Vital Records Division FAQs How can I request a District of Columbia birth or death certificate? What hours are you open? Who can request a District of Columbia birth or death certificate? What is the cost of a birth or death record? How can I correct information on a certificate? What is the quickest way to obtain my birth certificate? Can I request a District of Columbia birth or death record via email? From what year are birth and death certificates available? Where can I find marriage and divorce records? Where do I request a birth certificate if I was born abroad, with US citizenship at birth? How can I obtain an apostille for my DC Birth Certificate? What is a long form birth certificate? How can I request a birth or death certificate? For a birth or death certificate that occurred in Washington, DC only, contact: Department of Health Vital Records Division 899 North Capitol Street, NE, First Floor Washington, DC 20002 (202) 671-5000 What hours are you open? The Vital Records walk-in counter is open from 8:30 am-3:30 pm Monday-Friday. Closed on major holidays. The Vital Records Division issues certified copies of birth and death certificates for the District of Columbia only. Who can request a District of Columbia birth or death certificate? Persons entitled to request a birth or death certificate include: The registrant An immediate nuclear family member A legal guardian A legal representative Birth records become public after 100 years have elapsed from the date of birth and death records become public after 50 years have elapsed from the date of death. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, and other relatives not part of the immediate family cannot obtain a birth or death certificate from Vital Records prior to the record becoming open to the public unless the approval guidelines are met. At the discretion of the Registrar, a researcher maybe granted access to birth and death records. Select here for more information. What is the cost of a birth or death record? Birth $23 per copy of the original long-form certificate Death $18 per death certificate There is no refund if the birth or death certificate is not found. If no record is found, a three-year "Certificate of Search" will be issued. Make your check* or money order payable to the DC Treasurer. DO NOT SEND CASH for mail-in requests. *The DC Treasurer requires that all checks have an address imprinted on them to be accepted for deposit. How can I correct information on a certificate? There are several provisions in the District of Columbia statutes whereby changes may be made on a vital record. We encourage you to write us with your correction request and we will advise you on what needs to be done to make the correction. What's the quickest way to obtain my birth certificate? 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. Can I request a vital record via email? A request can only be made in person, via mail, or by phone to the Vital Chek credit card service. From what year are birth and death certificates available? Birth and death certificates are available from August 1874 to present. For older records, the Vital Records Division may need to contact the Federal or DC Record Center. Where can I find marriage and divorce records? For marriage and divorce records contact: DC Superior Court, 500 Indiana Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20001 (Room 4335 for Divorce Decree or Room 4485 for marriage license) Marriage information (202) 879-4840 Divorce Information (202) 879-1261 Where do I request a birth certificate if I was born abroad, with US citizenship at birth? You can request a birth certificate from: US Department of State Passport Correspondence Branch, Overseas Birth 1111 19th Street, NW Suite 510 Washington, DC 20522-1705 Phone: (202) 955-0307 How can I obtain an Apostille for my DC Birth Certificate? To obtain an Apostille (state seal of authentication) for a DC birth certificate, you must request that a live signature be affixed on your DC birth certificate when purchased from the Vital Records Division. You must then forward your birth certificate with the live signature, and a fee of $15.00 payable to the DC Treasurer and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: DC Office of the Secretary Notary Commissions & Authentication's Section 441 4th Street, NW Room 810S Washington, DC 20001 Phone: (202) 727-3117 What is a long form birth certificate? The long form is a certified copy of the original birth certificate in its entirety. This is preferred by the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Passport Services/Customer Service and by the courts.