Find Birth Records in St. Johns County

St. Johns County birth records are available through the local health department in St. Augustine. With a population of nearly 335,000, St. Johns is one of the fastest-growing counties in Florida. The DOH-St. Johns office handles all certified birth certificate requests for births that occurred anywhere in the state. You can visit in person, send a request by mail, or order a copy online through VitalChek. The office sits in St. Augustine and serves residents across the entire county, from Ponte Vedra Beach to the rural western communities.

St. Johns County Health Department

The DOH-St. Johns office in St. Augustine is the main place to get a birth certificate in the county. This office is a branch of the Florida Department of Health and can pull up any birth record on file in the state system. That means even if you were born in Miami or Tampa, you can get your birth certificate right here in St. Johns County. You just need to bring valid photo ID and fill out the application form.

Under Florida Statute 382.013, every birth in the state must be registered within five days. Hospitals file the paperwork. Home births need to be reported by the attending midwife or physician. Once a birth goes on file, the St. Johns County Health Department can access it and print a certified copy. The statewide system has records from 1917 to the present.

The St. Johns County Health Department birth certificates page has more details on what to bring and how to apply.

How to Order a St. Johns County Birth Certificate

There are three ways to get a birth certificate in St. Johns County. Each method works for any birth that took place in Florida, not just births in St. Johns County. The county health department connects to the same statewide database that every other county office uses.

In-person visits are the fastest option. Go to the DOH-St. Johns office during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID like a driver's license, passport, or state-issued ID card. All IDs must be current. Fill out the application form DH726 at the front desk. Pay the fee and wait for your certificate. Most in-person requests are processed the same day. Walk-ins are welcome. No appointment is needed for St. Johns County birth certificate requests.

Mail requests take longer. Send a completed DH726 form, a photocopy of your valid ID, and a check or money order to the St. Johns County Health Department. Write the check to DOH-St. Johns. Allow two to three weeks for processing and return shipping. The office sends certificates by regular mail. If you need it faster, try ordering online instead.

Online ordering goes through VitalChek. This is the only online vendor approved by the state. You can place an order at any time. VitalChek charges a processing fee on top of the state fee. They accept credit and debit cards. Most online orders arrive in five to seven business days. Rush processing is available for an extra $10 if you need your St. Johns County birth certificate sooner.

St. Johns County Birth Certificate Fees

The state sets the fees for birth certificates across Florida. The first copy costs $9. Each extra copy of the same record costs $4 when ordered at the same time. These fees come from Florida Statute 382.0255. The $9 search fee is non-refundable, even if no record is found.

For in-person and mail orders, you can pay with cash, check, or money order. Credit cards are not accepted at the office for most transactions. VitalChek orders use credit or debit cards and include an additional service charge. The total cost through VitalChek is higher than ordering in person or by mail, but many people prefer the convenience.

Rush processing adds $10 to your order. This speeds up the printing and shipping. Standard processing takes three to five business days for computer-generated certificates. The St. Johns County office can often do same-day service for walk-in requests when the record is in the system.

Who Can Order a Birth Certificate

Florida law restricts who can get a certified birth certificate. Under Florida Statute 382.025, birth records are confidential for 125 years from the date of birth. Only certain people can request a certified copy from St. Johns County or any other county in the state.

Eligible requestors include the person named on the record (if 18 or older), a parent listed on the certificate, a legal guardian with court documentation, or an authorized legal representative. You must show proof of your identity and your relationship to the person on the record. Attorneys acting on behalf of eligible parties can also make requests with proper authorization.

If you don't qualify for a certified copy, you can still get an informational copy. This version has the same data but carries a stamp that says it is not valid for legal purposes. Informational copies work fine for personal reference or genealogy research. The St. Johns County Health Department staff can help you figure out which type you are eligible to receive.

Corrections and Amendments

Mistakes on a birth certificate happen. Maybe a name is misspelled. Maybe a date is wrong. The Florida DOH amendments page explains how to fix errors. Minor corrections like spelling fixes can be handled with a simple application. Bigger changes may need a court order under Florida Statute 382.016.

Amendments go through the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville, not through the St. Johns County office directly. You submit your correction request to the state. The state reviews it and, if approved, issues a new certificate. The process can take several weeks depending on what kind of change you need. There are separate fees for amendment processing that are different from the regular certificate fees.

The Florida Department of Health birth certificates page shows how to order a certified copy from St. Johns County.

This page covers all the steps St. Johns County residents need to follow when requesting a birth certificate.

Cities in St. Johns County

St. Johns County includes St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra Beach, and several other communities. All residents use the same health department office in St. Augustine for birth certificate requests.

Communities in St. Johns County include St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Hastings, Nocatee, and World Golf Village. Residents of these areas use the same health department for birth records.

Nearby Counties

Several counties border St. Johns County. You can request a Florida birth certificate from any county health department in the state, so if a neighboring county office is closer to you, that works too.