Search Leon County Birth Records

Leon County birth records are managed by the Florida Department of Health office in Tallahassee, the state capital. With about 300,000 residents, Leon County is home to Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and a large number of state government workers. The Leon County Health Department on Roberts Avenue handles all birth certificate requests for any Florida birth. Residents can walk in during business hours, mail a request, or place an order through the state's online vendor. The Tallahassee office is one of the busier locations in north Florida for vital records services.

Leon County Birth Certificate Office

The DOH-Leon office in Tallahassee is the primary location for birth certificates in the county. The office is at 872 W Orange Avenue. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-in service is available. Bring a valid photo ID. Your driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID all work. The Tallahassee office serves both Leon County residents and people from nearby counties who find it more convenient to visit the capital city.

Under Florida Statute 382.013, every birth in the state must be registered within five days. Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and other medical facilities in Leon County file their birth records with the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. The Leon County Health Department then has access to those records through the statewide database. You can get a birth certificate for any Florida birth at this office, not just births that happened in Leon County.

Records from 1930 to the present are available locally. For births before 1930, contact the state bureau in Jacksonville at 904-359-6900 or visit their office at 1217 N Pearl Street.

How to Get Leon County Birth Records

Leon County residents can get a birth certificate three ways. In person at the Tallahassee office is fastest. Mail takes the longest. Online is somewhere in between. All three give you the same certified document.

For in-person requests, head to the Orange Avenue office. Fill out the DH726 application form and present your photo ID. Pay $15 for the first certified copy. Extra copies of the same record are $7 each when ordered at the same time. The Leon County office takes cash, checks, and money orders. Most walk-in requests are processed the same day. As a larger county, Leon may have more traffic than smaller offices, so mornings tend to be the best time to visit. Staff at the Tallahassee location process a steady volume of birth certificate requests each week.

Mail orders go to 872 W Orange Avenue, Tallahassee, FL 32310. Include the completed DH726 form, a copy of your valid photo ID, and a check or money order for $15 payable to DOH-Leon. Standard processing is two to three weeks. The certificate comes back by regular USPS mail. Plan ahead if you are on a deadline, because county mail orders cannot be expedited.

VitalChek is the only online vendor the Florida Department of Health has approved. They charge the state fee plus a service fee. Credit and debit cards are accepted. Orders usually arrive in five to seven business days. Rush delivery is available for an extra charge. College students in Tallahassee often use this option since they may not have a car to get to the health department during business hours.

Leon County Birth Record Eligibility

Birth records are confidential in Florida. The law restricts who can get a certified copy. Under Florida Statute 382.025, birth certificates are sealed for 125 years from the date of birth. The Leon County Health Department must verify your eligibility before releasing any certified copy.

Eligible people include the individual on the record (must be 18 or older), either parent listed on the certificate, a legal guardian with court documentation, a spouse, an adult child, a grandparent, an adult sibling, or an attorney representing one of these people. You have to show proof of who you are and how you are connected to the person on the record. The Leon County office will check your documents before processing your request.

If you are not eligible for a certified copy, an informational copy may be an option. It has the same data but is stamped as not valid for legal purposes. These work for genealogy research and personal use.

Fees for Leon County Birth Certificates

Leon County follows the statewide fee schedule set by Florida Statute 382.0255. First copy: $15. Each extra copy: $7 when ordered at the same time. These prices are the same across all 67 Florida counties. The Leon County office takes cash, checks, and money orders. VitalChek accepts cards but charges a service fee on top.

Birth certificate corrections and amendments are handled separately. The Florida DOH amendments page covers the process in detail. Some corrections only need supporting documents. Others require a court order under Florida Statute 382.016. The Leon County Health Department can help you begin the amendment process, but the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville handles final approval.

State Resources for Leon County Birth Records

The Florida Department of Health birth certificates page provides statewide information on birth records, including eligibility, ordering, and forms.

This state resource covers all the rules and procedures that apply at the Leon County Health Department.

As the state capital, Tallahassee is closer to the main offices of the Florida Department of Health than most other cities. However, the Bureau of Vital Statistics is located in Jacksonville, not Tallahassee. All central record processing happens at 1217 N Pearl Street in Jacksonville. Call 904-359-6900 for questions about the statewide system. The Leon County Health Department website has local hours, contact information, and details about other health services available in Tallahassee.

Form DH726 is the standard application for birth certificates at the Leon County office and across the state. Processing at the county level typically runs three to five business days for mail orders and same-day for walk-in requests.

Cities in Leon County

Leon County is dominated by Tallahassee, the state capital and by far the largest city in the county. All birth certificate requests for Leon County residents go through the health department office in Tallahassee.

Other communities in Leon County include Woodville and Bradfordville. Residents of these areas use the same Tallahassee office for birth records.

Nearby Counties

Leon County shares borders with four other counties in the Florida panhandle. You can request a birth certificate at any Florida county health department, no matter where the birth took place.