Vital Records
Apply in Person
Step 1
Complete and sign the Birth Certificate and Death Certificate Application Form.
You can view, complete and print the form below, or request and complete the form at our office.
Step 2
One identity document that displays a name and photograph, such as a driver’s license, passport, or school, work, or military identification is required. This type of identification is preferred and must include the applicant’s name and the name of the company or organization issuing the document.
If you do not have a photo ID, at least two alternative forms of identification must be presented as follows:
- Two pieces of mail with name and address OR
- One piece of mail with name and address and social security number
Step 3
Review the certificate for accuracy and pay the fees at our office.
Apply by Mail
Step 1
Complete and sign the Birth Certificate and Death Certificate Application Form.
You can view, complete and print the form below, or request and complete the form at our office.
Step 2
Have your Birth Certificate or Death Certificate Application notarized.
Step 3
Prepare the following items to mail:
- Your payment by check or money order (payable to Jackson County Health Department).
- Notarized completed Birth Certificate or Death Certificate Application.
- Self-addressed stamped envelope.
Step 4
Mail all of the above to:
Jackson County Health Department
Vital Records
313 S. Liberty
Independence, MO 64050
Step 5
You will receive the certificate back in the envelope that was provided to us. We process applications and mail them to you within 48 hours (excluding weekends) of receiving them.
Apply in Person
Step 1
Complete and sign the Birth Certificate and Death Certificate Application Form.
You can view, complete and print the form below, or request and complete the form at our office.
Step 2
One identity document that displays a name and photograph, such as a driver’s license, passport, or school, work, or military identification is required. This type of identification is preferred and must include the applicant’s name and the name of the company or organization issuing the document.
If you do not have a photo ID, at least two alternative forms of identification must be presented as follows:
- Two pieces of mail with name and address OR
- One piece of mail with name and address and social security number
Step 3
Review the certificate for accuracy and pay the fees at our office.
Apply by Mail
Step 1
Complete and sign the Birth Certificate and Death Certificate Application Form.
You can view, complete and print the form below, or request and complete the form at our office.
Step 2
Have your Birth Certificate or Death Certificate Application notarized.
Step 3
Prepare the following items to mail:
- Your payment by check or money order (payable to Jackson County Health Department).
- Notarized completed Birth Certificate or Death Certificate Application.
- Self-addressed stamped envelope.
Step 4
Mail all of the above to:
Jackson County Health Department
Vital Records
313 S. Liberty
Independence, MO 64050
Step 5
You will receive the certificate back in the envelope that was provided to us. We process applications and mail them to you within 48 hours (excluding weekends) of receiving them.
Out of State Certificates
Born in a U.S. State
For a certified copy of your birth certificate, contact the vital records office in the state you were born for instructions on how to request a copy and information on any fees.
If you need to get a coy of your birth certificate quickly, ask the vital records office at the time you place your order about getting expedited service or shipping.
Born Abroad
If you were born to American parents abroad, they should have registered your birth with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in that country, and received a Consular Report of Birth Abroad. You can get a copy of this report from the U.S. Department of State (DOS). Depending on the country, a vital records office in the nation may also list the birth.
If you were born on a military base abroad, and your parents did not register your birth with the U.S. Embassy, you may have to contact the hospital where the book took place. You may also try contacting the base operator or public affairs office for the appropriate military branch.
Adopted by U.S. Citizen
The country in which you were born issued your birth certificate. If you need a replacement, you must contact the nearest foreign embassy or consulate from that country. A child born in a foreign country and adopted by a U.S. citizen will not receive a U.S. birth certificate. If the document is in a language other than English, you should also seek the embassy’s help in getting the document translated if you require authenticated documents.
