State vital records · PaDOH-BHSR-DVR
Pennsylvania Vital Records Requirements
Fees, processing times, required documents, and who can request birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates in Pennsylvania — in one place.
Pennsylvania · 134 offices
At a glance
Pennsylvania Department of Health - Bureau of Health Statistics & Registries - Division of Vital Records (PaDOH-BHSR-DVR)
- Address
- They have several offices: • Erie 1910 West 26th Street Erie, PA 16508 • Harrisburg Forum Place, 1st Floor 555 Walnut Street Harrisburg, PA 17101 • New Castle 105 Nesbitt Road New Castle, PA 16105 • Philadelphia (Office hours are 9AM-12PM only. Customers may drop off applications and pick up certificates for completed orders previously placed.) 110 N. 8th Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 • Pittsburgh 411 Seventh Avenue, Room 360 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 • Scranton Scranton State Office Building, Room 112100 Lackawanna Avenue Scranton PA 18503
- Mailing
- Department of Health Bureau of Health Statistics & Registries Division of Vital Records P.O. Box 1528 New Castle, PA 16103
- Phone
- (724) 656-3100
- Website
- Official site ↗
- Hours
- 8:00AM - 4:00PM, Same day services are available in most offices for applications received by 2:30 PM
Pennsylvania Birth Certificate
- Fee
- $20
- Additional copy
- $20
- Rush fee
- NA - they have partnered with vitalchek to create an online platform, but according to their https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/certificates/Pages/Processing-Times.aspx, the processing time is the same for mail-ins
- Processing time
- 2 weeks
- Rush processing
- NA - they have partnered with vitalchek to create an online platform, but according to their https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/certificates/Pages/Processing-Times.aspx, the processing time is the same for mail-ins
- Public after
- Not Restricted
Who can request
- Attorneys
- Authorized Agent
- Children
- Government Agency
- Grandchildren
- Grandparents
- Great Grandchildren
- Great Grandparents
- Half-Siblings
- Legal Representative
- Parents
- Person on Record
- Power of Attorney
- Siblings
- Spouse
- Step Children
- Step-Parents
Required information
- Current Age
- Date of Birth
- Daytime Phone Number
- Father's Name
- Father's Name at Birth
- Full Name at Birth
- Mailing Address
- Mother's Maiden Name
- Mother's Name
- Place of Birth
- Purpose for the Certificate
- Your Name
- Your Relationship to the Person of Record
- Your Signature
Accepted ID
- Driver's License
- Inmate ID
- State ID
- Valid Government ID
- Weapon Permit
Secondary ID
- Bank Statement
- College ID
- Pay Stub
- Rental Agreement
- Social Security Statement
- Utility Bill
- Vehicle Registration
- W-2 Form
Pennsylvania Death Certificate
- Fee
- $20
- Additional copy
- $20
- Rush fee
- NA - they have partnered with vitalchek to create an online platform, but according to their https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/certificates/Pages/Processing-Times.aspx, the processing time is the same for mail-ins
- Processing time
- 3 weeks
- Rush processing
- NA - they have partnered with vitalchek to create an online platform, but according to their https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/certificates/Pages/Processing-Times.aspx, the processing time is the same for mail-ins
- Public after
- Not Restricted
Who can request
- Children
- Ex-Spouse
- Government Officials
- Grandchildren
- Grandparents
- Great Grandchildren
- Great Grandparents
- Half-Siblings
- Legal Representative
- Other Person of Interest
- Parents
- Power of Attorney
- Siblings
- Spouse
- Step Children
- Step-Parents
Required information
- Age at Death
- Date of Birth
- Date of Death
- Daytime Phone Number
- Father's Name
- Father's Name at Birth
- Full Name of Person of Record
- Funeral Home Name
- Mailing Address
- Mother's Maiden Name
- Mother's Name
- Place of Death
- Purpose for the Certificate
- SSN
- Sex
- Your Name
- Your Relationship to the Person of Record
- Your Signature
Accepted ID
- Driver's License
- Inmate ID
- State ID
- Valid Government ID
- Weapon Permit
Secondary ID
- Bank Statement
- College ID
- Pay Stub
- Rental Agreement
- Social Security Statement
- Utility Bill
- Vehicle Registration
- W-2 Form
Pennsylvania Marriage Certificate
- Fee
- County-dependent
- Additional copy
- County-dependent
- Rush fee
- County-dependent
- Processing time
- County-dependent
- Rush processing
- County-dependent
- Public after
- Not Restricted
Don't want to visit in person? Order a Pennsylvania birth, death, or marriage certificate online through our partner, Vital Records Online.
Order online ↗Get a birth certificate by Pennsylvania county
Most Pennsylvania birth and death records are requested at the county level. Choose your county for local offices, fees, and how to order.
- Philadelphia County birth certificate2
- Allegheny County birth certificate2
- Montgomery County birth certificate2
- Bucks County birth certificate2
- Delaware County birth certificate2
- Lancaster County birth certificate2
- York County birth certificate3
- Berks County birth certificate2
- Lehigh County birth certificate2
- Westmoreland County birth certificate2
- Luzerne County birth certificate2
- Northampton County birth certificate2
Apostille & authentication
- Office
- Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Notaries
- Phone
- (717) 787-5280
- Mailing
- Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Notaries, Commissions & Legislation Apostilles & Certifications North Office Building, Room 201 Harrisburg, PA 17120-0029
- Walk-in
- 401 North Street Harrisburg, PA 17120 from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday (except State holidays)
- Details
- 1. Original document(s) 2. Include a cover letter or you may use our https://www.dos.pa.gov/OtherServices/Certifications_Apostilles/Documents/apostilles%20and%20authentication.pdf. Identify the country where the documents will be used, as well as the requestor's name, contact phone, email, and full mailing address. 3. Enclose a personal check, money order, or cashier's check made payable to "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" in the amount of $15 per document (not per page). Checks and money orders must be issued by a U.S. institution or, if issued by a foreign bank, must be in U.S. dollars and contain a routing number. Cash cannot be accepted by mail or drop-box. 4. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the return of your documents. If you wish the order to be returned by a courier service, you must enclose a prepaid air bill with your order.
Public records: Right-to-Know Law (RTKL). Information is provided as guidance and may change — verify with the state office before applying.