources for Lehigh Acres Residents
The Florida Department of Health manages vital records for the whole state. The central office at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202 keeps records for all 67 Florida counties, including Lee. Call 904-359-6900 for state-level questions.
Florida's vital records system is centralized. Any county health department can pull up a record from another county. If you were born somewhere else in Florida but live in Lehigh Acres now, you can request your birth certificate through the Lee County office without contacting the county where you were born. This is a real convenience for people who have moved around the state.
The state website covers all the details about birth certificate ordering that apply to Lehigh Acres and the rest of Florida.
Nearby Florida Cities
These cities are near Lehigh Acres and also have birth records pages. They are in Lee County or nearby counties in southwest Florida.
Lee County Birth Records
Lehigh Acres is in Lee County. All birth certificate services for the area go through the Lee County Health Department. For more about county-level services, office details, and ordering options, see the full Lee County birth records page.