Find Union County Birth Records

Birth certificate services in Union County are provided by the DOH-Union office in Lake Butler. Union County is one of the smallest counties in Florida, with just under 16,000 residents. Despite its small size, the health department offers the same vital records services as larger counties. You can get a certified birth certificate for any birth that occurred in Florida, not just births in Union County. The office ties into the statewide system that covers records from 1917 to the present.

Union County Health Department

The DOH-Union office in Lake Butler is where Union County residents go for birth certificates. This small office is part of the Florida Department of Health network. Even though Union County is one of the least populated counties in the state, the office can access the entire statewide vital records database. That database holds every registered birth in Florida from 1917 onward. So whether you were born in Lake Butler or in Jacksonville, the Union County office can get your record.

Every birth in Florida must be registered within five days. That is the law under Florida Statute 382.013. Hospitals handle registration for births that happen in their facilities. When a birth takes place at home, the midwife or attending physician files the paperwork. After a birth gets registered, the record is permanently in the system and can be accessed from any county.

The Union County Health Department birth certificates page has local ordering details.

Ordering a Union County Birth Certificate

There are three ways to order. In person at the Lake Butler office is the quickest. Mail takes the longest. Online through VitalChek is in between. All three produce a certified copy valid for legal and official purposes.

For a walk-in request, bring your valid photo ID to the DOH-Union office. A driver's license, state-issued ID card, passport, or military ID all work. Your ID cannot be expired. Fill out application form DH726 at the front desk. The form is available in both English and Spanish. Pay $9 for the first copy. Same-day service is typical for in-person requests at the Union County office. No appointment is necessary.

Mail orders go to the DOH-Union office at the address listed above. Include a completed DH726 form, a photocopy of your valid photo ID, and a check or money order made payable to DOH-Union. Processing by mail takes about two to three weeks. Your certificate comes back to you by regular mail. There is no tracking or expedited mail option through the county office directly.

The third option is online through VitalChek. The Florida Department of Health only authorizes VitalChek for online orders. They add a service fee to the state fee. You pay with a credit or debit card. Orders usually arrive in five to seven business days. Rush processing is available for an extra $10 if you need your Union County birth certificate sooner than the standard time frame.

Fees

The cost is $9 for the first certified copy. Each extra copy of the same record costs $4 if you order at the same time. Florida Statute 382.0255 sets these amounts. They are the same in every county across the state. The search fee is non-refundable, even if no record turns up.

Cash, checks, and money orders work at the Lake Butler office. VitalChek takes credit and debit cards but charges more in total. For Union County residents, the in-person option is usually the most cost-effective. The Lake Butler office is the only vital records location in the county, but it is centrally located and easy to reach for most residents.

Who Is Allowed to Get a Copy

Birth records in Florida are confidential. Florida Statute 382.025 seals them for 125 years. The Union County Health Department only gives out certified copies to people who are eligible.

Eligible people include the person named on the certificate if they are 18 or older, a parent whose name is on the record, a legal guardian with proper court documentation, an attorney with authorization from their client, or someone who holds a court order granting access. If you do not qualify for a certified copy, the office can issue an informational copy instead. It shows the same information but is stamped as not valid for legal purposes.

Amendments and Corrections

Wrong details on a birth certificate can be fixed. Spelling errors and incorrect dates are the most common problems. The Florida DOH amendments page has the forms and detailed instructions for how to proceed. All amendments go through the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. The Union County office does not handle corrections directly.

Simple corrections require supporting documentation and a fee. Major changes, such as adding or removing a parent's name, require a court order as described in Florida Statute 382.016. Once the state approves your amendment, they issue a corrected certificate. The timeline varies but usually takes several weeks.

Fraud carries stiff penalties. Florida Statute 382.026 makes it a felony to use false information or forged documents to obtain a birth certificate. The Union County Health Department verifies every ID before releasing any records.

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

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

Cities in Union County

Union County has just a few small communities. All residents use the same DOH-Union office in Lake Butler for vital records.

Communities in Union County include Lake Butler, Raiford, and Worthington Springs. Residents of these areas use the same health department for birth records.

Nearby Counties

Union County is bordered by four other counties. Any county health department in Florida can process your birth certificate request, so a neighboring county office works just as well if it is closer to you.