Birth Certificate Eligibility

Certificates can only be issued to:

• Registrant (person named on the record) if of legal age (18yrs)
• Parent
• Guardian or Legal Representative of registrant
• Through Court Order
  

Did you know… A birth certificate becomes public record 100 years after following date of birth. Anyone may obtain a copy of the birth certificate after the 100 year timeframe elapses.

Birth Certificate Fees

Copies of Birth Certificates are $12.00 per copy. Additional copies requested within same transaction may be obtained at a lower cost. We accept Case, Check, Money Orders, Visa & MasterCard. Please make payable to DeSoto County Health Department. Prices subject to change.

Express Certificate Services are available. Vital Check accepts all forms of credit cards and if necessary, uses United Parcel Service (UPS) for overnight delivery upon request. Additional fees apply.

Birth Certificate Applications

The DeSoto County Health Department’s Vital Statistic Office can provide a birth certificate for anyone born in the State of Florida.

Anyone born is the Sate of Florida before 1930 must obtain their birth certificate from the State Office of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville, Florida.

State Application for Florida Birth Record

Amendments

• If the birth record contains errors, it may be possible to correct the record.
• Depending on the type of correction and the age of the registrant, documentary evidence may be required to support the correction.
• If the correction is to the name of a minor child, the signatures of both parents, if listed on the original birth record, are required.
• A non-refundable fee of $20.00 which includes one certification of the record is required by Florida law.
  

APPLICATION FOR AMENDMENT TO FLORIDA BIRTH RECORD
SOLICITUD DE ENMIENDA A UN ACTA DE NACIMIENTO DE LA FLORIDA
APLIKASYON POU FÈ CHANJMAN NAN BATISTÈ
AFFIDAVIT OF AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH

Commemorative Certificates

If there is an important even in the history of any family, a personalized record of birth or marriage is a great way to remember the special occasion. Commemorative Certificates are only issued by the Florida State Vital Statistics Office. These certificates are a personalized, legal, certified record of either a birth or marriage.

Commemorative Certificates include:

• A signature by the current Governor of the State of Florida
• Calligraphy style print
• Suitable size for matting and framing (actual size is 8 ½ X 11 inches)
• Certification by the State Registrar
• Gold embossed State Seal
• Mailing encased to ensure protection
  

An Apostille Birth Certificate is that which is prepared to give to a foreign country. The following situations are examples of when a birth certificate apostille could be required:

• Transferred by your employer to a foreign country
• Wanting to marry in a foreign country
• Adopting a child in a foreign country
  

In 2006, Florida's governor signed into law legislation that allows for the issuance of a certification for a Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth. This law, section 382.0085, Florida Statutes, is known as Katherine's Law. Florida is the 14th state to implement such a law.

The Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth is not proof of live birth and may not be used to establish identity. Gestation must be 20 weeks or more, and there must be a fetal death certificate on file with the Florida Office of Vital Statistics in order for a stillbirth certificate to be prepared. The information included on the stillbirth certificate comes from the fetal death certificate.

Application and issuance is from the State Office of Vital Statistics only; County Offices cannot issue this certificate. An informational brochure is available for the funeral director, physician, medical examiner, hospital, and parents. For questions, families should be referred to Kevin Wright at the State Office, (904) 359-6900 ext 1004.

Adoption Registry

Florida’s Adoption Reunion Registry (FARR)

Florida’s Adoption information center was created by the Florida Legislature to serve as a clearinghouse in every area of adoption. It has served more than 90,000 people since opening in 1994.

It enables an adult adoptee, birth parent, or sibling to place his or her name on the registry and to locate other family members who are also registered.

For more information check their website www.adoptflorida.com/Reunion-Registry.htm

Putative Father Registry - Father’s have Rights too…

The purpose of the Putative Father Registry is to permit a man alleging to be the biological father of a child to assert his parentage, independent of the mother, and preserve his rights as a parent.

A Florida Putative Father Registry Claim is done without the consent or involvement of the mother. The registry is where the putative father claim is filed and recorded. The putative father’s name is not added to the birth record. Should the child be placed for adoption, the putative father must be named a party to the adoption proceedings.

Related forms can be obtained at the DeSoto County Health Department. Questions regarding the Putative Father Registry can be answered by the Adoption Unit, call (904)359-6900, ext. 9001 or on the website at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/planning_eval/vital_statistics/Putative.htm