Access Hendry County Birth Records

Hendry County birth records are processed by the Florida Department of Health office in the county. Located in south-central Florida near Lake Okeechobee, Hendry County has a population of about 46,130 and includes the communities of LaBelle and Clewiston. The county health department handles all birth certificate requests for births filed in the state of Florida. Residents have three options: visiting the office in person, sending a mail request, or ordering online through VitalChek, the state's only approved online vendor for vital records.

Hendry County Birth Certificate Office

The DOH-Hendry office handles birth certificate requests for the county. The main office is at 1140 Pratt Boulevard in LaBelle. There is also a branch in Clewiston at 1100 South Olympia Street. Both locations can process birth certificate requests. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-in service is available at either location. Bring a valid, unexpired photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID.

Hendry County has two population centers, LaBelle and Clewiston, separated by about 30 miles. Having offices in both towns makes it easier for residents on either side of the county to get birth records without a long drive. The staff at both locations connect to the statewide database and can issue certified copies for any Florida birth on file.

Florida law under Florida Statute 382.013 requires all births to be registered with the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. Hospitals in Hendry County report births to the state shortly after delivery. Home births must also be filed. Once a birth is registered, any county health department in the state can access the record and print a certified copy.

How to Get Birth Records in Hendry County

Walking into the Hendry County Health Department is the fastest way to get a birth certificate. Visit either the LaBelle or Clewiston office. Fill out the DH726 application form. Show your valid photo ID. Pay $15 for the first copy. Extra copies of the same record cost $7 each when ordered at the same time. Cash, checks, and money orders are accepted. Staff will print a certified copy on state security paper with the official seal while you wait.

Mail is the second method. Send a filled-out DH726 form, a copy of your photo ID (both front and back), and a check or money order for $15 payable to DOH-Hendry. Mail it to 1140 Pratt Boulevard, LaBelle, FL 33935. Allow about two to three weeks for the office to process your request and send the birth certificate back. The return is by regular first-class mail.

You can also mail your request to the state office. The Bureau of Vital Statistics at PO Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231 processes birth certificate orders in three to five business days. Add a week or so for mail time each way. This is another option for Hendry County residents who prefer the central state office over the local branch.

Online ordering rounds out the three methods. VitalChek handles all online requests.

Online Birth Certificates for Hendry County

The VitalChek website is the only online vendor authorized by the Florida Department of Health. Hendry County residents can use this site around the clock. The order process involves entering the birth details, uploading a photo of your ID, and paying with a credit or debit card. The state fee through VitalChek is $19, plus a service fee of about $7. Standard shipping takes five to seven business days.

VitalChek also offers rush processing and express shipping if you are in a hurry. The total cost for a single Hendry County birth certificate online usually runs between $30 and $45, depending on the shipping speed. This is a practical choice for Hendry County residents who work during the hours the health department offices are open. Former Hendry County residents who live out of state also use VitalChek frequently.

For a complete look at all ordering methods, the Florida DOH birth certificates page provides a statewide overview.

This page from the Florida Department of Health covers rules and fees for all birth certificate requests statewide, including Hendry County.

Hendry County Birth Record Fees

The first certified copy of a birth certificate from Hendry County costs $15. Each additional copy of the same record is $7 when you order them together. Florida Statute 382.0255 sets these fees, and they apply at every county health department across the state. The Hendry County offices in LaBelle and Clewiston accept cash, checks, and money orders.

Online orders through VitalChek carry a higher total cost. The service fee and shipping charges push the price to about $30 to $45 per birth certificate. If saving money matters to you, visiting the Hendry County office in person at $15 is the best deal. Call 863-674-4041 to confirm current fees before your visit.

Who Can Request Hendry County Birth Records

Florida limits who can get a certified birth certificate. Under Florida Statute 382.025, birth records are confidential for 125 years from the date of birth. The Hendry County Health Department will only give a certified copy to people with a direct tie to the record. Eligible people include the registrant (18 or older), a parent named on the certificate, a legal guardian with court papers, a spouse, an adult child, or an attorney representing any of these individuals.

You must show your ID and may need to prove your relationship. The staff at the Hendry County office will verify everything before they process the request. If you do not meet the requirements for a certified copy, you can ask for an informational copy instead. This version has the same data but is stamped as not valid for legal purposes. The fee is the same. Informational copies are useful for personal records and family research.

Correcting Hendry County Birth Certificates

Mistakes on a birth certificate can be fixed through the amendment process. The Florida DOH amendments page explains what you need to do. Small corrections like a misspelled name require a short application and proof of the right spelling. Larger changes, such as adding a parent or changing the name entirely, may require a court order under Florida Statute 382.016.

Amendment requests go to the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. The Hendry County offices can help you understand what is needed but cannot approve changes themselves. Once the state processes the amendment, the updated record enters the system. You can then get a new certified copy from either Hendry County office with the corrected information. Amendment fees are separate from copy fees.

Older Hendry County Birth Records

County health departments in Florida can issue birth certificates for births from 1930 to the present. For births before 1930, you need to contact the Bureau of Vital Statistics directly at 1217 N Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Call 904-359-6900 to ask about old records. Hendry County was created in 1923, so births before that year would have been filed under Lee County, which Hendry was carved from. Early records may also be found in the Hendry County Clerk of Court office in LaBelle.

Cities in Hendry County

Hendry County includes LaBelle, Clewiston, and several smaller communities. Both LaBelle and Clewiston have health department offices that can process birth certificate requests. None of the communities in Hendry County meet the population threshold for a separate city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Several counties share a border with Hendry County. Any county health department in Florida can issue a certified birth certificate for a Florida birth. If one of these is closer to you, feel free to use that office instead of the Hendry County location.