How to Find Birth Records in Mississippi

Vital records which include birth records are kept and also made available to the public by every state in the US. This also true for Mississippi. This article is aimed at giving you ways on how to find birth records in Mississippi. You can find birth records in any state in the United States too.

Mississippi is located in the southeastern part of the US. Its population is about 2.9 million and has been keeping birth records since 1912. Statewide compliance was achieved in 1921. However, there are counties who started keeping birth records as early as 1879. To find more about such records you will need to get in touch with that specific county where the birth took place.

Some of these records are incomplete. They can be found from the Family History Library. Examples of counties with such birth records would be Harrison, Hancock, Panola Lauderdale to name but some. County health departments can prove quite useful in helping you find such birth records.

Uses of Birth Records in Mississippi

Birth records are essential in Mississippi if you are looking to:

• Enroll in school
• Obtain a driver’s license
• Apply for a social security card
• Obtain a passport

How to Obtain the Mississippi Birth Record

Birth certificates can be ordered from Mississippi State Department of Health and from VitalChek. In order to obtain birth records in Mississippi, you will need to provide the following:

• Full names
• Date and place of birth
• Type of birth
• Parents’ full names
• Mother’s maiden name
• Date and place of registration and birth registration number
• The purpose for requesting the certificate

Mississippi Birth Records Restrictions

There are restrictions that are associated with birth records in Mississippi. Birth records that are more than a 100 years can be accessed by anyone in Mississippi as they are regarded as public records. However, these records are available for genealogical purposes. Applicants need to provide their relationship to the record owner to access them.

Birth records that are less than 100 years are restricted to those individuals who qualify. Only the following individuals are allowed to access to them:

• The person on the certificate
• The parent or grandparent of the person on the certificate
• The spouse of the person on the certificate
• The child of the person on the certificate
• The sibling of the person on the certificate
• The legal guardian of the person on the certificate
• Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate

Since birth records are confidential information in Mississippi and are accessible to the above listed individuals, the story does not end there. These individuals should provide valid phot IDs to prove their identity. Only applications with valid IDs or any other permitted form of identification would be processed by the Vital Records Office. Applications without proper identification are sent back.

Birth Records Requirements in Mississippi

Those who qualify to obtain birth records in Mississippi can get them through mail or in person. Forms of identification that are approved in Mississippi for birth records are:

• Photo state-issued ID
• Photo driver’s license
• United States passport
• Employment ID
• Tribal ID
• School, University, or College ID
• Temporary Resident Card
• United State military ID
• Alien Registration or permanent resident card

For individuals who are looking to apply for their birth records but lack the required identification, they can apply for their birth records through close family members. These family members should provide with the application, two forms of identification from the following documents:

• Utility bill showing address
• Social security card
• Employment identification
• Medical card
• Veteran universal access ID card
• Snap/EBT card with address

How to Order Mississippi Birth Records by Mail

In order to order birth records by mail in Mississippi, applicants should first fill up the Application for Certified Copy of Birth Certificate form. Applicants should also include proof of payment, proper identification documents and stamped envelope that is self-addressed with the application form. The application can be mailed to:

Mississippi Vital Records
222 Marketridge Drive
PO Box 1700
Jackson, MS 39215-1700
Phone: (601) 206-8200

How to Order Mississippi Birth Records in Person

Those who are looking to apply for birth records in Mississippi in person, should submit a filled in Application for Certified Copy of Birth Certificate Form at the Vital Records Office. This form should be accompanied by proper legal identification documents. One advantage of an in person application is that chances are high that your application can be processed the same day. Applicants are expected to provide payment if they want to see their requests processed the same day.

In person requests for birth records can be done by visiting the Vital Records Office at:

222 Marketridge Drive
Off Highland Colony Parkway
Ridgeland, MS 39157

With these tips, you are closer on how to find birth records in Mississippi. They give ways you can use to locate birth records from the time birth records started being recorded in Mississippi to now.