Wakulla County Birth Records

Birth certificate requests in Wakulla County go through the DOH-Wakulla office in Crawfordville. This coastal county south of Tallahassee is home to about 37,100 people. The health department provides the same vital records services found in every Florida county. You can order a certified birth certificate for any birth registered in the state, and the process works the same whether you visit in person, send a request by mail, or place an order online through VitalChek.

Wakulla County Health Department

The DOH-Wakulla office in Crawfordville handles all vital records for the county. As part of the Florida Department of Health network, this office connects to the statewide birth records database. It can look up any birth that was registered in Florida from 1917 forward. You do not have to have been born in Wakulla County to use this office. If your birth is on file anywhere in the state system, the Crawfordville office can find it.

Florida Statute 382.013 requires that every birth be registered within five days. Hospitals file the registration automatically during the discharge process. For home births, the midwife or attending physician handles the filing. Once a birth is in the system, it can be accessed from any county health department in Florida, including the Wakulla County office.

More information is on the Wakulla County Health Department birth certificates page.

Getting a Birth Certificate in Wakulla County

You have three ways to get a birth certificate. In person is the fastest. Online is the most convenient. Mail takes the longest. All three give you the same type of certified copy.

For in-person service, go to the DOH-Wakulla office in Crawfordville. Bring a current photo ID. Your driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID will work. The ID must not be expired. Fill out form DH726 at the office. The form comes in English and Spanish. Pay the $9 fee and you can usually leave with your certificate the same day. Walk-ins are taken during regular business hours. No appointment is needed for birth certificate requests in Wakulla County.

To order by mail, send a completed DH726 form with a photocopy of your valid ID and a check or money order to the address listed above. Make payment payable to DOH-Wakulla. Mail orders take about two to three weeks from the time your request arrives. The certificate is returned by regular mail. There is no rush mail option through the county office itself.

VitalChek is the only authorized online option. The Florida Department of Health does not accept direct online orders. VitalChek adds its own processing fee. You pay with a credit or debit card. Standard delivery takes five to seven business days. Rush processing is available for an extra $10. For Wakulla County residents who work in Tallahassee during the week, the online option can be more practical than driving to Crawfordville during office hours.

Birth Certificate Fees

A first copy is $9. Additional copies of the same record cost $4 each when you order them at the same time. These fees are set by Florida Statute 382.0255 and are uniform across the state. The search fee is non-refundable. You pay it whether or not a record is found.

Cash, checks, and money orders are accepted at the Crawfordville office. VitalChek takes credit and debit cards. The total cost online runs higher because of VitalChek's service charge. In-person remains the cheapest option for Wakulla County residents.

Who Can Get a Certified Copy

Birth records in Florida are not public. Florida Statute 382.025 makes them confidential for 125 years after the date of birth. Access is limited to a specific list of eligible people.

You can get a certified copy if you are the person named on the certificate and you are at least 18 years old. Parents whose names appear on the record are also eligible. Legal guardians can apply with court documentation. Attorneys can request copies for their clients. A court order is another way to gain access. If you don't fit into any of these groups, the Wakulla County office can give you an informational copy instead. That version has all the same details but is stamped as not valid for legal purposes.

Fixing Errors on a Birth Certificate

Mistakes on birth certificates can be corrected. The Florida DOH amendments page explains the process. All corrections and amendments go through the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. The Wakulla County office does not process changes locally.

Minor errors like a misspelled name need supporting documents and a fee. Major changes like adding a parent or changing a legal name need a court order under Florida Statute 382.016. After the state approves the amendment, they issue a corrected certificate. Processing time varies but usually takes a few weeks.

Trying to get a birth certificate with false information is a felony. Florida Statute 382.026 spells out the penalties. ID verification at the Wakulla County Health Department is thorough to prevent fraudulent requests.

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

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

Cities in Wakulla County

Wakulla County is a small, mostly rural county. Crawfordville is the largest community and serves as the county seat. All residents use the same DOH-Wakulla office for birth records.

Communities in Wakulla County include Crawfordville, Sopchoppy, St. Marks, Panacea, and Shell Point. Residents of these areas use the same health department for birth records.

Nearby Counties

Wakulla County sits just south of Leon County and is surrounded by a few other counties. Since all county health departments in Florida share the same database, you can use a neighboring county office if it is more convenient.