Graham County Birth Records

Graham County provides birth certificate services at the vital records office in Safford at 820 West Main Street. You can get a certified copy for any Arizona birth at this location. The office offers same day service if you walk in during business hours. Mail requests are processed in just two business days, which is faster than most Arizona counties. You must be eligible under state law to request a copy. Parents, the registrant, and close family members can apply. A drop box in the lobby lets you submit applications after hours. Call 928-428-4441 for questions about documents or fees before you visit.

Graham County Vital Records Office

The Graham County vital records office sits at 820 West Main Street in Safford, Arizona. This is the only location for vital records in the county. The office is open during regular business hours Monday through Friday. You can call 928-428-4441 to speak with staff about your request. The main county website at www.graham.az.gov has links to all county services. The birth and death certificates page is at www.graham.az.gov/265/Birth-Death-Certificates.

A drop box is available in the lobby of the building. You can use this box to submit applications after the office closes or on weekends. Staff check the drop box every business day. This service helps people who work during office hours or cannot visit in person. Same day service is available for walk in requests during business hours. If you need a birth certificate quickly, visiting in person is the fastest option. Staff will review your documents and print the certificate while you wait if everything is in order.

The county website includes forms you can download before your visit and instructions on what documents to bring when requesting birth certificates in Graham County.

Two Day Mail Processing

Graham County processes mail requests in two business days. This is exceptionally fast for vital records. Most Arizona counties take one to three weeks for mail orders. The state office takes four to five weeks. Graham County's quick turnaround makes mail requests a good option even if you need a birth certificate soon. Send your completed application, ID copy, and payment to the office at 820 W. Main Street, Safford, AZ 85546. The county will mail the certified birth certificate back to you within two business days of receiving your request.

This fast processing time means you can get a birth certificate by mail in less than a week in most cases. Factor in mailing time each way. If you mail your request on Monday, the county might receive it by Wednesday, process it by Friday, and mail it back to you the same day. You could have the certificate in hand by the following Monday or Tuesday. This timeline is much faster than most counties and rivals same day service if you account for travel time to visit an office in person.

How to Get Birth Certificates

You can request birth certificates in person, by mail, or using the drop box in Graham County. For in person service, visit 820 West Main Street in Safford during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID like a driver license or state ID card. If you are requesting someone else's birth certificate, bring documents that prove your relationship to that person. Fill out form VS-11 at the office or download it ahead of time from the county website. Staff will check your application and documents. If approved, they will print a certified birth certificate for you while you wait.

Mail requests work well for people who live far from Safford or prefer not to visit in person. Download form VS-11 from the Arizona Department of Health Services website or the Graham County site. Fill out the form completely and sign it. Include a copy of your photo ID. Do not send your original ID. Add payment as a check, money order, or credit card information if the county accepts cards by mail. A credit card processing fee applies if you use a card. The minimum fee is $2 or 2% of the total, whichever is more. Mail your request to 820 W. Main Street, Safford, AZ 85546.

The drop box option combines elements of both methods. Fill out your application at home. Include copies of your ID and relationship documents. Add payment as a check or money order. Do not put cash or a credit card in the drop box. Put everything in an envelope and drop it in the box in the lobby. Staff will process your request in two business days just like a mailed request. You can ask the county to mail the certificate to you or you can pick it up in person when it is ready.

Birth Certificate Costs and Payment

A certified birth certificate costs $20 in Graham County. This matches the Arizona state fee. Each additional copy also costs $20. If you need to amend or correct a birth certificate, the fee is $30. You must provide supporting documents for any change, such as a court order or hospital records. Non-certified copies for genealogy research cost $20 but cannot be used for legal purposes.

Graham County accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards. If you visit in person, you can use any of these payment methods. Credit card payments have a processing fee of $2 minimum or 2% of the total cost, whichever is higher. For a $20 birth certificate, the fee would be $2, making your total $22. For mail and drop box requests, send a check or money order. You can include credit card information with a mail request if you want to pay that way, but the processing fee will apply. Do not send cash by mail or put it in the drop box.

Who Can Request Birth Records

Arizona law limits who can get birth certificates. You must be an eligible requester. The person named on the birth certificate can get their own record if they are 18 or older or an emancipated minor. Parents listed on the certificate can request copies at any time. A spouse may get a copy if they provide a marriage certificate. Grandparents, adult siblings, and adult children can request copies if they show proof of their family relationship to the registrant.

Legal guardians and conservators need a court order that shows their authority. Attorneys can request records if they represent an eligible party and provide proof. Government agencies may get copies for official business. Some young people age 16 and 17 can request their own birth certificate if they are in DCS custody or homeless. All requesters must show a valid photo ID. You also need documents that prove your relationship to the person on the birth certificate unless you are that person.

Note: The office will not issue a birth certificate to anyone who does not meet state eligibility requirements.

Access to All Arizona Birth Records

Graham County connects to the statewide Arizona vital records database. This central system holds all birth records for the state from July 1909 to the present. County staff can look up and print a birth certificate for any Arizona birth. You do not need to visit the county where you or your child was born. If you were born in Tucson but live in Safford, the Graham County office can issue your birth certificate. This statewide access saves time and makes vital records services more convenient for everyone in Arizona.

All Arizona birth certificates have the same format and security features no matter which county issues them. Each certificate includes a raised seal and the registrar's signature. These features make the document official for use anywhere in the United States or abroad. Schools, employers, passport offices, and government agencies accept birth certificates from any Arizona county as valid proof of birth and identity.

Serving the Gila Valley

Graham County includes the towns of Safford, Thatcher, and Pima in the Gila Valley. All residents of these communities use the same vital records office at 820 West Main Street in Safford. The office is centrally located and easy to reach from any part of the valley. If you live in Thatcher or Pima, the drive to Safford takes just a few minutes. Same day service means you can visit the office on your lunch break or after work and leave with a certified birth certificate the same day.

The fast two day mail processing also benefits valley residents who prefer not to drive to the office. Send your request from Pima or Thatcher and have the birth certificate in your mailbox within a few days. This quick service makes it easy for families in the Gila Valley to get the documents they need for school enrollment, sports registration, or other activities that require proof of birth.

Order Online With VitalChek

Arizona offers online ordering for birth certificates through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com. VitalChek is the state's official online vendor. The service is available 24 hours a day every day of the year. You pay by credit or debit card. VitalChek adds service fees and shipping charges on top of the $20 state fee. Expedited shipping costs more if you want the certificate delivered fast.

Online orders require you to upload a photo ID. The system verifies your identity and checks that you are eligible to get the record. If approved, your order is sent to a county or state office for processing. The birth certificate is mailed to the address you provide. Standard delivery takes about one week. Faster options are available for an additional fee. Online ordering is convenient if you cannot visit Graham County in person or if you live out of state and need an Arizona birth certificate.

Other Arizona Counties

Graham County borders Greenlee County to the east, Pinal County to the west, Gila County to the northwest, and Cochise County to the south. If you live near a county line, you might find it easier to visit a vital records office in a neighboring county. All Arizona counties can issue birth certificates for any state birth. Check the hours, processing times, and payment options for each office before you travel. Some counties have different rules for walk in service or payment methods.

Visit our pages for Greenlee County, Pinal County, Gila County, and Cochise County to learn about their vital records services. You can view all 15 Arizona counties on our counties page.