Idaho Birth Records Online

Idaho became an official state in the USA in 1890 as the western parts of the country were slowly mapped out and became organized territories. Official vital records started being collected not long after.

Idaho birth records are considered private and confidential for 100 years after the birth date. And since the state only began collecting birth record information in 1911, that is not going to leave much room for doing any research. As the next few years go by there should be more records available that have become old enough for public access.

If you are trying to find information from before 1911, you can try individual counties. Some do have their own archives of records going back farther, but not usually any farther than the 1870s. You can also access the microfilm archives at the Idaho State Historical Society, where they have come records between 1907 and 1911 for most counties.

To access an Idaho birth record you will have to be an immediate relative, and provide proof of your identify and the relationship to the person on the record. You will need a photocopy of government issued photo ID (driver's license, passport or a Tribal ID card). For these purposes, you will have to be a parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, spouse or sibling to the person on the record. Cousins, aunts and uncles are not permitted access.

When making an application for an Idaho birth record, you'll need to mail in the proper forms to the Vital Records office. They do not offer any in-person service so this is really your only option. The mailing address for the office is the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistic, PO Box 83720, Boise ID 83720-0036 USA. The form can be downloaded from their website (http://www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=UpAs24CKx1o%3d&tabid=82).

Send the form, your ID and also include the current fee for each record. At the moment, that is $13 USD for a certified computer-generated copy of the birth record. If you want a photocopy of the original record, that will cost you $18. These copies are also officially certified. You'll have to indicate which type of record you want on the forms. If they are unable to locate the birth record you want, you will get a notice to that effect but there are no refunds for your search fees.

Your records should be back on their way to you within a week. An extra $5 will put a rush on it if you can't wait that long.

The forms used for Idaho birth records are also used for other vital records, so make sure you are filling out the correct areas for a birth certificate. You need to fill in the full name of the person on the record, along with their date and place of birth. Include also the parents names (maiden name for the mother). You also need to add your own personal information so that the records can be mailed to you. And as mentioned above, you need clear photocopy proof of your relationship to the person on the birth record.

Idaho Birth Records Search