Access Montgomery County Birth Records

Montgomery County birth records are issued through the Montgomery County Health Department in Clarksville and through the Tennessee Office of Vital Records in Nashville. Montgomery County is one of the few counties in Tennessee where the local health department processes birth certificate requests on-site and issues them the same day. Clarksville is the third-largest city in Tennessee, and the Montgomery County Health Department handles a high volume of vital records requests. Certified copies cost $15. This page explains exactly where to go, what to bring, and how to get a certified birth certificate quickly in Montgomery County.

Montgomery County Health Department

The Montgomery County Health Department at 330 Pageant Lane in Clarksville is the primary local source for certified birth certificates in Montgomery County. This is a walk-in county. You can go in person and receive a certified copy on the same day during regular office hours. Montgomery County is one of a handful of counties in the Mid-Cumberland Health Department Region that issues short-form birth certificates daily. You do not need to wait for a regional office to mail your certificate.

The health department can issue a certificate for any person born in Tennessee, not just those born in Montgomery County. Tennessee uses the statewide VRISM system, which links all county health departments to the central birth registry in Nashville. So if you were born elsewhere in Tennessee but live in Clarksville, you can request your certificate right here at the local office. Call (931) 648-5747 before you visit to confirm current hours and any ID requirements. The Montgomery County government website at mcgtn.org has up-to-date contact information and service listings.

The Montgomery County Health Department also issues death certificates, immunization records, and other public health services. Bring your photo ID and your $15 fee when you visit. Most requests are handled quickly at the Clarksville office.

The Montgomery County Health Department on Pageant Lane in Clarksville issues birth certificates on the spot and serves as one of the highest-volume vital records offices in the Mid-Cumberland region.

How to Get a Montgomery County Birth Certificate

There are three ways to request a certified Tennessee birth certificate. You can visit the Montgomery County Health Department in Clarksville in person, mail a request to the Tennessee Office of Vital Records in Nashville, or order online through VitalChek. For most people in Montgomery County, the in-person option at the local health department is the fastest because they issue certificates on-site the same day.

Bring a valid government-issued photo ID to the Clarksville office. Acceptable forms include a driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID. You will complete a brief application form and pay the $15 fee. If you are requesting on behalf of another person, you must also show documentation proving your legal authority, such as a parent's name on the birth certificate, a guardianship order, or a power of attorney. Tennessee restricts birth records under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-07-01-.11. Only the named individual, their parents, a legal guardian, or an authorized representative may obtain a copy of a birth record less than 100 years old.

Full instructions for in-person, mail, and online requests are at vitalrecords.tn.gov. Review this page before you apply so your Montgomery County birth certificate request goes through on the first visit.

Tennessee Office of Vital Records

The Tennessee Office of Vital Records is the statewide repository for all Tennessee birth records, including Montgomery County. The office is at 710 James Robertson Parkway, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, Nashville, TN 37243. Phone: (615) 741-1763. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM, with extended hours on Tuesday and Thursday until 6 PM.

You can also order a Montgomery County birth certificate online at vitalchek.com or by phone at 800-241-8322. VitalChek adds a service fee above the base $15 state fee. The Tennessee fees page shows all current charges. For residents of Montgomery County who need a certificate fast and cannot visit the local Clarksville office, the online VitalChek option is a good alternative. The state office processes requests from across Tennessee and works for any birth registered in the state.

What Montgomery County Birth Records Include

A certified Tennessee birth certificate shows the person's full legal name, date of birth, place of birth by county and city, and the names of their parents. It also carries the state file number and the signature of the State Registrar. These details are accepted by most agencies for purposes like applying for a passport, getting a Tennessee driver's license or ID, enrolling in school, or applying for Social Security benefits.

Tennessee issues a short-form and a long-form birth certificate. The short form is the standard certified copy used for nearly all purposes. The long form has additional original registration data including the time of birth and the name of the attending physician. Most people requesting a Montgomery County birth certificate need the short form. If you are unsure, ask the requesting agency which version they require. For use in countries that are party to the Hague Convention, you may need an apostille from the Tennessee Secretary of State to authenticate the certificate for international use. The Montgomery County Health Department can explain this process if it applies to your situation.

Historical Birth Records from Montgomery County

For genealogy research into Montgomery County births, the Digital Tennessee database has scanned birth registrations from 1908 to 1912 and 1914 to 1920. These records are available to the public because they are over 100 years old. Search at digitaltennessee.tnsos.gov by name, county, or year. Results include scanned images of the original forms. These are not certified copies, but they are a solid starting point for tracing Montgomery County ancestry during those early years of state registration.

The Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) at 1001 Rep. John Lewis Way N. in Nashville holds early vital records that go back further than the online database. Their vital records guide explains what collections are available for Montgomery County and how to access them. The CDC guide to Tennessee vital records is another helpful reference that covers the full scope of records kept in the state.

Delayed Birth Certificate Registration

Some births in Montgomery County were never registered at the time they occurred. This was more common in earlier decades, particularly for home births. Tennessee has a formal process to create a delayed birth certificate when the original registration is missing.

To apply for a delayed birth certificate, you submit supporting evidence to the Tennessee Office of Vital Records in Nashville. Acceptable documents can include early school enrollment records, U.S. census records, church or baptismal records, and sworn affidavits from individuals with direct knowledge of the birth. The state reviews the evidence and issues a certificate if it meets the legal standard. Full instructions and a list of acceptable evidence are at Tennessee's delayed birth certificate page. This process applies to any unregistered birth in Montgomery County or elsewhere in Tennessee.

Cities in Montgomery County

Montgomery County is home to Clarksville, the county seat and the third-largest city in Tennessee. All birth certificate requests for Clarksville residents are handled at the Montgomery County Health Department on Pageant Lane.

Clarksville is a large and fast-growing city in northwestern Middle Tennessee. The Montgomery County Health Department on Pageant Lane serves both city and county residents for birth certificate requests.

Nearby Counties

Montgomery County is in northwestern Middle Tennessee. Use the links below to find birth record offices in neighboring counties.

View All 95 Tennessee Counties