Birth Records in Jackson, Tennessee

Jackson birth records are maintained by Madison County and the Tennessee Office of Vital Records, not by the City of Jackson. If you were born in Jackson or anywhere in Madison County and need a certified copy of your birth certificate, you can request it through the Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department. Same-day service is available for in-person requests. This page covers the local office, what you need to bring, what it costs, and how to find older records from before statewide registration began in 1908.

Which County Handles Jackson Birth Records

Jackson sits in Madison County, and the Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department is the local office for birth certificate requests. The office is located at 804 North Parkway, Jackson, TN 38305. Phone: 731-423-3020. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Same-day service is available for walk-in requests during those hours.

Tennessee operates VRISM, a statewide electronic system that connects all 95 county health departments. Because of VRISM, the Jackson-Madison County office can issue a certified birth certificate for any Tennessee birth, not only births that occurred in Madison County. If you live in Jackson but were born somewhere else in Tennessee, you can still use the local office.

The Madison County Health Department vital records page lists current hours, fees, and contact information. The Madison County Clerk's office is located at 100 East Main Street, Jackson, TN 38301. The Clerk maintains marriage licenses and county records, but birth certificates come from the health department.

How to Get a Jackson Birth Certificate

You can request a Jackson birth record three ways: in person, by mail, or online.

In person: Visit the Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department at 804 North Parkway. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Fill out Form PH-1654, the standard Tennessee birth certificate application. Pay $15.00 per certified copy. The office accepts cash, credit cards, debit cards, and money orders. Personal checks are not accepted. American Express is not accepted.

By mail: Download the Form PH-1654 application. Complete it, attach a photocopy of your photo ID, and send a check or money order for $15.00 payable to the Tennessee Department of Health. Mail to: Tennessee Office of Vital Records, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243. Expect processing to take one to three weeks.

Online: Order through VitalChek, the only vendor authorized by Tennessee for online orders. VitalChek adds $10.00 processing to the $15.00 state fee. An optional $5.00 expedite speeds up the process. Check the state fee schedule for current pricing details.

Tennessee Code and Birth Records Access

Tennessee law under Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-3-205 restricts birth records less than 100 years old to eligible requesters only. This is a statewide rule that applies to all counties, including Madison. Records that are 100 years old or older are public and can be accessed by anyone without proving eligibility.

Eligible requesters for restricted records include: the person named on the certificate (if 18 or older), a parent listed on the record, a legal guardian with court documentation, a spouse, a child, or a sibling of the named person. Legal representatives with written authorization from an eligible person may also apply. You must show a valid government-issued photo ID in all cases.

Who Qualifies to Request a Birth Record

Not everyone can request a certified copy of a Tennessee birth record. The rules are the same in Jackson as they are across the state.

To request a birth certificate less than 100 years old, you must be the person named on the record (and be 18 or older), a parent listed on the certificate, a legal guardian (with court-issued documentation), a spouse, a child, or a sibling of the named person. If you are requesting on behalf of someone else, bring documentation that proves your relationship. Acceptable documents include a birth certificate that shows the relationship, a marriage certificate, or a court order. A valid government-issued photo ID is required for all requests.

Attorneys and legal professionals acting for eligible clients can also request records, provided they present a notarized authorization letter and proof of bar membership. See the Tennessee vital records genealogy guide for more on who qualifies and how the process works.

Historical Madison County Birth Records

Statewide birth registration in Tennessee started in 1908. For Madison County births before that year, you will need to look beyond the state vital records system.

The Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) at 1001 Rep. John Lewis Way N., Nashville is the primary source for early Madison County records. TSLA is open Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The collection includes church registers, family papers, and other documents that can fill in gaps for births before 1908.

The Tennessee Early Vital Records Application (TEVA) is a free online searchable database for birth records from 1908 through the early 1910s. Those records are now 100 years old or more and available to any researcher. TEVA is useful for genealogical research on Jackson and Madison County families from that period.

The CDC's guide to Tennessee vital records also offers a concise reference for state procedures and where to write for records.

Nearby Cities

These cities also have birth records pages with local office details and access information.