Lafayette County Birth Record Lookup
Lafayette County birth records are available through the Florida Department of Health office in Mayo. This is the least populated county in Florida, with fewer than 9,000 residents. The county sits in the rural Big Bend area along the Suwannee River. Despite being small, the Lafayette County Health Department has full access to the statewide birth record system. Residents can request certified copies of birth certificates for any Florida birth at the Mayo office, send requests by mail, or use the state-approved online vendor to place an order from home.
Lafayette County Quick Facts
Lafayette County Birth Certificate Office
The DOH-Lafayette office in Mayo is where you go for birth certificates in this county. The office is located at 145 NE Crawford Street. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Being the smallest county in Florida by population, the office is compact. Wait times are usually short. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. A driver's license, state-issued ID card, passport, or military ID all work.
Under Florida Statute 382.013, all births in the state must be registered within five days. Lafayette County does not have its own hospital. Most births to Lafayette County residents take place at medical facilities in Suwannee County, Madison County, or other nearby areas. No matter where the birth happened, the Lafayette County Health Department can access the statewide database and issue a certified copy once the birth has been recorded. County offices can pull up any Florida birth record from 1930 to the present. Pre-1930 records go through the state bureau in Jacksonville.
The Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl Street in Jacksonville maintains the central files. Call 904-359-6900 for help with older records.
| Office | DOH-Lafayette, Vital Statistics |
|---|---|
| Address | 145 NE Crawford Street, Mayo, FL 32066 |
| Phone | 386-294-1321 |
| Hours | Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
Ordering Lafayette County Birth Records
There are three ways to order a birth certificate through the Lafayette County Health Department. In-person visits to the Mayo office are quickest. Mail orders take longer. Online is available through the state vendor. All three give you the same certified document.
For walk-in service, go to the Crawford Street office with your photo ID. Fill out the DH726 form. Pay $15 for the first copy. Each additional copy of the same record is $7 if ordered at the same time. Cash, checks, and money orders are accepted. Since Lafayette County has so few residents, wait times at the office are typically very short. Most people walk out with their certificate within the hour.
Mail requests go to 145 NE Crawford Street, Mayo, FL 32066. Send the DH726 form, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $15 made out to DOH-Lafayette. Processing takes about two to three weeks, and the certificate comes back by regular mail. There is no expedited option for mail orders at the county level.
The online option uses VitalChek, the only vendor that the Florida Department of Health has authorized. VitalChek charges the state fee plus a service fee. They take credit and debit cards. Delivery usually takes five to seven business days. Rush options are available if you need it faster. This can be a convenient choice for Lafayette County residents who live far from the Mayo office or cannot visit during business hours.
Who Can Request Lafayette County Birth Records
Florida law keeps birth records confidential. Under Florida Statute 382.025, birth certificates for people under 125 years old are restricted. The Lafayette County Health Department checks every request to make sure the person asking has the legal right to the record.
People who can get a certified copy include the individual on the record (if 18 or older), a parent listed on the certificate, a legal guardian with court papers, a spouse, an adult child, a grandparent, an adult sibling, or an attorney representing any of these people. You need to prove your identity and your relationship to the person on the record. If you don't meet the criteria for a certified copy, you may be able to get an informational copy. These contain the same information but are marked as not valid for legal use. They can still help with genealogy or personal records.
Lafayette County Birth Certificate Fees
Fees for birth certificates in Lafayette County are set by the state. The first certified copy costs $15. Each extra copy is $7 when ordered at the same time. These fees come from Florida Statute 382.0255 and are the same at every county health department in Florida. Cash, checks, and money orders are accepted at the Lafayette County office. VitalChek adds a processing fee but accepts cards.
Corrections or amendments to a birth record are a separate process. The Florida DOH amendments and corrections page has instructions. Simple corrections may just need supporting documents. More significant changes may need a court order under Florida Statute 382.016. The Lafayette County office can start the process, but final approval comes from the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
State Resources for Lafayette County
The Florida Department of Health birth certificates page is the main state-level resource. It covers rules, fees, and ordering methods that apply to Lafayette County and all 67 Florida counties.
This page explains the statewide policies that the Lafayette County Health Department follows when handling birth certificate requests.
The Lafayette County Health Department website lists local services and contact information. Beyond birth certificates, the office provides immunization records, death certificates, and other public health services to the Mayo community. For questions about the statewide system, the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville can be reached at 904-359-6900. Their office at 1217 N Pearl Street handles records that county offices cannot access, including births before 1930 and complex amendment requests.
Cities in Lafayette County
Lafayette County includes the town of Mayo, which is the county seat and the only incorporated municipality in the county. No cities in Lafayette County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. All residents use the Mayo health department office for birth certificate requests.
Nearby Counties
Lafayette County is bordered by six other counties in north-central Florida. Any county health department in the state can issue a birth certificate for a Florida birth, so you can use whichever location is most convenient for you.