Find Birth Records in Sullivan County
Sullivan County birth records are available through the Sullivan County Health Department in Blountville and through the Tennessee Office of Vital Records in Nashville. The local health department can issue certified birth certificates for any Tennessee birth, not just those that happened in Sullivan County. The county seat is Blountville. This page explains how to get a certified copy, who qualifies to request one, what historical records exist for Sullivan County, and where to look for records that go back well before the state began formal registration.
Sullivan County Quick Facts
Sullivan County Health Department Vital Records
The Sullivan County Health Department on Blountville Bypass in Blountville is the main local office for birth certificates. Through Tennessee's VRISM (Vital Records Issuance System), every county health department in the state can pull and print a certified birth certificate for any registered Tennessee birth. So a person born in Memphis who now lives in Kingsport can walk into the Sullivan County Health Department and get their certificate the same day, no trip to Nashville required.
The fee is $15.00 per certified copy. You must bring a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, passport, or state ID card all work. The health department can also help parents get certificates for children, though the requirements are slightly different. Visit sullivancountytn.gov to confirm current hours, location, and any appointment requirements before you go.
The state has detailed instructions on getting a birth certificate in person, by mail, or online at vitalrecords.tn.gov. Check the fees page at vitalrecords.tn.gov for any updates to the $15.00 cost.
| Office | Sullivan County Health Department Blountville Bypass Blountville, TN |
|---|---|
| Fee | $15.00 per certified copy |
| ID Required | Valid government-issued photo ID |
| Website | sullivancountytn.gov |
Sullivan County Vital Records Office
The Sullivan County government website at sullivancountytn.gov provides information about vital records services and health department resources available to residents of Sullivan County.
The health department in Blountville is open during regular business hours. Staff can walk you through the request process and tell you what documents to bring. Same-day service is available for most requests through the VRISM electronic system, which connects all Tennessee county health departments to the central birth records database.
Tennessee Office of Vital Records
The Tennessee Office of Vital Records in Nashville also issues certified birth certificates for Sullivan County residents. The office is on the 1st Floor of the Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243. Call (615) 741-1763. Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the office stays open until 6 PM.
You can also order online or by phone through VitalChek at vitalchek.com, or call 800-241-8322. VitalChek adds a service fee on top of the $15.00 state fee. The state's general vital records page at tn.gov has full details on the program. The CDC also maintains a useful reference at cdc.gov on where and how to get Tennessee vital records.
Tennessee law restricts birth records for 100 years from the date of birth under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-07-01-.11. That means recent birth records are not public records. Only the registrant, a parent or legal guardian, or certain other authorized persons can get a certified copy. Once 100 years has passed, the record opens up for public access and genealogy research.
Note: If a birth in Sullivan County was never registered, you may be able to file a delayed birth certificate through the state. The requirements and steps are at vitalrecords.tn.gov.
Sullivan County Clerk Historical Records
The Sullivan County Clerk's office is a valuable source for historical vital records. The clerk holds marriage records going back to 1863, which makes it one of the older collections in East Tennessee. The clerk also has birth records from 1908 to 1912 and death records from 1925 to 1938. These older records are not available through the health department and can only be accessed through the clerk or through the Tennessee State Library and Archives.
To reach the Sullivan County Clerk, call (423) 323-6428 or visit the website at sullivancountytn.gov. If you are researching family history in Sullivan County and need records from those early years, the clerk's office is worth contacting first. They can tell you what they have and how to request copies. For the original Sullivan County Birth Register from 1881-1882 and 1908-1912, a microfilmed version is available at the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville.
Historical Sullivan County Birth Records
Sullivan County has a rich set of early vital records compared to many rural Tennessee counties. The original Sullivan County Birth Register from 1881-1882 and 1908-1912 was microfilmed and is preserved at the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA). If you are doing genealogy research for a family from Sullivan County, the TSLA is your best bet for records before the state registration system started in 1908.
The TSLA is at 1001 Rep. John Lewis Way N., Nashville, TN 37219. Their guide to vital records at sos.tn.gov explains what is available for each county and how the records are organized. You can also use the Tennessee Digital Archives at digitaltennessee.tnsos.gov to search some early records online without making the trip to Nashville.
Note: The original Sullivan County Birth Register covers limited years. For births between 1912 and the present, contact the state vital records office or the Sullivan County Health Department directly.
Cities in Sullivan County
Sullivan County includes several cities. Residents of any city in Sullivan County file vital records requests through the Sullivan County Health Department or the Tennessee Office of Vital Records.
Kingsport and Bristol are the largest cities in Sullivan County. Birth certificate requests for residents of both cities go through the Sullivan County Health Department or the state office in Nashville.
Nearby Counties
Sullivan County is in the northeastern corner of Tennessee. It borders several other counties in the Tri-Cities region. If you are unsure which county your birth was recorded in, the record is filed in the county where the birth took place.