State vital records · DCVRD
District of Columbia Vital Records Requirements
Fees, processing times, required documents, and who can request birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates in District of Columbia — in one place.
District of Columbia · 1 offices
At a glance
Birth Certificate
$23 · Their website says ”Please allow 2-4 weeks for remote order processing time. Shipping times will vary based on shipping method selected by customer.”, but their application says “Processing time may take 7-10 business days”
Death Certificate
$18 · Their website says ”Please allow 2-4 weeks for remote order processing time. Shipping times will vary based on shipping method selected by customer.”, but their application says “Processing time may take 7-10 business days”
Marriage Certificate
$10 · Not specified
DC Department of Health - Vital Records Division (DCVRD)
- Address
- 899 North Capitol Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
- Mailing
- Department of Health, Vital Records Division ATTN: New Applications Dept. 899 North Capitol St., NE, 1st Floor Washington, DC 20002
- Phone
- (202) 442-9303
- Website
- Official site ↗
- Hours
- WALK-UP SERVICES: Monday and Tuesday 9am - 1pm Wednesday 9am - 3:30pm Thursday and Friday 9am - 1pm
District of Columbia Birth Certificate
- Fee
- $23
- Additional copy
- $23
- Rush fee
- Expedited return shipping with UPS Next Day Air is available for $20.00 Expedited processing fee not specified, just says “For expedited order placement and processing please visit http://www.vitalchek.com/”
- Processing time
- Their website says ”Please allow 2-4 weeks for remote order processing time. Shipping times will vary based on shipping method selected by customer.”, but their application says “Processing time may take 7-10 business days”
- Rush processing
- They can expedite the return shipping by selecting UPS Next Day Air, however they do not specify how long an expedited processing time with VitalChek would be (just says “For expedited order placement and processing please visit http://www.vitalchek.com/”)
- Public after
- 125 years
Who can request
- Attorneys
- Children
- Grandparents
- Law Enforcement
- Legal Guardian
- Legal Representative
- Parents
- Person on Record
- Siblings
- Social Worker
Required information
- Date of Birth
- Daytime Phone Number
- Full Name of Person of Record
- Hospital of Birth
- Mailing Address
- Parents Names
- Sex
- Your Address
- Your Name
- Your Relationship to the Person of Record
- Your Signature
Accepted ID
- Department of State ID
- Government Work ID
- Law Enforcement ID
- Passport
- Permanent Residents Card
- State Driver's License
- State Non-Driver ID
- US Employment Authorization Card
- US Military ID
Secondary ID
- College ID
- Corrections ID
- Court Order
- Federal Government Census Record
- Military ID
- Notarized Letter from Parent
- Social Security Card
- US Selective Service Card
- Utility Bill
- Vehicle Registration
- Veteran ID
- Voter Registration Card
- W-2 Form
- Work ID
District of Columbia Death Certificate
- Fee
- $18
- Additional copy
- $18
- Rush fee
- Expedited return shipping with UPS Next Day Air is available for $20.00 Expedited processing fee not specified, just says “For expedited order placement and processing please visit http://www.vitalchek.com/”
- Processing time
- Their website says ”Please allow 2-4 weeks for remote order processing time. Shipping times will vary based on shipping method selected by customer.”, but their application says “Processing time may take 7-10 business days”
- Rush processing
- They can expedite the return shipping by selecting UPS Next Day Air, however they do not specify how long an expedited processing time with VitalChek would be (just says “For expedited order placement and processing please visit http://www.vitalchek.com/”)
- Public after
- 75 years
Who can request
- Attorneys
- Beneficiary
- Children
- Domestic Partner
- Grandchildren
- Grandparents
- Interested Parties (personal or property rights legal need)
- Law Enforcement
- Legal Guardian
- Legal Representative
- Parents
- Siblings
- Spouse
Required information
- Date of Death
- Daytime Phone Number
- Full Name of Person of Record
- Hospital of Birth
- Mailing Address
- SSN
- Sex
- Your Address
- Your Name
- Your Relationship to the Person of Record
Accepted ID
- Department of State ID
- Government Work ID
- Law Enforcement ID
- Passport
- Permanent Residents Card
- State Driver's License
- State Non-Driver ID
- US Employment Authorization Card
- US Military ID
Secondary ID
- College ID
- Corrections ID
- Court Documents with Current Address
- Court Order
- DC ONE Card
- DD-214 Form
- Expired Driver's License
- Expired Non-Driver's ID
- Expired Passport
- Federal Government Census Record
- Hospital Birth Worksheet
- Military ID
- Notarized Letter from Parent
- Official Correspondence from US Citizenship and Immigration Srvices
- Pay Stub
- Prison ID
- Social Security Card
- Social Security Disbursement Statement
- US Selective Service Card
- Utility Bill
- Vehicle Registration
- Veteran ID
- Voter Registration Card
- W-2 Form
- Work ID
District of Columbia Marriage Certificate
- Fee
- $10
- Additional copy
- $10
- Rush fee
- NA
- Processing time
- Not specified
- Rush processing
- NA
- Public after
- Not Restricted
Who can request
- Not Restricted
Required information
- Bride Name
- Bride's Name Before Marriage
- Date of Marriage
- Groom Name
- Groom Name Before Marriage
- Mailing Address
- Phone Number
- Your Relationship to the Person of Record
Accepted ID
- Not Required
Don't want to visit in person? Order a District of Columbia birth, death, or marriage certificate online through our partner, Vital Records Online.
Order online ↗Get a birth certificate by District of Columbia county
Most District of Columbia birth and death records are requested at the county level. Choose your county for local offices, fees, and how to order.
See all District of Columbia counties & offices →Apostille & authentication
- Office
- Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications
- Phone
- (202) 727-3117
- Mailing
- Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications 441 4th Street, NW Suite 810 South Washington, DC 20001
- Walk-in
- 441 4th Street, NW, Suite 810 South
- Details
- Most documents must be either notarized by a DC notary public or signed by an authorized head of a DC government agency. Birth and death certificates must be original from the District of Columbia. They must be on letter size (8.5”X11”) paper. For the purposes of authentication, marriage certificates and divorce decrees must be certified copies issued by the US Superior Court for the District of Columbia and have the triple seal. They may not be notarized.
Public records: District of Columbia Freedom of Information Act. Information is provided as guidance and may change — verify with the state office before applying.