Public Offices

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Public Offices

Regular office hours for all locations are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays.
Click below on the office you are planning to visit to check for unexpected office closings.
Walk-in services vary by location. Please click below on the office you are planning to visit to verify services offered at that specific location as well as directions.
Payment in the form of check or money order for the exact amount of your order should be made payable to VITAL RECORDS. We do not accept cash or credit cards.

Erie Public Office
Harrisburg Public Office
New Castle Public Office
Pittsburgh Public Office
Scranton Public Office
Philadelphia Public Office

Walk-in Service

Availability varies by location.
You must present a completed birth certificate application or death certificate application with photo ID to obtain a certified copy. Print a copy of the application; blank forms are available at each location. Bring a legible photocopy of your valid government-issued photo ID that verifies your name and current mailing address. Examples include a state-issued driver's license or non-driver photo ID. Expired IDs cannot be accepted. If the address has been changed, include copy of the update card. If you do not have acceptable photo identification, an eligible requestor possessing a valid government issued photo ID may apply; otherwise you may complete a Statement from Requestors Not Possessing Acceptable Government-Issued Photo ID with two acceptable documents verifying your current address. Click to print a copy of this form.
Blank applications are available at each location.
Print a Birth Certificate Application or Death Certificate Application beforehand.
All public offices accept payment via check or money order made out to VITAL RECORDS for the exact amount of your order. Fee may be waived if the subject is an armed forces member. We do not accept cash or credit cards.

Applications

You must present a completed Birth Certificate Application or Death Certificate Application with photo ID to obtain a certified copy. Bring a legible photocopy of your valid government-issued photo ID that verifies your name and current mailing address. Examples include a state-issued driver's license or non-driver photo ID. Expired IDs cannot be accepted. If address has been changed, include copy of update card. If you do not have acceptable photo identification, an eligible requestor possessing a valid government-issued photo ID may apply; otherwise you may complete a Statement from Requestors Not Possessing Acceptable Government-Issued Photo ID with two acceptable documents verifying your current address.
Blank applications are available at each location.
Print a Birth Certificate Application or Death Certificate Application beforehand.

Certificate Fees

IMPORTANT PAYMENT INFORMATION: All in-person public office transactions and all mailed applications require payment via check or money order made payable to "VITAL RECORDS" for the exact amount of your order. We do not accept cash or credit cards.

Birth certified copies are $20 each.
Fee may be waived if the applicant (the person applying) is an armed forces member or related to the armed forces member as stated below:

Members of the United States armed forces who served or are currently serving.
Legal spouse of the armed forces member and widow/widower (unless he or she is remarried).
Dependent child of the armed forces member age 18 or under. If 18 years of age or over and he or she is unable to provide support for herself or himself or is reported as a dependent on the armed forces member's federal income tax return, documentation is required to prove dependency (example: copy of income tax return, copy of insurance waiver).
Note that the fee may be waived for certificates issued for the armed forces member, the legal spouse or the dependent child only. Any other relatives of the armed forces member are not eligible for the fee waiver.
Fee waiver does not apply to genealogical requests.

Death certified copies are $20 each.
Fee may be waived if the decedent was an armed forces member or if the applicant (the person applying) is:

the decedent's legal spouse;
a dependent child;
the funeral director listed on the death certificate (if the decedent is listed as a veteran).

Fee waiver does not apply to genealogical requests.

Fetal Death Certified Copies
Although you can make a request in person, the certified copy will be issued and mailed from our main office located in New Castle. Click on Fetal Death Certificates for more information.

Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth Certified Copies
Although you can make a request in person, the certified copy will be issued and mailed from our main office located in New Castle.
Click on Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth for more information.

IMPORTANT PAYMENT INFORMATION: All in-person public office transactions and all mailed applications require payment via check or money order made payable to "VITAL RECORDS" for the exact amount of your order. We do not accept cash or credit cards.