Once part of Mexico, the desert state of Arizona has a long history that includes the early settling of the west. They began collecting state birth records around 1909 though many individual counties have records from 1887.
In order to preserve people's privacy and to protect their identities, recent Arizona birth records are only available to people who have a direct relationship to the person on the certificate. Thankfully, the time frame before these records move to the public domain is shorter than some other states. You are free to access any records when the date of birth is more than 75 years ago. For these records, you have several options to acquire the ones you need. Because they are freely available, you do not necessarily have to apply for them. The Arizona Department of Health Services has a genealogy website (http://genealogy.az.gov) where you can search through microfilmed images of birth certificates and records from 1878 until 75 years ago. Images can be printed yourself from their site.
You can also visit the Arizona State History and Archives Division of the Arizona State Library, at the Capitol Building in Phoenix. There you can get non-certified copies of public records as well.
For those cases where you are looking for a more recent Arizona birth record, you will have to make an application and also supply proof of your relation to the person on the certificate. You can request your own birth certificate, or that of your spouse, children, grandchildren, parents or siblings. You do have to be over 18 years of age to make an application.
If this applies to you and your search, you will have to fill out an application form in order to make your request. You can get the form at the Arizona Department of Health Services website (http://www.azdhs.gov/vitalrcd/pdf/RequestForBirthCertificate.pdf). The form will have the current fees on it, which will need to be included with your application. The application needs all the relevant information on the person you are seeking, including their name, date of birth, place of birth, parent's names and the hospital (if known). You also have to include proof of your relation to the person in question.
You have a few options for submitting your application. If you are looking for an Arizona birth record from after 1989, you can send your form to the many county health offices across the state. You can also visit these offices for an in-person pickup. Most will only accept cash or occasional credit card for fee payment.
Older records can only be sought directly from the state office which the State Office of Vital Records, PO Box 3887, Phoenix AZ, 85030 USA. When mailing your application to the state office, you will need to supply a credit card number or include a money order. They do not take personal checks.
In order to access Arizona birth certificates, you will need to:
Step 1.
Fill out the downloadable form for an Arizona Birth Certificate.
Step 2.
You will need to fill out the form completely, sign it, and include the fee and proof of valid identification.
Step 3.
Return the application along with the appropriate fee. Fees for your county can be found at the Department of Health Services' webpage under the fee schedule link. When applying by mail, the fee must be covered by cashiers' check, money order, or credit card. In person requests can also be paid with traveler's checks. A self-addressed, stamped envelope should be included with mailed requests
If you need additional information on accessing Arizona birth records, you can contact the office below:
Arizona Department of Health Services
State Office of Vital Records
1818 W. Adams St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602) 364-1300
Obtaining a Copy of Arizona Birth Records
Arizona is a "closed record" state, meaning that Arizona birth records are not considered public information. Only certain people are able to access the birth records. Copies of your Arizona birth record can be obtained from the Department of Health Services.
Ordering Your Birth Records
Requests for Arizona Birth Records can be made in person or by mail. Expedited services are available for an additional fee. Proof of eligibility and the appropriate fee must be included with all requests.
Restrictions to Accessing Birth Records
Since Arizona is a "closed record" state, only certain people have authorization to access Arizona birth records. This includes the person named on the record, or the parents, spouse, grandparents, adult child, adult sibling, or legal guardian of the registrant. Attorneys and adoption agencies involved in an adoption proceeding can also make requests on behalf of the biological or adoptive parents. Genealogical records can also be issued if certain criteria is met.
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