Search Bedford County Birth Records
Bedford County birth records are managed by the Tennessee Department of Health and are available through the county health department in Shelbyville. You can request a certified birth certificate in person, by mail to the state office, or online via VitalChek. Tennessee began statewide birth registration in 1908, so most records from that year forward exist in the state system. Older birth documents may be found through archives and genealogical sources. This page explains every method available to get birth records tied to Bedford County.
Bedford County Quick Facts
Bedford County Health Department
The Bedford County Health Department is the local office where you can request a certified birth certificate in person. The department is located at 100 West Side Square, Suite 102, Shelbyville, TN 37160. This office is part of the Tennessee Vital Records Information System (VRISM), the statewide network connecting all 95 county health departments. Through VRISM, the Bedford County Health Department can issue a certified birth certificate for any birth that occurred anywhere in Tennessee, not just Bedford County.
Walk-in service is available during regular business hours. It is wise to call ahead to confirm current wait times before you visit. Bring a completed application (available at the Tennessee Vital Records applications page), a valid government-issued photo ID, and payment of $15.00 per copy. The office accepts checks and money orders. Call ahead to confirm whether cash or credit cards are accepted at the local level.
The Bedford County government website has contact information for the health department and other county offices. If you are unsure which office handles the record you need, start there.
The Bedford County Health Department in Shelbyville issues certified birth certificates through the statewide VRISM network.
How to Get a Bedford County Birth Certificate
Three options exist to request a certified birth certificate in Bedford County: in person at the local health department, by mail to the state office in Nashville, or online through VitalChek. The right choice depends on how fast you need the record and whether you can visit in person.
In person is the quickest method. Visit the Bedford County Health Department at 100 West Side Square, Suite 102, Shelbyville, TN 37160. Show your valid photo ID, submit a completed application form, and pay the $15.00 fee. Most requests are filled the same day. This is the best option when you need the certificate quickly for travel, school, or employment purposes.
For mail requests, send your completed application, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $15.00 per copy to the Tennessee Office of Vital Records, 710 James Robertson Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37243. The state office is open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM, with extended hours on Tuesday and Thursday until 6 PM. Their phone number is (615) 741-1763. Mail processing can take a few weeks depending on volume, so plan ahead if using this route.
Online requests go through VitalChek, which is the only vendor the State of Tennessee has authorized for online birth certificate orders. You place your order on the VitalChek website, pay by card, and the state mails the certificate to you. VitalChek charges the state fee of $15.00 plus their own service fee. Check the Tennessee Vital Records fees page for the most current breakdown.
Who Can Request a Birth Certificate
Tennessee restricts access to birth certificates to protect privacy. Not every person can request any record. The rules apply statewide and are the same in Bedford County as everywhere else in Tennessee.
Eligible requestors include:
- The person named on the certificate (must be 18 or older)
- A parent listed on the birth record
- A legal guardian with proper court documentation
- A spouse or adult child of the person named
- An attorney acting on behalf of any of the above
- A person with a court order that permits access
- A funeral director (for death records, not birth records)
All requestors must present a valid, government-issued photo ID. If you are picking up on someone else's behalf, bring your own ID and a signed letter from the person named in the record. Identity verification is required at every step, whether you visit in person, mail in a request, or order online through VitalChek.
Genealogists and researchers who are not direct relatives may access birth records that are 100 or more years old. These older records are open to the public under Tennessee law. Records less than 100 years old remain restricted under Tenn. Code Ann. ยง 68-3-205.
Online and Mail Options
If a trip to Shelbyville is not possible, you have two solid alternatives: VitalChek online or mail to the state office in Nashville.
VitalChek is the authorized online vendor. The process is straightforward. You fill out the order form on VitalChek's site, verify your identity, pay by card, and the state mails the certificate to your address. VitalChek is a good fit if you need a certificate for someone who lives out of state or if you simply prefer to handle it online. Note that VitalChek charges an additional service fee on top of the state's $15.00 fee.
Mail requests go directly to the Tennessee Office of Vital Records. The address is 710 James Robertson Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37243. Send your completed application from the applications page, a clear photocopy of your photo ID, and a check or money order. Do not send cash. Write the name of the person on the record and their date of birth in the memo line of your payment. Sending your request by certified mail gives you a tracking number and proof of receipt.
The Tennessee Vital Records website has full details on both options, including current processing times.
Historical Bedford County Birth Records
Tennessee started mandatory birth registration in 1908. Coverage improved slowly; records from 1908 through about 1912 are often incomplete, and some rural areas lagged even further behind. If the birth you are researching happened before 1908, you will not find an official state birth record.
For early-twentieth-century records that are 100 years old or older, the Tennessee Electronic Vital Archives (TEVA) offers free public access. Visit digitaltennessee.tnsos.gov/tennessee_births/ to search and view scanned originals. The database is a powerful tool for family history research and is updated as records cross the 100-year mark. This is often the easiest starting point for genealogical research into Bedford County births from the early registration period.
The Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) in Nashville is another key resource. TSLA holds many early vital records, church registers, and other documents that predate state registration. The archives are open Tuesday through Saturday, 8 AM to 4 PM. You can access TSLA resources through sos.tn.gov/library-archives. Remote research assistance is also available if you cannot visit in person.
For guidance on genealogy research using Tennessee vital records, the state provides a helpful overview at the Genealogy Research page. Additional guidance on what records exist and how to find them is available through the CDC's Where to Write page for Tennessee. The Tennessee vital records access regulations spell out the legal framework for access and restrictions.
Cities in Bedford County
Shelbyville is the county seat and the largest city in Bedford County. It has its own dedicated birth records page with local courthouse and health department details.
Nearby Counties
Bedford County is surrounded by several Middle Tennessee counties, all of which participate in the same statewide VRISM birth records system.