Humphreys County Birth Records
Humphreys County birth records are handled by the Humphreys County Health Department in Waverly and by the Tennessee Office of Vital Records in Nashville. Through the statewide VRISM system, the local health department can issue certified birth certificates for any Tennessee birth, not just those from Humphreys County. This page lays out how to get a birth certificate in Humphreys County, who qualifies to request one, what to bring, what it costs, and where to look for older records.
Humphreys County Quick Facts
Humphreys County Health Department Vital Records
The Humphreys County Health Department in Waverly issues certified birth certificates through the statewide VRISM electronic system. This system connects every county health department in Tennessee to the same central registry. A person born in any Tennessee county can get their birth certificate at this local office without needing to contact the state office directly.
You need a valid government-issued photo ID to request a birth certificate at the Humphreys County Health Department. You must also show that you qualify to receive the record. Under Tennessee vital records regulations, birth records less than 100 years old are restricted. People who qualify include the person named on the certificate, a parent listed on it, a legal guardian with court-issued proof, and the spouse or adult child of the named person.
The cost is $15.00 per certified copy. Find the current address, hours, and phone number for the Humphreys County Health Department at humphreyscountytn.gov. Calling ahead is a good idea if you are coming in from a rural part of the county.
The Humphreys County Clerk's office in Waverly handles marriage licenses and other county records but does not issue birth certificates. If you ask the clerk about birth records, they will direct you to the health department.
Humphreys County Health Department Online
The Humphreys County government website at humphreyscountytn.gov lists local services including the health department's vital records program for residents in Waverly and throughout Humphreys County.
Use the county site to confirm current hours and contact details before visiting the health department for a Humphreys County birth certificate.
Tennessee Office of Vital Records
Humphreys County residents who prefer to handle their request remotely can contact the Tennessee Office of Vital Records. This office accepts requests by mail and in person at the Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, 1st Floor, Nashville, TN 37243. Phone: (615) 741-1763. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Tuesday and Thursday the office stays open until 6:00 PM.
Online requests go through VitalChek at vitalchek.com or by phone at 800-241-8322. VitalChek charges a service fee in addition to the $15.00 state fee. Mail-in requests go directly to the Nashville office and do not carry a service surcharge, but delivery takes longer. The full instructions for each ordering method are at vitalrecords.tn.gov.
Who Can Get a Humphreys County Birth Certificate
Tennessee law limits who may receive a certified copy of a recent birth certificate. The restriction under Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-3-205 applies to records less than 100 years old. Once a record reaches 100 years, it becomes public.
Eligible requesters for recent records include the person named on the certificate, a parent whose name appears on the record, a legal guardian (with court paperwork to show it), and the spouse or adult child of the named person. If you fall outside these categories and still need the record, you should contact the Tennessee Office of Vital Records directly to ask about your options. There may be a path forward depending on your specific need and the nature of your connection to the person named on the certificate.
Note: If your primary photo ID is expired or unavailable, the health department accepts two documents from an alternate ID list in place of a standard government-issued ID.
Birth Certificate Fees in Humphreys County
A certified birth certificate costs $15.00 per copy. This fee applies whether you order at the Humphreys County Health Department, by mail to the state, or in person at the Nashville office. The fee schedule is available at vitalrecords.tn.gov. Additional copies cost another $15.00 each when ordered at the same time.
Online orders through VitalChek carry a separate service fee. This amount is set by VitalChek, not by the state or by Humphreys County. If you want to avoid the service fee, order by mail or visit the health department in Waverly. Confirm accepted payment methods with the health department before your visit.
Historical Birth Records in Humphreys County
Tennessee began statewide birth registration in 1908. Birth records from before that year were not kept centrally. For Humphreys County, pre-1908 records that survive are scattered across church records, family documents, and local archives. These may be incomplete or hard to locate.
The Tennessee State Library and Archives holds historical vital records related to Humphreys County. The TSLA is at 1001 Rep. John Lewis Way N., Nashville, TN 37219. Research hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Their online guide to vital records in the archives is at sos.tn.gov.
The Digital Tennessee births database provides an indexed, searchable set of early birth records that have been digitized. For Humphreys County births from 1908 forward, this is worth checking before ordering a certified copy. The database is free to search and gives you name, year, and county details that confirm a record exists.
Delayed Birth Registration in Humphreys County
Some Humphreys County births were never entered into the state registry. Rural counties like Humphreys had cases where home births went unrecorded, especially in the early decades of statewide registration. If you were born in Humphreys County and cannot find a birth certificate on file, a delayed registration may be your option.
You apply through the Tennessee Office of Vital Records and must submit supporting evidence to show proof of birth. Acceptable documents include baptism records, school enrollment papers, census records, old insurance policies, and sworn affidavits from people with direct knowledge of the birth. Full guidance is at vitalrecords.tn.gov. The more documents you can provide, the smoother the review process tends to go.
Additional Resources for Humphreys County Birth Records
The CDC's state guide at cdc.gov provides a summary of how Tennessee handles vital records and how to request them. This applies fully to Humphreys County births. The guide covers what records exist, how far back they go, and which office handles them.
For genealogy work or research into older Humphreys County births, the TSLA and Digital Tennessee database are the main starting points. Church archives in Waverly and surrounding communities may also hold baptism or christening records that can substitute for official birth records in a delayed registration application. The Humphreys County Clerk's office in Waverly can sometimes point you to local historical resources as well.
Cities in Humphreys County
Humphreys County is a rural Middle Tennessee county with Waverly as its county seat. No cities in Humphreys County meet the population threshold for individual city pages. All birth certificate requests for Humphreys County residents go through the Humphreys County Health Department in Waverly or through the Tennessee Office of Vital Records.
Nearby Counties
Humphreys County borders several other Tennessee counties. Any county health department in the state can issue Tennessee birth certificates through the statewide VRISM system.