Maricopa County Birth Records

Maricopa County operates five vital records offices across the Phoenix metro area where you can get birth certificates. These locations serve Phoenix, Mesa, Peoria, Glendale, and Goodyear with same day service. You can get a certified copy for any Arizona birth at any of these five offices. The county uses a paperless system with electronic tablets for applications. Walk in service is available at all locations for getting birth certificates. Appointments are needed for corrections and amendments. You must prove you are eligible to get the record under state law. Call 602-506-6805 for help choosing the best location or to ask about documents you need to bring with you.

Five Maricopa County Office Locations

Maricopa County Public Health runs five vital records offices spread across the Phoenix metro area. This makes it easy to find a location close to your home or work. The main phone number for all locations is 602-506-6805. Hours vary by location but most offices are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8am to 4:30pm, with Wednesday hours from 9am to 4:30pm. Same day service is standard at all five sites for walk in requests.

The Phoenix office is at 1645 East Roosevelt Street, Phoenix, AZ 85006. This is the main location in downtown Phoenix. The Mesa office serves the East Valley at 331 East Coury Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85210. The Peoria office covers the Northwest Valley at 8088 West Whitney Drive, Suite 2A, Peoria, AZ 85345. The Glendale office is at 5141 West Lamar Road, Glendale, AZ 85301. The Goodyear office serves the Southwest Valley at 14130 West McDowell Road, Goodyear, AZ 85395.

All five offices offer the same services. You can visit whichever location is most convenient. Each office can issue a birth certificate for any Arizona birth. You do not need to go to the office closest to where the birth occurred. Learn more at www.maricopa.gov/2770/Vital-Records. The county also has an order page at www.maricopa.gov/5995/Order-a-Birth-or-Death-Certificate with step by step instructions.

The county vital records website lists all five office addresses with maps and details on hours and services available at each location.

Paperless Electronic Tablet System

Maricopa County uses a paperless system for vital records applications. When you visit any of the five offices, staff give you an electronic tablet. You fill out your application on the tablet instead of using a paper form. The system walks you through each required field. You enter your name, address, phone number, and relationship to the person on the birth certificate. The tablet also collects payment information if you pay by credit or debit card.

The paperless system makes the process faster and more accurate. Staff can see your application right away on their computers. There is no need to scan or type paper forms. The system also reduces errors because it will not let you skip required fields. Most people find the tablets easy to use. If you need help, staff are available to guide you through the application. This modern system is one reason Maricopa County can provide same day service even with the high volume of requests they handle.

Walk In Service for Birth Certificates

You can walk into any Maricopa County vital records office to get a birth certificate. No appointment is needed for issuance of certified copies. Just visit during open hours. Bring your photo ID. If you are requesting someone else's birth certificate, bring documents that prove your relationship to that person. Staff will give you a tablet to fill out your application. They will review your documents and process your request. Most people get their birth certificate within an hour or less.

Appointments are required for corrections and amendments to birth certificates. Walk ins cannot be helped with these services. If you need to change information on a birth certificate, call 602-506-6805 to schedule an appointment. Staff will tell you what documents to bring to support the change. Correction appointments may take longer than simple issuance because staff need to verify the reason for the change and process additional paperwork. The $30 amendment fee applies to corrections instead of the standard $20 certificate fee.

How to Get Birth Certificates

Walk in service is the most common way to get birth certificates in Maricopa County. Visit any of the five locations during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID like a driver license or state ID card. You also need proof of your relationship to the person on the birth certificate if you are not that person. When you arrive, check in with staff. They will give you an electronic tablet. Fill out the application on the tablet. Staff will review your ID and relationship documents while you complete the form.

If your documents are in order and you are eligible under state law, staff will process your request. They print the certified birth certificate and call your name when it is ready. You pay at that time. The whole process usually takes 30 minutes to an hour depending on how busy the office is. You can then leave with your birth certificate the same day. Same day service is available at all five locations during regular hours.

Mail requests are also an option. Download form VS-11 from the county website or the state website. Fill it out completely and sign it. Include a copy of your photo ID. Do not send your original ID. Add payment. For mail, you cannot pay cash. Send a check, money order, or include credit card information if the county accepts cards by mail. Mail your request to P.O. Box 2111, Phoenix, AZ 85001. Processing by mail takes longer than walk in service. Most mail requests are completed within two to three weeks.

Birth Certificate Costs and Payment

Certified birth certificates cost $20 each in Maricopa County. This is the standard Arizona state fee. Each additional copy also costs $20. Amendments or corrections cost $30. Non-certified copies for genealogy research cost $5, which is less than most counties. These non-certified copies cannot be used for legal purposes but work well for family history research.

Maricopa County accepts many payment methods. For in person visits, you can pay by cash, money order, check, or credit and debit cards. A processing fee may apply if you use a card. For mail requests, do not send cash. Use a check, money order, or include credit card details if the county accepts cards by mail. Always get a receipt when you pay so you have proof of your transaction. Keep the receipt until you receive your birth certificate in case there are any questions about your payment.

Forms in English and Spanish

Maricopa County provides vital records forms in both English and Spanish. This helps the large Spanish speaking population in the Phoenix metro area. You can download Spanish language examples of forms from the county website. Staff at the five offices can help Spanish speakers with the application process. The electronic tablets used for applications are available in Spanish. If you prefer to complete your application in Spanish, tell staff when you check in and they will set up the tablet in Spanish for you.

Note: The actual birth certificates are issued in English only, but the application process can be done in Spanish for your convenience.

Who Can Request Birth Records

Arizona restricts access to birth certificates to protect privacy. You must be an eligible requester under state law. 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 can get a copy if they show a marriage certificate. Grandparents, adult children, and adult siblings may request copies if they prove their family relationship.

Legal guardians and conservators need a court order. Attorneys can request records if they represent an eligible party. Government agencies can get copies for official business. Some youth age 16 or 17 can request their own birth certificate if they are in DCS custody or homeless. All requesters must show valid photo ID. You also need documents that prove your relationship to the person on the birth certificate. Maricopa County staff will verify your eligibility before issuing a birth certificate.

Any Arizona Birth Certificate Available

Maricopa County connects to the statewide Arizona vital records database. This central system holds all birth records for the state from July 1909 to now. County staff can look up and print a birth certificate for any Arizona birth. You do not need to visit the county where you were born. If you were born in Tucson but live in Phoenix, any of the five Maricopa County offices can issue your birth certificate. This statewide access makes vital records more convenient for everyone.

All Arizona birth certificates have the same format and security features. Each certificate includes a raised seal and the registrar's signature. These features make the document official for use anywhere. Schools, employers, passport offices, and government agencies accept birth certificates from any Arizona county.

The county order page provides step by step instructions for requesting birth certificates in person or by mail through Maricopa County.

Vital Records for Phoenix Metro Cities

Maricopa County includes Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Glendale, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Tempe, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear, Buckeye, Avondale, and many other cities. All residents of these cities use the county vital records system. Cities do not operate their own vital records offices. The five county locations are strategically placed to serve all parts of the metro area. Phoenix residents can use the downtown Phoenix office. Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, and Tempe residents can visit the East Valley office in Mesa. Glendale, Peoria, and Surprise residents can go to either the Glendale or Peoria office. Goodyear, Buckeye, and Avondale residents can use the Goodyear office.

Visit our city pages to learn which county office is closest to you: Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Glendale, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Tempe, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear, and Buckeye.

Order Online Through VitalChek

Arizona offers online ordering for birth certificates through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com. This is the state's official online vendor. The service is available 24 hours a day. You pay by credit or debit card. VitalChek charges service fees on top of the $20 state fee. Shipping costs extra. Expedited delivery is available for a higher price if you need the certificate fast.

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

Other Arizona Counties

Maricopa County borders Yavapai County to the north, Gila County to the east, Pinal County to the south, and Yuma County and La Paz County to the west. 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 and services for each county before you travel. Some counties have different walk in policies or office hours than Maricopa County.

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