How to order a birth certificate in King County

• All persons born in Seattle or King County (all years)
• All Washington state births registered from 1907 to present
• For births outside of King County before 1907, please contact the Washington State Center for Health Statistics at 360-236-4300 or toll-free, 800-525-0127.

To purchase a birth certificate, you must:

Be a qualified applicant and prove your relationship by submitting proof documentation.

1. What is a qualified applicant?
   A qualified applicant is a person who is eligible to receive a certificate.
   
   
2. Who are the qualified applicants for a birth certificate?
   Qualified applicants for a birth certificate are: Self, Spouse/Domestic Partner, Child, Parent, Stepparent, Stepchild, Sibling, Grandparent, Grandchild, Great Grandparent, Legal Guardian, Legal Representative, Authorized Representative, or Government Agency or the Courts (only for official duties).

Provide identity documentation.

What is proof of eligibility documentation? Proof of eligibility documentation are documents that link you to the requested birth certificate.

1. If you are listed on the record and your identity documentation sufficiently links you to the record (i.e. self or parents), your proof of eligibility requirement is met.
   
2. If you are not listed on the record or your identity documentation doesn't sufficiently link you to the record, you must provide additional documentation to prove eligibility.

What documents will King County Vital Statistics accept to prove eligibility? King County Vital Statistics will accept the following documents to prove eligibility:

1. Copies of vital records such as certifications of birth, death, marriage, and divorce from this or another jurisdiction that link you to the requested record
   
2. Copies of certified court orders from a court of competent jurisdiction linking you to the record (i.e. legal guardian)
   
3. Document or letter from a government agency or courts stating the certification will be used in.

What identity documentation will King County Vital Statistics accept? King County Vital Statistics will accept a copy of:

1. One government issued identity document (must contain photo, full name, and date of birth) that is current or expired less than 60 days; or
   
2. If you do not have a government issued identity document, then at least two alternate documents from the alternate list.
   
3. The alternate documents must contain matching first and last names and addresses, or in combination contains full name, date of birth, and photograph. the conduct of official duties (for government and court officials only)

Provide required information.

The following information is required as it appears on the birth certificate:

1. First, middle, and last name of the subject of the record
   
2. First and last name of all parents listed on the record
   
3. Date of birth (month, date, year)
   
4. City or county where the birth occurred

Pay the fee. Fees start at $25.

Certificate fees

Birth certificates are $25.00 each.

Important note: No refunds will be given if a record could not be located or the documentation you provided did not prove you were eligible to receive a birth certificate.

Additional fees and payment information

• Purchase in our lobby, while you wait:
  
  • There is no additional fee for birth certificates purchased in our lobby when paying with cash, check or money orders.
    
  • Credit cards are accepted. A bank card processing fee of 2.35% ($2.00 minimum) will be applied to all transactions.
    
    
• Orders submitted by mail with payment by check or money order:
  
  • In addition to the cost of the certificate(s), an additional fee of $4.00 per order applies when an order is submitted by mail and payment is made by check or money order.
    
  • Checks and money orders should be made payable to: King County Vital Statistics or KCVS.
    
    
• Payment by credit card:
  
  • Credit cards are accepted in the lobby with a bank card processing fee of 2.35%, $2.00 minimum will be applied to all transactions.
    
  • Credit cards can be used to place orders online, by telephone and in-person
    
  • Credit card orders are processed through one of two third-party vendors VitalChek or Point and Pay. Point and Pay is used for lobby purchases only. In addition to the cost of the certificate(s), VitalChek has an additional fee of $15.50 per order.
    
  • For more details, see the section below, titled "Orders with payment by credit card".

Ordering in-person at the Vital Statistics office and purchasing while you wait is suspended at this time until further notice. Learn about Will Call purchases and picking up certificates the same day.

As COVID-19 restrictions ease, the King County Vital Statistics Office is open on a limited basis from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Monday-Friday for pick-up ONLY of pre-ordered Will Call Requests at 201 S Jackson St. in Seattle, 2nd floor. Birth and death certificates may continue to be ordered online, by mail or over the phone. Specialists are available to answer questions over the phone at 206-897-5100 between the hours of 9:30 am - 4:00 pm.

Metered street parking is available in the area and in the King Street Center Parking garage.

• Download mail-in form (PDF)
  
• Instrucciones para el Formulario de solicitud de actas de nacimiento (en el formato de PDF)

1. Print out the form, write in your information, and mail it, along with your payment, to the address provided on the form.
   
2. In addition to the cost of the certificate(s), an additional fee of $4.00 per order applies when an order is submitted by mail and payment is made by check or money order.
   
3. Checks and money orders should be made payable to: Vital Statistics
   
4. You can expect your birth certificate order in approximately 3-4 weeks when choosing the mail-in method.

Applies to all orders placed online and by telephone.

Vital Statistics at Public Health — Seattle & King County accepts credit cards processed through VitalChek Network, Inc., an independent company that we have partnered with to provide you this service. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service.

What to expect on your credit card bill using VitalChek services:

• The base fee for birth and death certificates is $25.00 each.
  
• A fee of $15.50 is added per order (for any quantity of records in the order). For example:
  
  • One certificate at $25 + the $15.50 priority handling fee = $40.50 total charged to your credit card.
    
  • Two certificates at $50 + the $15.50 priority handling fee = $62.50 total charged to your credit card.
    
  • Note: the examples above assume standard shipping (with no additional fee for shipping.)
• Rush delivery is available via United Parcel Service (UPS) for an additional fee of $18.50.
  
  • UPS rush delivery requires a signature when delivered.
    UPS will not deliver to PO boxes.

Below is more detailed information about how to place an order online and by telephone.

6A. Online orders

Online orders can be made using VitalChek
Online Will Call orders ONLY can be made using https://www.vitalchek.com/Campaign/?site=2&clickid=1025976723903021058

Will Call Service for ordering birth and death certificates:
This service allows you to place an order over the phone or online and pick up your order at our office later the same day. If we receive your order by 10:00 am, we will have your certificates ready for pickup between 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm the same day. VitalChek will send status updates regarding your order and provide instructions for picking up your certificates. The cost will be the same as a regular VitalChek order ($40.50). If we receive your order after 10:00 am, your certificates will be ready for pickup by 1:00 the following business day. To place an order call 1-888-273-4623. Please indicate that this is a Will Call request while placing the order with our staff.

6B. Phone orders

• Call 1-888-273-4623 24 hours a day, 7 days a week., Toll-free number: 1-800-325-6165, ext. 6-4768.
  
• To order over the telephone, a credit card is required.
  
• All telephone orders are processed within 15-20 business days and then sent by regular mail, unless you select rush delivery.
  
• Rush delivery is available via UPS for an additional fee of $18.50 these orders are processed and sent on the same day or next day.
  
  • UPS rush delivery requires a signature when delivered.
    
  • UPS will not deliver to PO boxes.
    
• For payment information, see the section above, titled "Orders with payment by credit card."
  

NOTE: Because payment is involved, orders cannot be submitted by email.

• Ordering by mail: Birth or death certificate orders received through the mail take approximately two weeks, this does not include US Post Office delivery times.
  
  
• If you come in person: Orders requested in person at the Vital Statistics office normally takes less than twenty minutes unless there are some inconsistencies with your request.
  
  
• If you order by credit card: Orders requested over the telephone or through the website for regular delivery using a credit card will be processed within 14 business days. Expediated Delivery request are processed the same day or the following business day. When placing these orders there is an additional handling fee of $15.50. Delivery options are regular mail (no additional fee) or UPS overnight $18.50.