Find Monroe County Birth Records

Monroe County birth records are available from the Florida Department of Health office in Key West. This unique county stretches across the Florida Keys from Key Largo down to Key West, with a population of about 80,908. The DOH-Monroe office handles all birth certificate requests for births registered anywhere in the state of Florida. Because the county is spread out across more than 100 miles of islands, many residents find the mail or online ordering options more practical than visiting the Key West office in person. All three methods produce the same certified document.

Monroe County Birth Certificate Office

The DOH-Monroe office in Key West is the county's vital records hub. It is part of the statewide Florida Department of Health system and connects to the Bureau of Vital Statistics database in Jacksonville. Staff can pull birth records from anywhere in the state and print certified copies for eligible people. If you were born in Monroe County or anywhere else in Florida, this office can help.

Florida law under Florida Statute 382.013 requires all births to be registered with the state. The hospital in Key West and any birthing facility in the county files birth records through the state system. Home births and other out-of-hospital deliveries must also be reported. Once on file, the record can be accessed from any county health department in Florida.

Monroe County also has a health department location in Marathon for residents of the Middle Keys. However, vital records services may be limited at satellite locations. Call ahead to check which services are available at each site.

Getting Birth Certificates in Monroe County

Given the spread-out nature of the Florida Keys, having multiple ordering options is especially helpful in Monroe County. Here is how each method works.

Walk-in visits are done at the Key West office on Simonton Street. Bring a current, valid photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID. Expired IDs are not accepted. Fill out Form DH726 at the counter. The cost is $15 for the first certified copy and $7 for each extra copy of the same record. Cash, checks, and money orders are all accepted. Most in-person requests at the Monroe County office are processed the same day, though busy periods can mean a longer wait.

Mail requests work well for residents in the Upper and Middle Keys who can't easily get to Key West. Send a completed application, a photocopy of your valid photo ID, and a check or money order payable to DOH-Monroe. Use the Key West address: 1100 Simonton Street, Key West, FL 33040. Expect about two to three weeks from the time the office gets your mail until the certificate arrives back at your home. Plan ahead for any upcoming deadlines.

The Florida DOH website provides complete ordering instructions and downloadable forms for Monroe County residents.

This page has everything Monroe County residents need to know about the application process, including which forms of ID are accepted.

Online Orders for Monroe County Birth Certificates

VitalChek is the only online vendor approved by Florida for birth certificate orders. For Monroe County residents spread across the Keys, this is often the most convenient choice. You can place an order from any device, any time of day. The website walks you through the process step by step.

The $15 state fee applies, and VitalChek adds its own service charge. Expect a total cost of about $26 or more depending on your shipping choice. Standard delivery takes five to seven business days. Rush shipping is available for an added fee. VitalChek accepts credit and debit cards as payment.

Even online, you need to prove your identity and eligibility. Florida birth records are confidential under Florida Statute 382.025. They stay sealed for 125 years from the date of the event. VitalChek runs the same checks as the county office to make sure you qualify. Only authorized people can receive a certified Monroe County birth certificate.

Eligibility for Monroe County Birth Certificates

Florida limits who can get a certified copy of a birth certificate. The rules are the same in Monroe County as across the rest of the state. Eligible applicants include the person named on the record (if 18 or older), a parent on the certificate, a legal guardian with court documentation, a spouse, an adult child, a grandparent, or an attorney representing one of these individuals.

You must show proof of identity and your relationship to the person on the record. At the Monroe County Health Department, this means a valid photo ID and potentially extra documents like a marriage certificate or custody order. If your relationship is not clear from the application alone, the staff may ask for additional proof.

Informational copies are available for people who don't qualify for a certified version. These have the same details but are stamped as not valid for legal purposes. They work for genealogy, personal records, and family history research. The cost is the same as a certified copy in Monroe County.

Fixing Errors on Monroe County Birth Records

Birth certificate mistakes need to be corrected through the state amendment process. The Florida DOH amendments page explains the different types of corrections and what each one requires.

Minor typos and clerical errors can often be fixed by sending in supporting evidence. Hospital records, insurance documents, or church records that show the correct information may be enough. Under Florida Statute 382.016, significant changes like adding a parent or changing a name after a certain period need a court order. Monroe County residents would file those petitions through the 16th Judicial Circuit Court, which covers the Florida Keys.

Amendment fees are separate from the birth certificate fee. Call DOH-Monroe at 305-293-7500 to find out the cost and documents needed for your particular change.

Monroe County Birth Records and the State System

Florida's vital records are centralized through the Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl Street in Jacksonville. This office holds the master copy of every birth registered in the state. County health departments like DOH-Monroe connect to this central database to issue certified copies locally. That is why you can order a birth certificate for any Florida-registered birth from the Monroe County office.

County offices generally maintain local records dating back to 1930. For older records, the state office in Jacksonville is the place to go. Records from before 1917 may not be in the electronic system and could need a manual search. The Florida State Archives is another resource for historical vital records.

State law under Florida Statute 382.0255 sets the fee schedule for vital records services. Pricing is the same at every county office in the state, including Monroe County. The first copy is $15 and each extra copy is $7.

Fraud Prevention for Monroe County Birth Certificates

Birth certificate fraud is a criminal offense in Florida. Under Florida Statute 382.026, anyone who uses false information or forged documents to get a birth certificate faces criminal charges. The DOH-Monroe office verifies identity and eligibility for every request. This protects Monroe County residents whose information is on file.

Florida birth certificates come with security features in the paper and ink that make them hard to copy or forge. These safeguards help officials distinguish real documents from fakes. If you have a question about whether a birth certificate is genuine, the Monroe County Health Department can help you check.

Cities in Monroe County

Monroe County stretches from Key Largo to Key West and includes Marathon, Islamorada, Tavernier, Big Pine Key, and many other Keys communities. None of the individual cities have populations over 100,000. The main vital records office is in Key West. Residents throughout the Keys use this same office for birth certificate services, though mail and online options are practical alternatives for those living far from Key West.

Nearby Counties

Monroe County borders only two other Florida counties. Given the geographic isolation of the Keys, online or mail ordering is often easier than visiting a neighboring county's office.