Find Glades County Birth Records

Glades County birth records are handled by the Florida Department of Health office in Moore Haven, the county seat. This inland south-central Florida county sits along the western shore of Lake Okeechobee and has a population of approximately 13,132. The Glades County Health Department processes birth certificate requests for any birth that was registered in the state of Florida. Residents can visit the office in person, send a request through the mail, or order a certified copy online through VitalChek.

Glades County Birth Certificate Office

The DOH-Glades office is the place to go for birth certificates in the county. The office is at 1021 Health Park Drive in Moore Haven. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-in service is available during those hours. Bring a current, valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID will work. The staff can look up birth records in the statewide database and issue certified copies for any Florida birth that is on file.

Glades County is one of the least populated counties in the state. That means the health department office is small. Calling ahead at 863-946-0707 is a smart idea before you visit. The staff can confirm they are open and let you know if vital records services are available that day. Walk-in requests are usually quick when the office is running normally. Most people in Glades County get their birth certificate within 15 to 20 minutes of arriving.

Florida law under Florida Statute 382.013 requires every birth in the state to be registered with the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. Once filed, the record can be accessed from any county health department, including the Glades County office. You do not have to visit the county where the birth took place.

Getting Birth Records in Glades County

The in-person method is the fastest way to get a certified birth certificate from Glades County. Show up at the Moore Haven office with your photo ID. Fill out the DH726 application form. Pay the $15 fee for the first copy. Each extra copy of the same record costs $7. The office accepts cash, checks, and money orders. Staff will print your certified copy on security paper with the state seal.

Mail orders are the second option. Send a completed DH726 form, a copy of your valid photo ID (front and back), and a check or money order for $15 payable to DOH-Glades. Mail it to 1021 Health Park Drive, Moore Haven, FL 33471. Processing and return mail take about two to three weeks. The office sends birth certificates back by regular first-class mail. There is no way to track the delivery unless you request a return receipt from the post office when you mail your application.

The state office is a third option. You can mail your request to the Bureau of Vital Statistics, PO Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231. The state processes orders in three to five business days. Add time for mail each way. For Glades County residents, this may take about the same time as mailing to the local office, but the state office has more staff to handle requests.

Glades County Online Birth Certificate Orders

VitalChek is the only approved online vendor for Florida birth certificates. This works for Glades County and all other counties. You visit the site, fill out an order form, upload your ID, and pay with a credit or debit card. The state fee is $19 through VitalChek, plus a service fee of about $7. Standard delivery takes five to seven business days.

VitalChek is open around the clock. You can place your order at any time. This is especially useful for Glades County residents since the local health department is a small office with limited hours. If you need a birth certificate outside of normal business hours, or if the office happens to be closed, VitalChek is a reliable backup.

The Florida DOH birth certificates page has the full details on all ordering methods and current fees.

This state resource applies to Glades County and every other Florida county for birth certificate orders.

Fees for Glades County Birth Records

The first certified copy of a birth certificate from Glades County costs $15. Extra copies of the same record are $7 each when ordered at the same time. These fees are set by Florida Statute 382.0255 and apply statewide. The Glades County Health Department takes cash, checks, and money orders. VitalChek takes credit and debit cards but adds a service fee.

Ordering in person at the Glades County office is the cheapest option at $15. VitalChek runs about $30 to $45 per birth certificate with the added fees and shipping charges.

Who Can Request Glades County Birth Records

Florida birth records are not public. Under Florida Statute 382.025, they stay confidential for 125 years from the date of birth. The Glades County Health Department can only give a certified copy to people who have a qualifying relationship to the person on the record. That includes the registrant (if 18 or older), a parent listed on the certificate, a legal guardian with court documentation, a spouse, an adult child, or an attorney working for any of these people.

The staff at the Glades County office will ask to see your photo ID and may need documents showing how you are related to the person on the birth record. If you do not have a qualifying relationship, you can request an informational copy instead. This copy has the same facts but is marked as not valid for legal purposes. It costs the same as a certified copy. For family research and genealogy, an informational copy often has all the data you need from Glades County birth records.

Correcting Glades County Birth Certificates

Mistakes happen. If your Glades County birth certificate has an error, you can apply for an amendment. The Florida DOH amendments page explains the steps. Small fixes like a spelling error need a short application. Larger changes, such as adding or changing a parent's name, may need a court order under Florida Statute 382.016.

All amendments go through the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. The Glades County office cannot approve changes on its own. Once the state approves your amendment, the updated record goes into the system. Then you can order a new certified copy from Glades County with the correct data. The amendment fee is separate from the fee for a new copy.

Cities in Glades County

Glades County includes Moore Haven, Buckhead Ridge, and a few other small communities. All birth certificate requests go through the health department office in Moore Haven. None of the communities in Glades County meet the population threshold for a separate city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Several counties border Glades County. Any county health department in Florida can issue a birth certificate for a Florida birth. If one of these is closer to you than the Glades County office, you can use it instead.