Arkansas Birth Records

Arkansas began officially recording births statewide in 1914 after the establishment of the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Before this, birth records were maintained by local jurisdictions or churches. Arkansas birth records refer to the official document issued confirming a live birth. The state provides several types of birth certificates, each serving distinct purposes.

• Authorized Copy: The authorized copy of a birth certificate, also called a certified copy, is a legal document with an official seal or stamp of the issuing office. It is valid for legal, identification, and administrative purposes. Arkansas issues two types of certified birth records, including:
• Long-Form Birth Certificate: The long-form birth certificate is a detailed record of an individual's birth. It contains the registrant's full name, gender, birthdates, place of birth, parents' names, parents' birthplaces, attending physician information and signature, and hospital of birth.
• Short-Form Birth Certificate: The short-form birth certificate is the condensed or abridged version of the long-form birth certificate, containing basic information about the registrant. Its details include the child's name, birthdate, place of birth, and parents' names. It omits detailed information, such as the parents' birthplace and the physician's information. Although the short-form birth certificate is a legal document, it is used in cases where basic proof of birth is required.
• Informational Copy: Informational copies of birth certificates contain information about the registrant's birth, but it is usually printed on plain paper and marked "Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity". Informational copies of birth certificates lack legal validity and are therefore more suited for genealogy research or personal record-keeping.

How To Order an Arkansas Birth Certificate?

You may order an Arkansas birth certificate online, in person, or by mail from the Arkansas Department of Health Office of Vital Records. Online requests for birth certificates are through the state's Vital Records Online Service.

To order the Arkansas birth certificate by mail or in person, complete the Birth Certificate Application form and the Vital Records Authorization form if persons other than the registrant are ordering the document. Mail or drop off the record request at your local Health Departmentor the ADH Bureau of Vital Records at:

All requests for birth certificates may include a copy of an acceptable government-issued ID and the fees. It costs $12 for the first copy of the birth certificate ordered and $10 for additional copies. Online requests attract a $5.00 processing fee and a $1.85 identity verification fee.

Are Birth Records Public in Arkansas?

Arkansas does not consider birth certificates public records. Consequently, it cannot be obtained by just anyone. Access to certified copies is restricted to protect personal privacy. To this end, current birth records in Arkansas are restricted to entitled persons. However, birth records become publicly available after a predetermined number of years.

Who Can Order A Birth Certificate in Arkansas?

Per the Arkansas Department of Health, only eligible individuals may order certified copies of birth certificates in the state. These individuals include:

• The individual named on the birth certificate
• The parents listed on the birth record
• Immediate family members, including the spouse, children, siblings, grandchildren, and grandparents
• Legal representatives
• Persons with a court order

How Long Does it Take to Get an Arkansas Birth Certificate?

The Arkansas Bureau of Vital Records and the local health department process mail requests for birth certificates within 10-14 business days from approval. Allow for additional shipping time. Walk-in customers often receive their certificate on the same day, provided they arrive before 4:00 p.m.

Online requests for birth certificates are typically processed within 7-14 business days from approval. The Arkansas Bureau of Vital Records does not offer expedited processing for mail or in-person requests for birth certificates. However, processing your request online offers multiple expedited shipping options. You can get the document within 2-5 business days, depending on the shipping method.

Where Can I Find Arkansas Birth Records Free?

Birth certificates are typically not accessible for free and are usually restricted to eligible individuals. Therefore, persons not eligible to access certified copies may be able to access informational copies of birth records or historical birth data from other credible sources.

The Arkansas State Archives provides free digital access to birth records over 100 years old. You may access scanned images of original birth registers, certificates, and delayed birth records dating pre-1914 on the platform.

The National Vital Records Archives does not hold state-issued birth certificates. However, they provide a Vital Records Research Guide that directs users to the appropriate state or local custodian, helping locate which county archives or state office to contact based on census jurisdictions.

FamilySearch.org provides access to Arkansas county birth collections from 1881 and county register images through 1992. The platform also offers access to birth-indexed entries for statewide births with images from 1914 to the present.

Ancestry.com is a free genealogy website that offers free online access to indexes of birth records with detailed citations of certificate numbers and county locations for births occurring from 1881-1929 and delayed birth certificates from 1815-1955.

PublicRecords.us aggregates public records from multiple governmental sources to provide a vast repository of birth records across the U.S., including Arkansas birth records. You may access basic birth data, such as name, appropriate birth year, and county of birth. Detailed access may require a minimal fee.

When Would I Need My Arkansas Birth Records?

A birth certificate is a critical proof of identity and citizenship required for numerous legal, administrative, and personal purposes. Generally, there are situations where you'll need to present a certified copy of your Arkansas birth certificate, including:

• Applying for a passport
• Applying for a driver's license or a state-issued ID
• Obtaining or replacing a Social Security card
• Applying for a marriage license
• Changing legal names
• Enrollment in public schools, colleges, and universities
• Claiming retirement, disability, or survivor benefits
• Proving familial relationships for wills or estate disputes

How Much is A Replacement Birth Certificate in Arkansas?

You may need a replacement birth certificate if your original document is stolen, illegible, faded, damaged, destroyed, or missing. Replacing your birth certificate follows the same procedure as ordering a certified copy of the birth certificate.

To obtain a replacement birth certificate, download and complete the Birth Certificate Application form. Include a copy of a valid government-issued ID and the fees with the application form. The forms may be mailed or dropped off at the Arkansas Bureau of Vital Records or your local Health Department. You may also order a replacement birth certificate online. It costs $12 to replace a birth certificate in Arkansas.

When Can the Public Access Arkansas Birth Certificates?

Birth certificates are not fully public records in Arkansas. State law restricts certified copies of birth certificates to authorized individuals for the first 100 years from the date of birth. After a 100-year lapse, birth certificates become publicly accessible.

How To Correct an Error on an Arkansas Birth Certificate?

In Arkansas, you can correct a birth certificate if you notice errors on the document. Generally, you may amend the following inaccuracies on your Arkansas birth certificate:

• Clerical and typographical errors: Misspellings in names, incorrect dates, or swapped birthplaces. Transcription errors were introduced when the data was entered into the Vital Records system. Omissions of required fields, such as a mother's maiden name.
• Adding or removing a father's name
• Adoption Amendments
• Sex and name changes

Generally, most clerical and typographical errors can be corrected without a court order. However, most substantial changes that can alter the birth certificate significantly require a court order.

To amend your birth certificate, complete the Application to Amend Certificate of Birth form. Indicate the fields that require correction and state the correct information. Include documents supporting the correct information, including hospital records, government-issued photo ID, paternity affidavit, or a court order.

Submit the completed application form to the Arkansas Bureau of Vital Records. It costs $15 to amend a birth certificate in Arkansas. If you need a copy of the corrected birth record, you pay the birth certificate fee of $12 in addition to the amendment fees.

Does Arkansas Provide Non-binary Birth Certificates?

No. Arkansas does not provide non-binary birth certificates. Although the state permits changing your birth marker on your birth certificates, it only permits changing your birth marker from Male to Female or vice versa, after undergoing a surgical procedure. Arkansas has no statutory or regulatory provision permitting the gender neutral birth marker 'X' on birth certificates.