Polk County Birth Certificate Search
Polk County birth records are available from the Florida Department of Health office in Bartow. As the fourth largest county in Florida by land area, Polk County covers a wide stretch of central Florida between Tampa and Orlando. The DOH-Polk office issues certified birth certificates for any birth that occurred in the state from 1930 onward. For records before 1930, you need to go through the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. Residents can visit the Bartow office in person, send a request by mail, or order through VitalChek online. Each method gets you the same certified document.
Polk County Quick Facts
Polk County Birth Certificate Office
The DOH-Polk office in Bartow is where you go for birth certificates. Bartow sits in the center of the county, which helps since Polk County is so large. The office is open Monday through Friday. You need a valid photo ID to request a certified copy. A Florida driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID all work.
The Polk County Health Department birth certificates page has the full details on hours, location, and what to bring. Check the site before you go since hours sometimes change around holidays or for other reasons. The office can get busy, especially on Monday mornings and right after lunch. Going mid-morning on a Tuesday or Wednesday tends to mean shorter wait times for Polk County birth records.
Polk County also has satellite offices in different parts of the county. Not all of them handle vital records, so call ahead to confirm if you plan to visit a location other than the main Bartow office. The main office is the surest bet for getting a birth certificate in Polk County.
| Main Office | DOH-Polk, Bartow, FL |
|---|---|
| Hours | Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
| Fee | $15 first copy |
| Form | DH-726 |
How to Order Polk County Birth Certificates
Walking into the Bartow office is the fastest route to a Polk County birth certificate. Fill out the DH-726 form, show your photo ID, and pay $15. Most requests are processed while you wait. If the office is backed up, they may ask you to come back later in the day or the next morning. But typically you can get your certified copy within an hour or so.
Mail requests are another option. Print the DH-726 form from the Florida DOH birth certificates page. Fill it out, photocopy your ID, and write a check or money order for $15 payable to DOH-Polk. Mail everything to the Bartow office address. Processing takes about two to four weeks for Polk County birth records sent by mail. The certified copy comes back to you by regular mail with no tracking available. Allow extra time if you are up against a deadline for a passport or other application.
The state DOH site has the DH-726 form and general information that applies to all Florida counties including Polk.
Online orders go through VitalChek. This is the sole online vendor authorized by the state. The $15 state fee applies, plus VitalChek charges a processing fee of roughly $12. Standard delivery takes five to seven business days after they process the order. Faster shipping options cost extra. You pay by credit or debit card. The whole thing can be done from your phone or computer, which is convenient for Polk County residents who live far from the Bartow office.
Who Can Request Polk County Birth Records
Access to certified birth certificates in Florida is limited. Under Florida Statute 382.025, birth records are confidential for 125 years from the date of the event. The DOH-Polk office checks every request to verify that the person has the legal right to get the document.
You can get a certified copy if you are the person on the record and at least 18 years old, a parent listed on the certificate, a legal guardian with court papers, the spouse of the person named, an adult child of that person, or an attorney representing someone who qualifies. Everyone else can request an informational copy instead. This has the same data but is marked as not valid for legal purposes. Informational copies of Polk County birth records work fine for personal reference or family research.
Correcting Polk County Birth Records
Errors on a Polk County birth certificate can be corrected through the amendment process. For small mistakes like a misspelled first name or a wrong letter in the last name, you file an amendment request with supporting documents. The Florida DOH amendments and corrections page has the forms and instructions. You need to show proof of the correct information through hospital records, school records, or other official documents.
Bigger changes require a court order under Florida Statute 382.016. Changing parentage, altering a date of birth, or making a major name change all fall into this category. You file a petition in the Tenth Judicial Circuit, which covers Polk County. Once the judge signs the order, it goes to the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville at 1217 N Pearl Street. They update the statewide record and issue a new certificate. The process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the court's schedule and how complex the change is.
Falsifying any information on a birth certificate is a criminal offense under Florida Statute 382.026.
Polk County Birth Registration
Every birth in Florida must be registered under Florida Statute 382.013. When a baby is born at a hospital in Polk County, the hospital handles all the registration paperwork. Parents fill out the birth registration form before leaving. The hospital files it with the state, and the birth enters the statewide database.
For home births or births at a birthing center, the attending midwife or physician files the registration within the required time frame. Once the birth is in the system, you can request a certified copy from any county health department in Florida. You are not limited to the Polk County office. If you live in Lakeland but work near a Hillsborough County office, you can get your birth certificate there instead. The fee and process are the same at every county.
Polk County Birth Certificate Fees
The first certified copy costs $15. Additional copies at the same time cost $6 each. These fees are set by Florida Statute 382.0255. The DOH-Polk office accepts cash, checks, and money orders at the window. No credit cards at the walk-in counter.
VitalChek adds about $12 in processing fees. Standard shipping is included. Overnight and priority options cost extra. One Polk County birth certificate through VitalChek totals roughly $26 with standard delivery. If you order more than one copy, the $6 additional copy fee still applies on top of the VitalChek charges.
Cities in Polk County
Polk County is home to Lakeland, the largest city in the county. Other communities include Bartow, Winter Haven, Haines City, and Auburndale. All birth certificate requests go through the DOH-Polk office regardless of which city you live in.
Other cities in Polk County include Winter Haven, Bartow, Haines City, Lake Wales, and Auburndale. All use the same DOH-Polk office for birth records.
Nearby Counties
Polk County borders more counties than almost any other in the state. Any of these county health departments can issue a Florida birth certificate if their office is more convenient for you.