Rutherford County Birth Records
Rutherford County birth records are available through the Rutherford County Health Department and the Tennessee Office of Vital Records. Rutherford County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Tennessee, with Murfreesboro as its county seat. If you need a certified birth certificate for someone born in Rutherford County, the local health department can issue it. This page covers what to bring, who qualifies to request a record, how much it costs, and what to do when older records are involved.
Rutherford County Quick Facts
Rutherford County Health Department Vital Records
The Rutherford County Health Department is the local office for obtaining birth certificates in Rutherford County. The health department is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. It participates in Tennessee's VRISM statewide electronic registry, which means it can issue certified birth certificates for any Tennessee birth on file with the state, not just births that took place in Rutherford County. This is helpful if you live in Murfreesboro but were born in another part of Tennessee.
The fee for a birth certificate at the Rutherford County Health Department is $15.00 per certified copy. Payment is accepted by cash, check, money order, or credit and debit cards. Bring valid government-issued photo ID. Only eligible individuals can receive a certified copy: the person named on the certificate, a parent listed on the record, a legal guardian with documentation, or a legal representative. If a third party is picking up the record with the subject's permission, a notarized letter may be required. Call ahead to confirm.
The health department can issue certified copies for persons born in Tennessee on or after 1949. For births before 1949, the state office in Nashville handles those requests directly.
The screenshot below comes from the Rutherford County Health Department vital records page, which shows service details and how to request a birth certificate locally.
The page includes the current fee schedule, eligibility rules, and accepted payment methods for Rutherford County birth certificate requests.
Rutherford County Clerk
The Rutherford County Clerk's office is located at 319 N. Maple Street, Room 133, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. Phone: (615) 898-7710. The Clerk's office handles marriage licenses, business registrations, and other county records. Birth certificates are not issued through the County Clerk. You must go to the health department or state office for those.
However, the County Clerk does issue marriage licenses, which connect to birth records in certain legal contexts. If you need a marriage record to verify a family connection for a birth records request, the Clerk's office is the right place to start for recent records in Rutherford County.
The screenshot below is from the Rutherford County Clerk's website, which shows county services including marriage license information.
The county clerk page outlines services and contact details for Rutherford County government offices in Murfreesboro.
How to Get a Rutherford County Birth Certificate
You can request a Rutherford County birth certificate in person, by mail, or online. Each method has its own steps and timeline. The in-person route at the health department in Murfreesboro is usually the fastest if you live nearby.
For in-person requests, visit the Rutherford County Health Department at their Murfreesboro location during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Bring your photo ID and $15.00. Fill out the short request form on site. Staff will check eligibility and process your request the same day in most cases.
To request by mail, send a completed application form, a copy of your government-issued photo ID, and a check or money order for $15.00 payable to Tennessee Vital Records to: Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243. Mail turnaround varies depending on volume at the state office.
Online orders go through VitalChek. A processing fee applies in addition to the $15.00 state fee. UPS delivery costs $21.00 if you need the certificate shipped. VitalChek accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. You can also call VitalChek at 800-241-8322 to place a phone order.
Note: The state office in Nashville also accepts walk-in requests and is open until 6:00 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which can help if you work during standard business hours.
Tennessee Office of Vital Records
The Tennessee Office of Vital Records at 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243 is the central state office for birth certificates. Phone: (615) 741-1763. Regular hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Tuesday and Thursday hours extend to 6:00 PM.
Tennessee's statewide birth registration began in July 1908. Most counties have a gap in 1913 due to a lapse in the law. Birth records are restricted for 100 years under Tenn. Code Ann. ยง 68-3-205. After 100 years, records move to the Tennessee State Library and Archives and become publicly accessible. The state's certificate guide and fee schedule have full details on the request process.
Historical Rutherford County Birth Records
Older Rutherford County birth records, including those more than 100 years old, are held by the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) at 1001 Rep. John Lewis Way N., Nashville, TN 37219. The Research Room is open Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The TSLA vital records guide explains the holdings and how to search them.
For births before 1908, researchers can use the Digital Tennessee birth records index as a starting point. Church records, census documents, and family Bibles are also useful for Rutherford County families with births before statewide registration. The CDC's Tennessee vital records page provides a helpful overview of record availability by era.
If a Rutherford County birth was never registered, the state's guide on late birth registration explains the delayed registration process and what supporting documents are needed.
Cities in Rutherford County
Rutherford County includes several large cities. All birth records for residents of these cities are handled through the Rutherford County Health Department or the Tennessee Office of Vital Records.
Murfreesboro is the largest city and county seat of Rutherford County. Smyrna and La Vergne are also major communities in the county with their own city pages.
Nearby Counties
Rutherford County is located in Middle Tennessee and borders a number of other counties. Use the birth location to identify which county holds the original record.