How Do I Request a Certified Copy of a Birth Certificate

The Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistic s maintains birth and death records filed from July 1911 to the present, and marriage and divorce records filed from May 1947 to the present. Some counties may have older birth, death, marriage, or divorce records in their files, but county files contain only records of vital events that occurred in that county.

Information regarding obtaining records for events occurring in other states may be found at the National Center for Health Statistics.

Birth certificates are legally confidential in Idaho for 100 years. Death, stillbirth, marriage, and divorce certificates are legally confidential in Idaho for 50 years.

In addition, the person requesting a certified copy of a certificate must provide a photocopy of Acceptable Identification. Proof of relation may be required. Step-relatives, in-laws, great-grandparents, etc., are not immediate family as defined by Idaho statutes.

A request for a certified copy may be submitted in two ways:

1. The order may be mailed and you will need the following information:

A completed Certificate Request Form (or write a letter containing all the necessary information)
A photocopy of your acceptable identification
A check or money order for the certificate fee made out to Idaho Vital Records

Send it all to:
Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0036
(208) 334-5988

Standard application -- Application process will take five to seven working days after application is received and verified in our office.

Rush Application -- Application will take a few working days after application is received and verified in our office. Please add an additional $5.00 for rush applications and write RUSH on the outside of your envelope.

Any request requiring an amendment or legal action may take two to three weeks after the request is received and payment is accepted.

2. Online and faxed orders are processed through the VitalCheck website. (Additional charges will apply). Fax everything that is required to: 1-866-559-9629

Time Frames for Online and Faxed Orders:

Online or faxed orders which notate and pay for return services via Express Service will be processed in two working days after the request has been received and verified.
Online or faxed orders returned by U.S. Postal Service surface mail will be sent in five to seven working days after the request has been received and verified.

Thanks to Amy Crooks for putting this page together for us!!

(Updated March 11, 2012 by Sandra Davis)