© 2019 USVitalRecords.org
ONLINE SERVICE INFORMATION
Our online service is open to the legal profession and general public to obtain original certified copies of state vital records. Vital certificates and forms may be ordered from the relevant government agency for free or a lesser cost. No visit to the government agency is required through Vital Certificate Processing Services' online ordering service. The online processing fee is for the cost of providing a secure online ordering service, expert assistance and thorough review of all pertinent information to ensure compliance with government rules and regulations.
1. How long will it take to receive my order and how many copies can I obtain?
2. What is a maiden name or a legal name change?
3. Can I order anyone’s birth certificate?
4. Is the certificate an official document & can it be used for a passport application?
5. What is identity verification?
6. Can I cancel an order or change information on my order?
7. How much does it cost to order a vital certificate and what are the fees?
8. What if I don’t have all of the information to complete the order form?
9. What name do I use if adoption was involved?
10. How do I obtain the status of my order?
1. How long will it take to receive my order and how many copies can I obtain?
Certificate processing and delivery time currently averages 25 to 30 business days. Additional delivery times apply if you choose to have the certificate delivered by regular mail.
You may request up to 10 copies of the same record per order through this website. Additional fees will apply.
2. What is a maiden name or legal name change?
A maiden name is your last name prior to marriage.
If you have had a legal name change, Pennsylvania vital records will be changed to reflect this. Use your current legal name to apply. Please note that assuming your spouse’s last name is not a legal name change.
3. Can I order anyone’s birth certificate?
Pennsylvania Birth Records
To order certified copies of Pennsylvania birth certificates, the eligible applicant must be eighteen (18) years of age or older. You may order a copy of your own certificate or one for an immediate family member (spouse, parent, sibling, child, grandparent or grandchild).
Legal representatives must submit additional documentation justifying their need for copies of Pennsylvania birth certificates. Therefore, legal representatives are not eligible to order birth certificates online.
Pennsylvania Death Records
To order certified copies of Pennsylvania death certificates, the eligible applicant must be the legal representative of the decedent's estate, a member of the decedent's immediate family (spouse, parent, sibling, child, grandparent or grandchild), or an extended family member who can establish a direct relationship to the decedent.
4. Is the certificate an official document & can it be used for a passport application?
Yes. All certificates ordered through this website are certified photocopies of the original record with the embossed Seal of Pennsylvania.
A certified copy of a birth certificate is accepted by all state and federal agencies as legal proof of birth and citizenship. It can typically be used for travel, passport, proof of citizenship, social security, driver's license, school registration, personal identification and other legal purposes.
A certified copy of a death certificate can typically be used to obtain death benefits, claim insurance proceeds, notify social security and other legal purposes.
5. What is identity verification?
The Pennsylvania Department of Health may require that you provide documentation to verify your identity for your protection and to establish your relationship with the subject of the certificate (i.e. if requesting a spouse’s birth certificate, a certified copy of your marriage record may be required). You will receive an order confirmation email in one to three business days. If identification is required, this email will contain a link with instructions to upload or fax your identification. Once your documents have been submitted, it will take 24-48 hours for approval. On approval your certificate will be sent to you directly from the government agency. If the agency has any questions or needs to verify any information provided, you will be contacted.
If you do not have a valid government issued photo ID, you will not be able to place an order through this website. Please contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health directly for more information about how to obtain a vital certificate without identification.
6. Can I cancel an order or change information on my order?
CORRECTIONS:
Submitted incorrect information? Please email us as soon as possible at support@usvitalrecords.org.
CANCELLATIONS/REFUNDS:
We are a service oriented business, committed to the highest quality in customer service. We cannot provide refunds or cancel an application for any of our services as all vital record applications are reviewed and processed upon receipt.
7. How much does it cost to order a vital record and what are the fees?
To review the costs of ordering your vital records, please visit the links below:
Click here to view the costs of ordering a Death Certificate.
*UPS to Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico is $26.00. UPS to all international locations is $37.50.
8. What if I don’t have all of the information to complete the order form?
The government agency issuing your certificate requires certain information to process your request. If you cannot obtain the information required, you may wish to discuss this in person or by mail with the vital records office responsible for the certificate.
City not listed: Based on information from the United States Postal Service, some cities no longer exist and they may have been replaced with a new name or joined with a neighboring city or town.
If the city where the event occurred is not listed in the drop down list, you can use the link below to the United States Postal Service web site to verify if the city has changed their name or has joined with a neighboring city:
1. Enter the city and the two letter state abbreviation.
2. Click on the submit button.
County not listed: One helpful online resource in narrowing your search is Zipinfo.com's Free Zip Code Lookup. Follow the instructions below:
1. Click on the box that says "county name and FIPS code".
2. Enter the city and the state below in the field below (i.e. Buffalo, NY).
3. Click "go".
The county and other details will be displayed on the following page.
9. What name do I use if adoption was involved?
Use adoptive names, unless there has been a legal name change.
10. How do I obtain the status of my order?
Please contact us to obtain an update on your order.
Contact Us
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Submit a question to our customer service department.
