Find Birth Records in Washington County

Birth records for Washington County are available at the DOH-Washington office in Chipley. With a population of about 26,500, Washington County is one of the smaller counties in the Florida Panhandle. The health department handles all certified birth certificate requests for the area. Like every county health office in the state, it connects to the statewide vital records database and can issue copies for any birth registered in Florida. You can order in person, by mail, or online.

Washington County Health Department

The DOH-Washington office in Chipley is the local branch of the Florida Department of Health. It provides vital records services to all Washington County residents. The office has access to the statewide birth records database, which includes every birth registered in Florida from 1917 to the present. You do not need to have been born in Washington County to request a certificate here. Any birth on file in the state system can be looked up and printed.

Florida Statute 382.013 requires all births to be registered within five days. This is handled by the hospital for facility births. For home births, the attending midwife or doctor files the registration. Once a birth is registered, the record stays in the statewide system permanently. The Washington County Health Department can then pull it up at any time.

See the Washington County Health Department birth certificates page for local information.

How to Get a Washington County Birth Certificate

You can order a birth certificate from the Washington County Health Department three ways. Each method results in the same certified copy that works for legal purposes.

In person is the fastest. Go to the DOH-Washington office in Chipley during business hours. Bring valid photo ID. A driver's license, state-issued ID, passport, or military ID will work. Your ID must be current. Fill out application form DH726 at the counter. The form is offered in English and Spanish. Pay $9 for the first copy. Walk-in requests are usually processed the same day. No appointment is needed.

Mail works if you cannot visit in person. Send a completed DH726 form, a photocopy of your valid photo ID, and payment to the DOH-Washington office at the address above. A check or money order payable to DOH-Washington is the accepted form of payment for mail orders. Processing takes two to three weeks. Your certificate comes back by regular mail.

The online option is VitalChek. It is the only online vendor that the Florida Department of Health allows for birth certificate orders. VitalChek charges a service fee on top of the state fee. You pay by credit or debit card. Delivery takes five to seven business days. Rush processing is available for an extra $10 if you need your Washington County birth certificate faster.

Washington County Birth Certificate Fees

First copies cost $9. Additional copies of the same record are $4 each when ordered at the same time. Florida Statute 382.0255 governs these fees statewide. The search fee is non-refundable. You still pay even if no matching record is found in the system.

The Chipley office takes cash, checks, and money orders. VitalChek accepts credit and debit cards. The total cost is higher through VitalChek because of their added service charge. For most Washington County residents, going to the Chipley office in person is the cheapest option. The office is centrally located and handles requests quickly during regular business hours.

Eligibility to Get a Copy

Birth records are confidential in Florida. They are sealed for 125 years under Florida Statute 382.025. The Washington County Health Department only releases certified copies to eligible applicants.

Eligible people include the registrant (must be at least 18), parents named on the certificate, legal guardians with court papers, authorized attorneys, and individuals with a court order granting access. If you do not qualify, you can request an informational copy instead. It has the same information but is stamped as not valid for legal purposes. Informational copies are useful for genealogy research and personal reference. The Florida DOH birth certificates page has more details on eligibility.

Correcting a Birth Certificate

If there is an error on a birth certificate, you can apply for a correction. The Florida DOH amendments page explains what to do. The Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville handles all amendments. The Washington County office does not process corrections on its own.

Simple errors like a misspelled name require supporting documents and a fee. Major changes need a court order. Florida Statute 382.016 covers the amendment rules. Adding a parent, changing a name, or fixing the place of birth are considered major changes. Once the state approves the correction, a new certificate gets issued. Processing takes several weeks.

Fraud is a serious matter. Florida Statute 382.026 makes it a felony to use false information to get a birth certificate. The Washington County Health Department verifies all identification before releasing records to guard against fraudulent requests.

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

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

Cities in Washington County

Washington County has a handful of small communities. All residents go through the DOH-Washington office in Chipley for birth records.

Communities in Washington County include Chipley, Vernon, Caryville, Ebro, and Wausau. Residents of these areas use the same health department for birth records.

Nearby Counties

Washington County is surrounded by several Panhandle counties. You can use any county health department in Florida to get your birth certificate since they all share the same statewide database.