Search Dixie County Birth Records

Dixie County birth records are managed by the Florida Department of Health office in Cross City. One of Florida's least populated counties, Dixie County has about 17,600 residents along the Gulf Coast in the Big Bend region. The county health department in Cross City can issue certified birth certificates for any birth on file in the Florida statewide database. Despite the county's small size, the office provides the same vital records services as larger counties. Residents can visit in person, mail a request, or order through VitalChek online to get Dixie County birth records.

Dixie County Birth Certificate Office

The DOH-Dixie office in Cross City is the place to go for birth certificate requests in the county. This is a small branch of the Florida Department of Health, but it has full access to the statewide vital records system. The staff can look up any Florida birth on file and issue a certified copy. Walk-in service is available during weekday hours. The office does not get the volume of traffic that urban county offices see, so wait times in Dixie County are usually minimal.

Under Florida Statute 382.013, all births in the state must be filed with the Bureau of Vital Statistics within five days. Since Dixie County does not have a hospital with a maternity ward, many births to Dixie County residents happen at facilities in neighboring counties. Regardless of where the birth takes place, the record goes into the same statewide database. The Dixie County Health Department can access these records just like any other county office in the state.

The Dixie County Health Department birth certificates page has information on what you need to bring and current office hours.

How to Order Dixie County Birth Records

There are three ways to get a birth certificate in Dixie County. In person is the quickest. Mail works if you can wait. Online gives you flexibility.

For in-person requests, visit the Dixie County Health Department in Cross City during business hours. You need a valid, current photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID all work. It has to be current and not expired. Fill out the application at the counter and pay the $15 fee for the first certified copy. Additional copies of the same record are $7 each when ordered together. The office takes cash, checks, and money orders. Most in-person requests at the Dixie County office are done the same day, often within minutes since the office is rarely busy.

Mail requests go to the Cross City address. Include a completed application, a photocopy of your valid photo ID, and a check or money order payable to DOH-Dixie. Allow two to three weeks for processing and mail delivery. The completed birth certificate comes back by regular mail. If you need it faster, consider the online option instead.

The VitalChek website is the only authorized online vendor for Florida birth certificates. There is a service fee on top of the state fee. Credit and debit cards work for payment. Orders arrive in five to seven business days typically, with rush shipping available. This option can be especially useful for Dixie County residents since the Cross City office is the only location in the county.

Dixie County Birth Record Fees

Fees for birth certificates in Dixie County are the same as everywhere else in the state. Florida Statute 382.0255 sets the rates. A certified copy costs $15. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $7.

VitalChek adds its own service charge on top of these amounts. The total will be higher than what you pay at the office. Many Dixie County residents find the convenience worthwhile, especially if they live far from Cross City. Check VitalChek's site for the current total before you order.

Correcting information on a birth certificate is a separate process with its own fees. Visit the Florida DOH amendments page for details on how to fix errors. Minor typos are handled one way. Larger changes may require a court order as allowed under Florida Statute 382.016. The staff at the Dixie County office can get you started.

Eligibility for Dixie County Birth Records

Florida birth records are confidential by law. Florida Statute 382.025 restricts access for 125 years from the date of birth. Only specific individuals can get a certified copy in Dixie County. Eligible requesters include the person named on the record (18 or older), a parent on the certificate, a legal guardian with court documents, a spouse, a child of the registrant, or an attorney acting for any of these individuals.

You have to verify your identity and your relationship to the person on the record. If you don't qualify for a certified copy, the Dixie County Health Department can issue an informational copy instead. Informational copies carry all the same details but are stamped as not valid for legal use. They work for genealogy, family research, and personal reference. Anyone can request an informational copy regardless of their relationship to the person on the record.

State Resources for Dixie County

The Florida DOH birth certificates page is the main state-level resource for birth records information.

This page covers everything from eligibility to ordering methods and applies to Dixie County and every other county in the state.

Records from before 1930 are handled by the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville, not the Dixie County office. If you need a birth record from that time period, contact the state office directly. Processing at the state level takes three to five business days. Modern birth certificates from Dixie County are computer-generated on security paper with an embossed seal. This format is standard across the state and is accepted for all legal and official purposes. Penalties for fraud involving birth records are spelled out in Florida Statute 382.026, which makes it a crime to use false information or forged documents to get a birth certificate.

Cities in Dixie County

Dixie County includes the town of Cross City along with Old Town and several small, unincorporated areas. None of the communities in Dixie County are large enough for a dedicated city page. All residents use the same health department office in Cross City for birth certificate requests.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Dixie County. Since all Florida county health departments access the same statewide birth record system, visiting a neighboring county office is always an option.