Fees, Method of Payments and Types of Requests Vital Records Division The Vital Records Division is responsible for collecting, preserving, and administering the District's system of birth and death records, as well as other critical records. In accordance with the Vital Records Act of 1981, information is obtained from hospitals, the Medical Examiner's Office, funeral directors, and other states. Authorized persons may request and receive certified copies of these records upon payment of the appropriate fee. A birth or death certificate is provided only if the birth or death occurred in the District of Columbia. Copies of records may be requested in person at the Division's office, by mail, or by telephone through the VitalChek service. Fees Method of Payments Mail-Order Requests Telephone-Order Requests Walk-in Requests Fees Service/Certificate Fee Birth certificate (long-form photocopy of original record) * $23.00 Adoptee birth record $28.00 Delayed birth record $23.00 Death certificate * $18.00 Corrections to a birth record $23.00 Correction to a death record (includes a copy of the amended record) $23.00 Certificate of Search (3 Consecutive Years) (If a birth/death record cannot be located, a fee of $18.00 will be retained for search of our files) $18.00 * New birth and death certificate fees effective March 10, 2003 Agency Administrative Copies** $10.00 Agency Verifications** $5.00 **New fees effective February 23, 2007 Method of Payments Walk-ins/In Person: Visa, Mastercard, cash, check* or money order payable to DC Treasurer Mail: Check or money order payable to the DC Treasurer VitalChek: Credit card *The DC Treasurer requires that all checks have an address imprinted on them to be accepted for deposit.   Mail-Order Requests Download and fill out the official application form; or write a letter that includes all the information requested on the application. Send the application to the address at the bottom of this page. Include a check* or money order for the appropriate fee, made payable to the DC Treasurer. Please do not send cash. Beginning January 1, 2009, All Mail-In Requests must include a stamped self-addressed No. 10 (4 1/8" x 9 1/2") business size return envelope. Include a photocopy of an official picture identification of the requester. *The DC Treasurer requires that all checks have an address imprinted on them to be accepted for deposit.   A response will be sent by regular US mail service within two weeks of receipt of the request. A response will be sent by Federal Express only if the application is accompanied by a self-addressed, prepaid Federal Express envelope and the required billing information. Telephone-Order Requests The DC Vital Records Division does not process online orders. For your convenience, you can process online requests through VitalChek Network, Inc, an independent company that we have partnered with to provide you this service. VitalChek can be reached either through its website, www.vitalchek.com or by phone at 1 (877) 572-6332. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service, and all major credit cards are accepted including American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa. Walk-in Requests Location Hours Waiting Period Rules 899 North Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Mon.- Fri. 8:30 am-3:30 pm Closed on major Holidays 15-30 minutes Adequate proof of requester’s identity is required This site provides additional information on the State Center for Health Statistics.