Smith County Birth Records
Smith County birth records are maintained by the Smith County Health Department and the Tennessee Office of Vital Records. The county seat is Carthage. The local health department can issue certified birth certificates for any Tennessee birth in the state registry, not only those that occurred within Smith County. This page covers what you need to request a record, the process for in-person, mail, and online requests, and where to find older birth records that fall outside the standard state registry period.
Smith County Quick Facts
Smith County Health Department Vital Records
The Smith County Health Department in Carthage provides vital records services to county residents. The department is connected to Tennessee's VRISM statewide electronic system, which lets any county health department issue a certified birth certificate for any Tennessee birth in the central registry. If you live in Smith County but were born somewhere else in Tennessee, the Carthage office can still process your request without sending you to Nashville or the birth county.
The fee for a certified copy is $15.00. Bring valid government-issued photo ID. Access is restricted by state law to the person named on the certificate, a parent listed on the record, a legal guardian with proper court documentation, or a legal representative with written authorization. If you are acting on someone else's behalf, ask the health department in advance what documentation they require. A notarized letter of permission is sometimes accepted; other times a power of attorney or guardianship order is needed.
Visit the Smith County website for current contact information, the health department's address, and office hours before making the trip to Carthage.
The image below is from the Tennessee vital records help center, which explains how county health departments like Smith County process birth certificate requests.
The state help center page outlines each request method in detail, including what to bring when visiting a local county health department for a Smith County birth certificate.
How to Get a Smith County Birth Certificate
You have four options: visit the health department in Carthage, visit the state office in Nashville, send a mail request, or order online through VitalChek. For most residents, the in-person route at the Smith County Health Department is the simplest.
For in-person requests at the Carthage health department, bring your government-issued photo ID and $15.00. Fill out the short application form at the office. Staff will check your eligibility and process the request the same day when possible. Call ahead to confirm current business hours before making the drive.
Mail requests should be sent to: Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243. Include your completed application form, a photocopy of your government-issued ID, and a check or money order payable to Tennessee Vital Records for $15.00 per copy. Signatures must be visible on the ID copy you send. Mail processing takes additional time beyond what an in-person visit requires, so plan ahead if you have a deadline.
Online orders go through VitalChek at vitalchek.com or by phone at 800-241-8322. VitalChek charges a processing fee above the $15.00 state fee. UPS delivery is available for $21.00. VitalChek accepts all major credit cards. This is often the most convenient option for Smith County residents who live far from Carthage or Nashville.
Note: If you need a record from before statewide registration began in 1908, or for a birth that was never registered, see the sections below on historical records and delayed registration.
Tennessee Office of Vital Records
The Tennessee Office of Vital Records is the central state repository for all Tennessee birth records, including those from Smith County. 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 on Tuesday and Thursday until 6:00 PM.
Tennessee began mandatory statewide birth registration in July 1908. Records from 1913 are incomplete in most counties because of a gap in the registration law that year. Full compliance was reached statewide by around 1927. Birth records are restricted for 100 years under Tenn. Code Ann. ยง 68-3-205. After 100 years, records transfer to the Tennessee State Library and Archives. The official guide on getting a certificate and the state fee schedule contain complete instructions for each request method.
Historical Smith County Birth Records
Smith County birth records more than 100 years old are held at the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA), located at 1001 Rep. John Lewis Way N., Nashville, TN 37219. Research Room hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The TSLA vital records guide describes the collection and explains how to conduct a search.
For Smith County births before 1908, formal records are sparse or nonexistent. Researchers typically rely on census records, church documents, family Bibles, and county court records from that era. The Digital Tennessee birth records index provides a free online search tool for early registered births and is a good starting point for genealogical work on Smith County families. The CDC's Tennessee vital records page summarizes what types of records exist for each time period.
If a Smith County birth was never formally registered, delayed registration is possible through the state. The state guide on unregistered births explains the process and what evidence is needed, such as early school records, affidavits from family members, and church documents.
Note: Amendments that add a father through a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity cost an additional $5.00 when a long-form birth certificate is ordered at the same time.
Smith County Clerk
The Smith County Clerk's office in Carthage handles marriage licenses, business filings, and other county records. The Clerk does not issue birth certificates. For birth records, you need the health department or state office.
The County Clerk does maintain marriage records, which can be relevant if you need to establish a family relationship to qualify for a birth certificate. Visit smithcountytn.gov for the Clerk's current address and phone number. Marriage licenses and other county documents may support a delayed birth registration claim if you need to prove a family connection.
Cities in Smith County
Smith County includes the county seat of Carthage along with smaller communities. No cities in Smith County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All birth records for Smith County residents are handled through the county health department in Carthage or through the Tennessee Office of Vital Records in Nashville.
Nearby Counties
Smith County is in Middle Tennessee and borders several other counties. If you are searching for a birth record and are not sure of the county, use the birth address to determine where the record was filed.