Find Birth Records in Franklin County

Franklin County birth records are processed through the Florida Department of Health office in Apalachicola. This small Gulf Coast county has a population of about 12,979 and covers a stretch of the Florida panhandle coastline. Despite its small size, the Franklin County Health Department provides the same birth certificate services as any other county office in the state. Residents can walk in to request copies, send a request by mail, or order online through the state's approved vendor, VitalChek.

Franklin County Birth Certificate Office

The DOH-Franklin office sits at 139 12th Street in Carrabelle. This is the local branch of the Florida Department of Health that handles vital records for Franklin County. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The staff can look up and issue certified copies of any birth registered in the state of Florida. You need a valid photo ID to request a birth certificate at this office.

Because Franklin County is small, the office may have limited staffing at times. Calling ahead is a good idea before you make the trip. The phone number is 850-653-2111. Staff can confirm hours and let you know if there are any delays. Walk-in service is normally available, and most requests are processed the same day at the Franklin County location.

Under Florida Statute 382.013, all Florida births must be filed with the Bureau of Vital Statistics. The Franklin County Health Department connects to the statewide system, so births from anywhere in Florida can be pulled up at this office. Hospital births in the county are reported to the state shortly after delivery.

How to Get Franklin County Birth Records

There are three ways to get a certified birth certificate in Franklin County. In person is the quickest. Go to the health department in Carrabelle with your photo ID. Fill out the DH726 application form at the counter. Pay $15 for the first copy. The staff prints it on security paper with the state seal. Most people are in and out within 30 minutes.

Mail is the second option. Send a completed application, a copy of your photo ID (front and back), and a check or money order for $15 payable to DOH-Franklin. Mail it to the Carrabelle address. Plan on about two to three weeks for the certificate to arrive by return mail. The office processes mail requests as they come in, and Franklin County's small volume means there is rarely a backlog.

You can also mail your request straight to the state. The Bureau of Vital Statistics accepts orders at PO Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231. The state office processes birth certificate requests in three to five business days. Add a week or more for mail each way. Some Franklin County residents find this option more reliable since the state office has more staff and longer processing experience with birth records.

The third method is ordering online. This goes through VitalChek and works the same as it does for every county in the state.

Online Birth Certificates for Franklin County

The VitalChek website handles all online birth certificate orders for Florida. It is the only vendor the state has approved. Franklin County residents can use VitalChek from any computer or phone. You enter the birth details, upload your ID, and pay by credit or debit card. The fee is $19 plus a service charge of about $7. Shipping takes five to seven business days for standard delivery.

For a look at the full ordering process and fees, the Florida DOH birth certificates page gives a state-level overview.

This state page covers the rules for all Florida birth certificate orders, including those from Franklin County.

Franklin County Birth Record Fees

A certified birth certificate from Franklin County costs $15 for the first copy. Extra copies of the same record cost $7 when ordered at the same time. These fees are set by Florida Statute 382.0255. Cash, checks, and money orders are accepted at the Franklin County Health Department for in-person and mail orders. VitalChek takes credit and debit cards but adds its own service fee to the order total.

If you need to amend a birth certificate, there are separate fees for that process. Check with the Bureau of Vital Statistics at 904-359-6900 for current amendment pricing. The Florida DOH amendments page also lists the costs and steps involved.

Who Can Request Franklin County Birth Records

Birth records in Florida are confidential for 125 years. This rule comes from Florida Statute 382.025. Only people with a direct connection to the record can get a certified copy. That means the person on the record (if 18 or older), a parent, a legal guardian, a spouse, an adult child, or an attorney for any of them. The Franklin County office checks your ID and proof of relationship before they hand over a birth certificate.

If you cannot prove your right to a certified copy, the Franklin County Health Department can give you an informational copy. It shows the same data but is stamped so it cannot be used for official legal matters. Informational copies are good for personal records and family history projects. The fee is the same either way.

Older Franklin County Birth Records

County health departments in Florida handle birth records from 1930 to present. For births before 1930, you need to contact the Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202. The state office keeps the oldest records. Some early Franklin County birth records may also exist in local archives or the county clerk's office in Apalachicola, though these are not always complete.

Franklin County has been around since 1832. Records from the earliest years are spotty at best. For genealogy research into older Franklin County births, the state office in Jacksonville is the best starting point. Call 904-359-6900 to check what they have before you send in a formal request and payment for birth records from that era.

Cities in Franklin County

Franklin County includes Apalachicola, Carrabelle, and several smaller communities along the Gulf Coast. All birth certificate requests for Franklin County go through the health department office in Carrabelle. None of the cities in Franklin County meet the population threshold for a separate page on this site.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Franklin County. Any county health department in Florida can issue a birth certificate for a Florida birth, so if you are closer to one of these offices, you can use it instead.