Nashville Birth Records

Nashville birth records are maintained by Davidson County and the Tennessee Office of Vital Records, and residents can get certified copies in person, by mail, or online. This guide covers where to go, what to bring, how much it costs, and where to find older historical records that date back to the city's earliest registration efforts in 1881.

Which County Handles Nashville Birth Records

Nashville sits in Davidson County, and that county's health department handles birth record requests for residents. The Metro Public Health Department Vital Records Division is the local office to contact if you need a copy of a birth certificate for someone born in Nashville. You can reach them by phone at 615-340-5611 for questions about what documents you need or how long to expect a wait.

Tennessee uses a statewide electronic system called VRISM, which connects all 95 county health departments. That means any county health office can issue a certified copy of a birth certificate for any Tennessee birth, not just for the county where the birth occurred. So if you live in Nashville but were born somewhere else in the state, Davidson County can still help you. The same is true in reverse.

For more detail on local vital records services, visit the Metro Public Health Department Vital Records page. That page lists current hours, fees, and contact details. Note: Hours may change around holidays, so call ahead if your visit falls near one.

Metro Archives of Nashville

The Metro Archives of Nashville holds historical birth records dating back to 1881, well before Tennessee began statewide registration in 1908.

These early city birth records predate statewide registration and are especially useful for genealogical research on Nashville families from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Metro Archives is located at 3801 Green Hills Village Drive, Nashville, TN 37215. The phone number is 615-862-5880. Staff can help you search the collection or direct you to the right resource. The archives hold an online index to Nashville city birth records from 1881 to 1913, covering roughly three decades of early local registration before the state took over. These records are not restricted like modern vital records, since they fall outside the 100-year access rule under Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-3-205. Anyone can request to view or copy them.

Nashville was one of the earliest Tennessee cities to track births locally, starting in 1881. That gives it one of the longer pre-statewide records collections among Tennessee cities.

How to Get a Nashville Birth Certificate

There are three main ways to get a certified Nashville birth certificate: in person at the Davidson County Health Department, by mail to the state vital records office, or online through VitalChek.

In person is usually the fastest route if you can make the trip. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and fill out Form PH-1654, the standard Tennessee birth certificate application. The fee is $15.00 per certified copy. Staff at the counter can process your request the same day in most cases.

By mail, send the completed Form PH-1654 along with a copy of your photo ID and a check or money order for $15.00 to the Tennessee Office of Vital Records at 710 James Robertson Parkway, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, Nashville, TN 37243. The state office is open Monday through Friday, 8AM to 4PM, with extended hours on Tuesday and Thursday until 6PM. Processing times by mail can vary but often take one to three weeks. The state fee schedule has current cost details for certified copies and other services.

More details on getting a certificate are available through the Nashville birth certificate information page.

This resource walks through the local options for Nashville residents and explains what to expect at each step of the process.

What You Need to Apply

Not everyone can request a Nashville birth certificate. Tennessee restricts access to records less than 100 years old. Only certain people qualify.

Eligible requesters include the person named on the record (if age 18 or older), a parent listed on the certificate, a legal guardian with court documentation, a spouse, a child, or a sibling of the person named. In some cases, a legal representative with written authorization may also apply. You must show a valid, government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license or passport. If you are requesting on behalf of someone else, you may need to provide documentation like a birth certificate showing the relationship, a marriage certificate, or court papers.

Fill out Form PH-1654 completely. Incomplete forms slow down the process and may result in your request being returned. Note: If the birth certificate is for a child, both parents listed on the certificate can typically request it without extra documentation.

Online and Mail Options for Nashville

The Tennessee Office of Vital Records works with VitalChek as its only authorized online vendor. If you want to order online, go to VitalChek directly. The state fee is $15.00 per copy, but VitalChek adds a $10 processing fee and offers an optional $5 expedite fee for faster handling. You can also choose UPS delivery at additional cost. This is a good option if you can't visit in person or need a certificate mailed to a specific address.

VitalChek handles payment and order tracking online. You'll still need to provide ID verification as part of the order. Most online orders are completed within a few business days after verification, though expedited options can be faster. The state does not accept online orders directly, so VitalChek is the only digital path.

For mail orders sent directly to the state office, standard processing applies. Tennessee regulations covering vital record procedures are detailed under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-07-01-.11. Note: Mail orders sent to the wrong address will cause delays, so double-check the mailing address on the form before sending.

Historical Nashville Birth Records

For Nashville birth records that are 100 or more years old, access is open to the public. Tennessee's Digital Archives hosts the Tennessee Early Vital Records Application (TEVA), a searchable online database of statewide birth records from 1908 through the early 1910s. These records are free to search and browse online.

The Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA), located at 1001 Rep. John Lewis Way N., Nashville, TN 37219, holds a large collection of pre-statewide vital records. TSLA is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8AM to 4PM. Researchers can access records in the reading room or request assistance with specific collections. Nashville's city birth records from 1881 onward are part of the TSLA collection, making it a key resource for anyone tracing family history in the Nashville area.

For genealogical research purposes, both TEVA and TSLA are worth checking. TEVA is faster for online searches, but TSLA may have original documents or additional detail not yet digitized. Records over 100 years old are not subject to the privacy restrictions that cover modern birth certificates under Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-3-205. Anyone can request them.

Nearby Cities

Other cities near Nashville also have birth records pages with local office details, fees, and access information.