Birth Certificates

Birth Certificates 

The first step in ordering a birth certificate is to determine your eligibility (relationship) to receive a birth certificate.  You must be one of the following:

1. The child named on the certificate AND over 18 years of age; OR,
2. The parent, guardian or legal representative of the person named on the certificate.

If the birth record is over 100 years old and not under seal pursuant to a court order, it is public record and anyone can obtain a copy.

All applications must include the following:

• The applicant’s PICTURE ID, such as:
  • a valid driver’s license (front and back)
  • a state-issued identification card (front and back)
  • a passport
  • a military identification card
• The applicant’s relationship to the person (Registrant) named on the certificate
• The Registrant’s full name at birth, date and place of birth, mother’s maiden name, and father’s name
• The applicant’s full name, address and telephone number(s)
• The applicant’s signature (parent, legal guardian or legal representative signature if the person named on the birth certificate is under 18) IS REQUIRED.

The fee for each certified copy of a Florida birth record obtained through the Florida Department of Health in Highlands County is $12.00.  When purchased at the same time, additional copies for the identical birth record are $8.00 each. 

Additional service fees apply for birth certificates obtained at the Highlands County Tax Collector’s offices.  The fee to obtain a birth certificate through the Tax Collector’s office is $18.25 for the first copy and $7.00 for each additional copy when purchased at the same time and for the identical birth record.  If a birth certificate is being purchased to process a driver’s license transaction at the same time, the fee for the first copy is $15.75.

For your convenience there are three ways to apply for a birth certificate:

Apply In Person – four convenient locations

1. Florida Department of Health in Highlands County   

Please note: When applying in person at the health department, fees are payable in cash, by money order or cashier's check made payable to the Florida Department of Health in Highlands County, or by Visa or Mastercard.

       2. Highlands County Tax Collector: Avon Park

                             8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday             Address:  11 N. Pine Avenue
                              Lake Placid, Florida 33852        

       4. Highlands County Tax Collector: Sebring

Please note: When applying in person at the Tax Collector’s office, fees are payable by cash, check, money order, certified funds and credit cards (additional processing fee of 2.95%).

             Florida Department of Health in Highlands County
             Vital Statistics Office
             7205 South George Boulevard
             Sebring, Florida 33875-5847

             Please include:

             1. A signed birth certificate application:                     Spanish Form (746kb doc)                     b. State-issued identification card (front and back)   
                    c. Passport   
                    d. Military identification card  
                    e. Your daytime telephone number 
                    f.  Your payment. Fees are payable by money order or
                        cashier’s check. Please do not send cash by mail.  
                    g. A self-addressed stamped envelope (for regular

Apply by Fax

             1. A signed birth certificate application   
                     English Form (747kb doc)  
                     Spanish Form (746kb doc)

             2. A copy of one of the following valid forms                     a. Valid driver’s license (front and back)
                    b. State-issued identification card (front and back)
                    c. Passport
                    d. Military identification card
                    e. Your daytime telephone number
                    f. Credit card payment information (Visa or Mastercard)

Optional Purchases

• Protective Certificate Sleeves: $2.00 each
• Expedited mail service (3 days or less processing time): $15.00 (Does not include Express Delivery)
• Express Delivery: Price Varies (Does not include Expedited Service)