Shelby County Birth Records
Shelby County birth records are handled by the Shelby County Health Department Office of Vital Records in Memphis. Shelby County is the most populous county in Tennessee, with Memphis as its county seat. The local health department can issue certified birth certificates for any Tennessee birth on file with the state, not just those that happened in Shelby County. Memphis also has a long history of local birth registration that predates statewide record-keeping by more than 30 years, making Shelby County one of the richest sources for early Tennessee vital records.
Shelby County Quick Facts
Shelby County Health Department Office of Vital Records
The Shelby County Health Department Office of Vital Records is located at Room 100, 814 Jefferson Avenue, Memphis, TN 38105. Phone: 615-685-4700. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. This is the primary local office for obtaining birth certificates in Shelby County and serves residents throughout the Memphis area.
The Shelby County health department can issue certified copies of birth certificates for births dated after 1930. For births before that date, requests must go to the Tennessee Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Nashville. The fee is $15.00 per certified copy. Each additional copy costs $15.00 as well. Accepted payment methods include cash and most credit and debit cards. American Express is not accepted at the Shelby County office, and personal checks are not accepted. Plan accordingly before visiting.
Eligibility rules follow state law. Only the person named on the certificate, a parent listed on the record, a legal guardian with supporting court documents, or an authorized legal representative can receive a certified copy. Applications are available in both English and Spanish at the Memphis office. Completed applications can be submitted in person or mailed to the office at 814 Jefferson Avenue, Room 100, Memphis, TN 38105.
The screenshot below comes from the Shelby County Health Department's vital records page, which covers fees, payment methods, and how to submit a request for Shelby County birth certificates.
The page includes the current fee schedule, accepted payment methods, and eligibility rules for getting a birth certificate at the Shelby County Health Department in Memphis.
Shelby County Register of Deeds Historical Birth Index
The Shelby County Register of Deeds maintains an online index to Shelby County birth records for the years 1874 through 1906. This historical index is especially valuable for anyone doing genealogical research on families with Memphis or Shelby County roots from that early period. Memphis began recording births locally in 1874, well before Tennessee required statewide registration in 1908.
The Register of Deeds index does not provide certified copies of these early records, but it can help you identify a record, confirm a date, and track down family information from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. For the original documents, you may need to contact the Tennessee State Library and Archives, which holds Memphis city birth records from 1874 to 1883 and 1898 to 1913.
The screenshot below comes from the Shelby County Register of Deeds website, which provides the online birth index for 1874 to 1906 alongside other county property and document records.
The Register of Deeds site gives free online access to the early Shelby County birth index, covering records from the 1874 start of Memphis city registration through 1906.
How to Get a Shelby County Birth Certificate
You can get a Shelby County birth certificate in person at the Memphis health department, by mail, or online through VitalChek. In-person visits at Room 100, 814 Jefferson Avenue in Memphis are the most direct route for residents of the county.
For in-person requests, bring your government-issued photo ID and $15.00 in cash or an accepted card. Fill out the request form at the counter. Staff will check your eligibility and process the request the same day in most cases. Keep in mind that the office does not accept American Express or personal checks, so plan your payment method before you go.
Mail requests can be sent to: Office of Vital Records, Room 100, 814 Jefferson Avenue, Memphis, TN 38105. Include a completed application, a copy of your photo ID, and a money order or accepted payment for $15.00 per copy. You can also send mail requests to the state office in Nashville at: Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243.
Online orders go through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. VitalChek is the only approved online vendor for Tennessee birth certificates. You can also call 800-241-8322. VitalChek charges an additional processing fee on top of the $15.00 state fee and offers UPS delivery for $21.00. Unlike the Shelby County office, VitalChek accepts American Express in addition to Visa, Mastercard, and Discover.
Note: For births in Shelby County before 1930, the local health department cannot issue a certificate. You must contact the state office in Nashville or request through VitalChek for those older records.
Tennessee Vital Records and Early Shelby County History
The Tennessee Office of Vital Records in Nashville holds birth records for all of Tennessee going back to 1908. The office is at 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243. Phone: (615) 741-1763. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with extended hours until 6:00 PM on Tuesday and Thursday.
Shelby County and Memphis have a unique records history. Memphis began registering births locally in 1874, making it one of the earliest cities in Tennessee to do so. The city maintained birth records from 1874 to 1883 and again from 1898 to 1913. Those early Memphis city records are now held at the Tennessee State Library and Archives 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.
Tennessee birth records are restricted for 100 years under Tenn. Code Ann. ยง 68-3-205. Records older than 100 years transfer to the Tennessee State Library and Archives. The TSLA vital records guide explains the holdings and how to use them. The Digital Tennessee birth index provides an online search tool covering early registered births that is helpful for genealogical research on Shelby County families.
For more guidance, the state certificate guide, fee schedule, and CDC's Tennessee vital records page are all solid reference points.
If a Shelby County birth was never formally registered, the state guide on delayed birth registration walks through the process and what documents you need to submit.
Cities in Shelby County
Shelby County includes Memphis and several other large cities. Birth records for residents of all these cities are handled through the Shelby County Health Department in Memphis or the Tennessee Office of Vital Records.
Memphis is Tennessee's largest city and the county seat. Bartlett, Collierville, and Germantown are also large Shelby County communities with their own city pages. Other communities in the county include Millington and Arlington, which do not have dedicated pages at this time.
Nearby Counties
Shelby County is in the far southwest corner of Tennessee and borders several other counties. Use the location of the birth to confirm the right county for the record.