Putnam County Birth Records
Putnam County birth records are available through the Putnam County Health Department in Cookeville, which serves as the main local source for certified birth certificates in this Upper Cumberland region county. The health department can issue birth certificates for any person born in Tennessee, not just those born in Putnam County. This page covers how to get a birth certificate in Putnam County, what you need to bring, how much it costs, and where to find older historical records connected to Cookeville and the surrounding area.
Putnam County Quick Facts
Putnam County Health Department Birth Certificates
The Putnam County Health Department is at 121 S. Dixie Avenue in Cookeville. The phone is (931) 528-2531. This office issues certified birth certificates for anyone born in Tennessee through the statewide VRISM system. You do not have to have been born in Putnam County to request here. The fee is $15.00 per copy for birth certificates and $15.00 per copy for death certificates.
To get a birth certificate at the Putnam County Health Department, you need a valid photo ID. If you don't have a single government-issued photo ID, the office will accept two other forms of identification from an approved list. Acceptable substitutes include a current pay stub or W-2, vehicle registration with name and current address, voter registration card, military discharge DD214, a utility bill or bank statement with name and address, a health care coverage card, a medical record, an insurance policy application page, a signed social security card, or a police report documenting a stolen ID. Bring whatever applies to your situation.
The Putnam County Health Department also issues death certificates for $15.00 per copy. Death certificates are restricted and can only be issued to a spouse, children, or someone with legal documentation stating the reason for the request. More information about local services is at putnamcountytn.gov.
| Office |
Putnam County Health Department 121 S. Dixie Avenue Cookeville, TN 38501 Phone: (931) 528-2531 |
|---|---|
| Fee | $15.00 per certified copy (birth or death) |
| Health Dept. Website | putnamcountytnhealthdept.com |
| County Website | putnamcountytn.gov |
Putnam County Health Department Online
The Putnam County Health Department maintains a dedicated page for birth and death certificate services at putnamcountytnhealthdept.com. That page details the fee, identification requirements, and the full list of accepted alternate ID documents for those who do not have a photo ID card.
The health department page also includes a reminder from the Tennessee Department of Health about online ordering. VitalChek at vitalchek.com is the only vendor officially authorized by the state to process online and phone orders for Tennessee vital records. Any other site claiming to provide Tennessee birth certificates online is not state-authorized.
How to Get a Putnam County Birth Certificate
There are four ways to request a certified birth certificate connected to a Tennessee birth in Putnam County. In person at the Putnam County Health Department or any other county health department in Tennessee is one option. By mail to the state office is another. Online through VitalChek is a third. And by phone through VitalChek at 800-241-8322 is the fourth.
For a mail request, complete the application form available from the Tennessee Vital Records website. Include a photocopy of a government-issued photo ID or a notarized application form. Attach a check or money order for $15.00 per copy made payable to Tennessee Vital Records. Send to Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243. The state office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with extended hours until 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Mail requests take about four weeks.
VitalChek online orders include additional fees: $10.00 processing fee, $5.00 agency expedite fee, and optional overnight shipping. In-person or mail orders avoid those charges. Full instructions for all request methods are at the Tennessee Vital Records help center.
The CDC publishes a guide for Tennessee vital records at cdc.gov that gives an overview of how Tennessee handles birth record requests. That page also links to application forms and the state office address.
Who Can Request Putnam County Birth Records
Tennessee restricts birth records for 100 years. Only eligible persons can get certified copies during that period. Eligible parties are: the person named on the certificate, a parent listed on the record, a spouse, an adult child of the registrant, a legal guardian with court documentation, or someone who has a notarized authorization from the person named on the certificate.
Once a birth record passes the 100-year mark, it transfers to the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) and becomes open to the public for genealogy research. The TSLA is at 1001 Rep. John Lewis Way N., Nashville, TN 37219. Phone: 615-741-2764. Email: ask@tsla.libanswers.com. Digitized records that have passed the restriction window can be searched at the Digital Tennessee births database. The TSLA vital records guide covers what Putnam County records are held and how to access them.
Note: If a Putnam County birth was never registered, you can apply for a delayed birth certificate by submitting substitute evidence to the state office. The Tennessee Vital Records delayed certificate page at vitalrecords.tn.gov explains the evidence requirements and the application process.
Putnam County Birth Certificate Fees
Certified birth certificates in Tennessee cost $15.00 per copy statewide. This rate applies at the Putnam County Health Department, all other county health departments, and the state office in Nashville. Additional copies of the same record cost $15.00 each. The full fee schedule covering birth, death, marriage, and other vital records is at vitalrecords.tn.gov/fees.
VitalChek online and phone orders carry a $10.00 processing fee, a $5.00 agency expedite fee, and optional overnight shipping fees. These extra costs do not apply to in-person or mail requests. Cash, check, money order, and credit or debit cards are accepted at the Putnam County Health Department and at the state office.
Cities in Putnam County
Putnam County's largest city and county seat is Cookeville. Cookeville is the main urban center for the Upper Cumberland region and home to Tennessee Technological University. Birth certificate requests for Cookeville residents are handled at the Putnam County Health Department on S. Dixie Avenue.
Nearby Counties
Putnam County is in the heart of the Upper Cumberland region and borders several other counties. Any of the health departments in these nearby counties can issue Tennessee birth certificates through the statewide system.