Find Davidson County Birth Records
Birth records in Davidson County are managed through both the Metro Public Health Department's Vital Records Division in Nashville and the Tennessee Office of Vital Records at the state level. Davidson County has one of the longest birth registration histories in Tennessee, with Nashville city births recorded as far back as 1881, well before the statewide system began in 1908. This page covers how to get a certified copy, who qualifies to request one, historical record sources, and the local offices that serve Nashville and Davidson County residents.
Davidson County Quick Facts
Davidson County Health Department
The Metro Public Health Department operates the Vital Records Division for Davidson County and the city of Nashville. This local office is one of the more accessible points of service for Davidson County residents who need a birth certificate. They process requests for Nashville-area births and can handle in-person requests directly.
Metro Vital Records is located within Nashville's consolidated city-county government structure. You can reach them at (615) 340-5611 or visit the Metro Public Health Vital Records page for current hours, address details, and any updates to their services. The office handles certified birth certificate requests for events that occurred within Davidson County and Nashville.
For births that happened elsewhere in Tennessee, you would contact the state Office of Vital Records in Nashville instead. That office holds records for all 95 Tennessee counties and is located at 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243. Phone: (615) 741-1763. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM, with extended service on Tuesday and Thursday until 6 PM.
The Davidson County Clerk's office is located at 523 Mainstream Drive, Nashville, TN 37228, phone (615) 862-6050. You can find them at the Davidson County Clerk website. While the County Clerk does not issue birth certificates, they handle a range of vital records-related services and can direct you to the right office for your specific need.
How to Get a Davidson County Birth Certificate
Certified birth certificates for Davidson County births can be requested through Metro Public Health's Vital Records Division or through the Tennessee Office of Vital Records. Both routes lead to a certified document that is legally recognized for all official purposes.
The fee is $15.00 per certified copy. Each additional copy ordered at the same time is also $15.00. Payment methods vary by office, but checks, money orders, and credit cards are accepted. Call ahead or check the office website for current payment options before you visit or mail your request.
You must complete a request application and provide a valid government-issued photo ID. The application forms for the state office are available on the Tennessee vital records help center. Metro Public Health may have their own local form for in-person visits. A helpful summary of the process for Nashville residents is also available through the HubNash help article on birth certificates.
In-person requests at either the Metro office or the state office are typically processed the same day when all documents are in order. This is the fastest option if you need a certificate quickly. Mail requests take two to four weeks from the date of receipt.
A full fee breakdown is on the state fees page. Fees are set at the state level and apply uniformly across all counties, including Davidson.
Who Can Request a Birth Certificate
Tennessee restricts access to certified birth certificates. The records are not open to the public. Only certain individuals can legally request a certified copy.
Eligible requestors include the person named on the record (if 18 or older), a parent listed on the certificate, a legal guardian with court documents, a spouse, an adult child of the registrant, or an attorney acting for any of those parties. You must show proof of your relationship when requesting for someone other than yourself.
Records more than 100 years old are treated as public records under Tennessee vital records regulations. Once 100 years have passed from the date of a birth, those records can be accessed by researchers and the general public. Nashville's early birth records from the 1880s and 1890s fall under this rule and are now publicly accessible.
Adoptees and people with amended records may have additional steps or separate procedures. If your situation is not standard, call Metro Vital Records at (615) 340-5611 or the state office at (615) 741-1763 before submitting your request.
Online and Mail Options
Davidson County residents can request birth certificates without visiting an office in person. Mail and online options are both available through the state's authorized systems.
VitalChek is the state's approved online processor. You can submit an order at VitalChek's website. The online process involves completing a form, uploading a copy of your ID, and paying by credit card. VitalChek adds a service fee on top of the $15.00 state fee. Orders are typically processed within a few business days, and expedited shipping options are available.
Mail requests go to the Tennessee Office of Vital Records at 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243. Include your completed application form, a photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order. Do not send original documents or cash. Standard processing for mail requests runs two to four weeks from when the office receives your package.
The CDC's national vital records directory also has Tennessee's contact details. You can find them on the CDC Where to Write page for Tennessee. This is a good reference if you need to confirm contact information or understand how the system works generally.
Historical Davidson County Birth Records
Davidson County has an unusually long birth records history compared to most Tennessee counties. Nashville began recording city births in 1881, nearly 30 years before Tennessee required statewide registration in 1908. This means researchers can find Davidson County birth records going back into the late 1800s.
The Metro Archives of Nashville is the primary local repository for historical records. Located at 3801 Green Hills Village Drive, Nashville, TN 37215, the Metro Archives holds an online index to Nashville city births from 1881 to 1913. Phone: (615) 862-5880. Visit the Metro Archives website to search their index and find out how to access the physical records. This collection is invaluable for anyone researching Nashville families from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) also holds Nashville city birth records from 1881 to 1907 and Davidson County birth records from 1908 to 1912 and 1914. The TSLA website explains their holdings and how researchers can access these collections. TSLA is the best single resource for filling in gaps in Davidson County's early birth registration history.
The Tennessee Early Vital Records (TEVA) database provides an online searchable index for early birth records. You can search the TEVA portal for Davidson County entries to find names, dates, and other details from early registrations. This can be a quick way to confirm whether a record exists before making a trip to TSLA or the Metro Archives.
The Tennessee genealogy research guide from the Office of Vital Records provides additional direction for anyone researching historical births in Davidson County, including how to handle records that fall outside the standard certified copy system.
Cities in Davidson County
Nashville is the principal city of Davidson County and the only city in the county that meets the population threshold for a dedicated city page.
Nearby Counties
Davidson County is surrounded by several Middle Tennessee counties, all of which use the Tennessee Office of Vital Records system for certified birth certificate requests.