by With birth records in the United States, citizens are able to prove the identity, enroll in school, apply for passports, driver’s license, Social Security Number and a whole lot more. The question then would be how do you find birth records when you need them? This guide will discuss methods on how to find birth records in Tennessee.
Found in the southeastern part of the United States, Tennessee has a population of about 7 million. Recording of birth in the state began in 1914 when the statewide registration was started. Compliance with this was only achieved in 1927.
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Birth Records in Tennessee
There are some counties who kept birth records before the government agencies began registering births before 1874. These records are microfilmed and kept at county courthouses. They can be located from the following sources:
Tennessee Births and Christenings (1828 – 1939)
Tennessee Delayed Birth Records
Tennessee Birth Records (ER Series)
In 1908, a number of cities began registering birth which the Board of School Directors was required to collect. These records were then sent to the Secretary of County Board of Health (County Clerk). They were then passed on to the State Board of Health.
The index for these records is in soundex. Information found on the records is normally the name of the child, the mother’s name, date of birth and county and the certificate number.
Delayed Birth Records in Tennessee
Delayed birth records were issued in Tennessee from 1935. Requesters were required to provide letters and documents that supported their request to obtain a delayed birth certificate. Sources for delayed birth certificates in Tennessee are:
Tennessee State Library and Archives (1869 – 1909)
Tennessee Delayed Birth Records
Office of Vital Records, Department of Health (after 1910)
Birth records that are less than a 100 years are regarded as private information in Tennessee and can only be accessed by a few individuals. Qualifying individuals include the following:
- The person named on the record
- A spouse of the person named on the record
- A parent of the person named on the record
- A legal guardian or child of the person named on the record
- A legal representative acting on behalf of one of the individuals named above
How to Obtain Birth Records in Tennessee
Qualified individuals who are looking to obtain birth records in Tennessee are expected to produce an identification document before any record is issued. The following identification documents are accepted in Tennessee as proof of identity:
- Valid driver’s license, with the issue and expiration date.
- Valid passport
- Military I.D. card
- Alien, provisional, or permanent resident card
- Employment authorization card
- S. Certificate of Naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship or Citizenship I.D. card
If the applicant does not have any of the above listed forms of identification, any two of the following shall suffice:
- Current pay stub or W2
- Vehicle registration with name and current address
- Voter Registration card
- Military Discharge (DD214)
- Utility Bill, Bank Statement, or deposit slip with name and current address
- Health care coverage card
- Medical record
- Application page of an insurance policy
- Signed Social Security Card
- A copy of a police report or other official documents that support theft for individuals who have their I.D. stolen.
Tennessee Birth Records Online
There is no platform that has been set up by the state of Tennessee where qualified applicants get to order copies of birth certificates online. There is an independent company that the state of Tennessee has incorporated that provide online searches on birth records in the state at a charge. Online orders are the best way to get your birth records faster than any other method in Tennessee.
Records that are than 100 years which are considered public records in Tennessee can be easily and quickly located using third party independent sites. These sites offer result faster and search on a bigger scale. To search, applicants must provide full name of the person on the record plus their current location (city, county, state).
Third party independent websites are not government sponsored hence their data might be different from that available on government sources.
Tennessee Birth Records in Person
To obtain a copy of a birth record in Tennessee in person, eligible individuals can complete the order form at the customer service window of the Vital Records Office and provide proper identification. Those individuals who are not eligible are expected to provide enough proof supporting their claim to the records when they apply.
There is also kiosk where applications can be made which can be found at the Office of Vital Records. The kiosk has the ability to automatically verify an applicant’s identification even if an ID is not provided. If the identification process on the kiosk fails, applicants can then verify their identification by producing their ID at the front counter. You can find the Office of Vital Records at:
1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
Tennessee Birth Records by Mail
Applicants are expected to fill in the Application for Certified Copy of a Tennessee Certificate of Birth form to obtain a birth certificate in Tennessee. The application must be accompanied by a valid ID, necessary fee and mailed to:
Tennessee Vital Records
1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
These are some of the suggested ways on how to find birth records in Tennessee. With them you can locate all birth records that were registered in the state of Tennessee.
