Bradford County Birth Records

Bradford County birth records are held by the Florida Department of Health office in Starke. With a population just over 28,000, Bradford County is one of the smaller counties in north-central Florida. The county health department on West Call Street handles birth certificate requests for any birth that took place in the state. Residents can visit the office in person, send a mail request, or order online through VitalChek. The process is straightforward and most people get their certified copy within a few days if they go in person at the Bradford County office.

Bradford County Birth Certificate Office

The DOH-Bradford office in Starke is the place to go for birth certificate requests in Bradford County. This local branch of the Florida Department of Health can issue certified copies of any birth record on file in the state system. The office sits on West Call Street in downtown Starke. Staff members are there Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-in visits are the fastest way to get a copy if you live in the area. Bring a valid photo ID and the details of the birth record you need.

All births in Florida must be registered with the Bureau of Vital Statistics under Florida Statute 382.013. Hospitals in Bradford County file birth records within five days of the birth. Home births also need to be filed in that same time frame. Once a record is on file, the Bradford County Health Department can pull it up and print a certified copy. The statewide system means the office in Starke is not limited to just Bradford County births. They can get records from any county.

The Bradford County Health Department birth certificates page has the full list of accepted ID types and application steps.

How to Get Bradford County Birth Records

There are three ways to get a birth certificate in Bradford County. You can go in person, send a request by mail, or order online. Each method works a bit differently. In-person is the quickest. Online is convenient. Mail takes the longest but works fine if you are not in a rush.

For in-person requests, visit the Bradford County Health Department during business hours. You will need a current photo ID like a driver's license, passport, or state ID card. Fill out the application form at the counter and pay the fee. The first certified copy costs $15. Each extra copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $7. Payment can be made by cash, check, or money order. Most in-person requests in Bradford County are ready the same day, often within the hour depending on how busy the office is at the time.

Mail requests should be sent to the Bradford County Health Department at their Starke address. Include a filled-out application, a photocopy of your valid photo ID, and a check or money order made out to DOH-Bradford. Mail orders generally take two to three weeks to process. The certificate comes back by regular mail. If you need something faster, the online option through VitalChek is a better choice for Bradford County birth records.

All forms of ID must be current. Expired IDs are not accepted.

Online Birth Certificate Orders in Bradford County

VitalChek is the only vendor approved by the Florida Department of Health for online birth certificate orders. This applies to Bradford County and every other county in the state. You can place your order at any time, day or night, from any computer or phone. There is a service fee on top of the standard state fee when you use VitalChek. Most people use this option when they can't make it to the Starke office or prefer not to wait on the mail.

The Florida DOH birth certificates page explains all ordering methods and links to the VitalChek portal.

This page covers the steps for getting a birth certificate in Bradford County and throughout the rest of the state.

Birth records in Florida are confidential under Florida Statute 382.025. Only eligible people can get a certified copy. Even when ordering online through VitalChek, you must prove your identity and your right to the record. The system walks you through the steps and checks your info before the order goes through. Bradford County birth records for events less than 125 years old are kept confidential under this law.

Bradford County Birth Record Fees

Fees for birth certificates in Bradford County follow the state schedule set by Florida Statute 382.0255. The first certified copy is $15. Additional copies of the same record cost $7 each when ordered at the same time. These fees are the same whether you order in person or by mail.

VitalChek adds its own processing fee on top of the state fee. The extra charge covers their service and identity verification system. Credit and debit cards are accepted through VitalChek. For in-person and mail orders at the Bradford County office, you can pay with cash, check, or money order.

If you need to fix something on a birth certificate, that involves a separate process. The Florida DOH amendments and corrections page explains how to correct errors or update details on a birth record. Amendments go through the state office, and some changes need a court order under Florida Statute 382.016. The Bradford County Health Department can point you in the right direction if you need help with this.

Who Can Request Bradford County Birth Records

Florida law limits who can get a certified copy of a birth certificate. This protects the privacy of people in Bradford County and across the state. The eligible requesters include the person named on the record if they are 18 or older, a parent listed on the certificate, a legal guardian with court documentation, a spouse, a child of the person on the record, or an attorney acting on behalf of any of these people.

You have to show proof of your relationship to the person on the record. A parent needs to bring their own ID and be listed on the certificate. A legal guardian needs court papers. If you don't fall into one of the eligible categories, you can still request an informational copy. This type of copy has all the same details but carries a stamp that says it is not valid for legal purposes. It works fine for family history research or personal reference in Bradford County.

Older Birth Records in Bradford County

The Bradford County Health Department can issue certified copies of birth records from 1930 to the present. Records before 1930 are handled by the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. If you need a birth record from before that cutoff, you will need to contact the state office directly. The Bureau of Vital Statistics keeps the original records and can process requests for older documents.

For genealogy research, older birth records may be available in a different format. Computer-generated certificates on security paper with an embossed seal are the standard for modern records. Older records may look different but still carry official weight when issued by the state. Processing for older records through the Jacksonville office typically takes three to five business days, though it can be longer during busy periods. Bradford County residents can also use VitalChek to order older records since the online system connects to the same statewide database.

Cities in Bradford County

Bradford County includes the city of Starke along with smaller communities like Brooker, Hampton, and Lawtey. None of the cities in Bradford County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All Bradford County residents use the same health department office in Starke for birth certificate requests regardless of which town they live in.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bradford County. Any Florida county health department can access the statewide birth record system, so you can request your record from a neighboring county office if it is more convenient for you.