Find Seminole County Birth Records

Seminole County birth records are available from the Florida Department of Health office in Sanford. Part of the greater Orlando metro area, Seminole County has nearly half a million residents and sits just north of Orange County. The county health department issues certified birth certificates for any birth that took place in Florida from 1930 forward. For births before 1930, you need to contact the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville directly. Residents can visit the Sanford office in person, mail a request, or order online through VitalChek to get their Seminole County birth certificate.

Seminole County Birth Certificate Office

The DOH-Seminole office in Sanford is the primary location for birth certificate requests. Sanford is the county seat and sits on the south shore of Lake Monroe. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. You need a valid photo ID to request a certified copy. A Florida driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID are all accepted.

Walk-in visits are the standard way to get a birth certificate in Seminole County. You go to the office, fill out the DH-726 application form, show your photo ID, and pay the fee. The staff processes your request, and most same-day orders are ready within the hour. Seminole County handles a decent volume of requests because of its proximity to Orlando, but lines are generally shorter than what you would find at the Orange County office. Tuesday through Thursday mornings tend to be the least busy times at the Seminole County health department.

The Seminole County Health Department birth certificates page lists the office address, phone numbers, and current hours. Always check before visiting in case there is a holiday closure or other schedule change.

How to Order Seminole County Birth Certificates

There are three ways to get a certified birth certificate from Seminole County. In person is the fastest. Mail takes longer but is convenient if you can't visit the office. Online through VitalChek is the third option and lets you handle the whole thing from home.

For in-person visits, head to the Sanford office with your photo ID. Fill out the DH-726 form at the counter. Pay $15 in cash, by check, or with a money order. The staff will pull up the record and print your certified copy. Most people walk out with their Seminole County birth certificate the same day they visit. If the office is particularly busy, the wait might stretch, but it rarely takes more than an hour or so.

Mail requests start with the DH-726 form, which you can download from the Florida DOH birth certificates page. Complete the form, photocopy your valid photo ID, and include a check or money order for $15 made payable to DOH-Seminole. Mail everything to the Sanford office. Processing takes about two to four weeks for Seminole County birth records sent by mail. There is no tracking on mailed requests, so allow plenty of lead time if you are working toward a deadline.

The state DOH website has the form and general instructions that apply across all Florida counties, Seminole included.

VitalChek is the sole online vendor approved by the Florida Department of Health. You pay the $15 state fee plus a VitalChek processing fee of about $12. Standard shipping takes five to seven business days after the order is processed. Rush delivery options cost more. You pay by credit or debit card. The total for one Seminole County birth certificate through VitalChek comes out to roughly $26 with standard shipping.

Who Can Get Seminole County Birth Records

Certified birth certificates are confidential documents in Florida. Under Florida Statute 382.025, birth records stay restricted for 125 years from the date of the event. The DOH-Seminole office verifies that every requester has a legal right to the record before they hand over a certified copy.

People who can get a certified copy of a Seminole County birth certificate include:

• The person named on the record (must be 18 or older)
• A parent listed on the certificate
• A legal guardian with court papers
• The spouse of the person named
• An adult child of the person on the record
• An attorney who represents someone in one of these categories

Anyone outside these groups can request an informational copy. It has all the same details but is clearly marked as not valid for legal purposes. Informational copies work for personal reference and family research but are not accepted for passport applications, driver's licenses, or similar official uses.

Correcting Seminole County Birth Records

If your Seminole County birth certificate has a mistake, you can get it fixed. Small errors like a misspelling or wrong middle initial are treated as simple amendments. You file the amendment form along with supporting documents that prove the correct information. Hospital records, school records, and immunization records are all commonly accepted as proof. The Florida DOH amendments and corrections page has the forms you need and explains what documents are acceptable.

Bigger changes need a court order. Under Florida Statute 382.016, changing parentage, altering a date of birth, or making a substantial name change requires going through the court system. Seminole County is part of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit. You file a petition with the circuit court, obtain the judge's signed order, and then send it to the Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl Street in Jacksonville. They update the statewide record and issue a new Seminole County birth certificate. The process can take weeks to months depending on the nature of the change and how busy the court is.

Florida law treats the falsification of birth certificate information as a criminal offense under Florida Statute 382.026.

Seminole County Birth Registration

Under Florida Statute 382.013, every birth in Florida must be registered. Hospitals in Seminole County handle the filing automatically. Parents fill out the birth registration form at the hospital before they go home. The hospital submits the paperwork to the state, and the birth enters the statewide database.

For home births or births at a birthing center, the attending midwife or doctor is responsible for filing the registration within the legally required period. Once the birth is in the system, you can get a certified copy from any county health department in Florida. You do not have to use the Seminole County office. If you live in Altamonte Springs or Casselberry but work near an Orange County office, that office can issue your certificate just the same. The fee is $15 regardless of which county processes the request.

Delayed registrations are needed when a birth was never properly filed. These cases require extra documentation and are handled by the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville.

Seminole County Birth Certificate Fees

The first certified copy costs $15. Additional copies ordered at the same time are $6 each. Florida Statute 382.0255 sets these rates statewide. The DOH-Seminole office accepts cash, checks, and money orders at the walk-in counter. Credit cards are not accepted at the window.

VitalChek charges about $12 in processing fees on top of the $15 state fee. Standard shipping is included in the VitalChek price. Faster delivery options like overnight and two-day shipping cost extra. One Seminole County birth certificate via VitalChek totals about $26 with standard delivery. If you need to pay by card, VitalChek is the only way to do it.

Cities in Seminole County

Seminole County includes Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Lake Mary, Longwood, Oviedo, and Winter Springs. None of the cities individually meet the population threshold for a separate page. All residents use the DOH-Seminole office in Sanford for birth certificate requests.

Nearby Counties

Seminole County borders three other counties in the central Florida area. Since any county health department in Florida can issue a birth certificate, you can use whichever office is most convenient for where you live or work.