Birth Certificate or Birth Transcript

How to obtain a copy of a birth certificate or transcript for someone born in Tompkins County

By mail order:

• Click here to download a request form
• Complete the form, print, and sign it
• Send with the following:
  1. Identification (provide one (1) of the acceptable IDs listed below)
  2. Applicable fee(s). Check or money order payable to “Tompkins County Health Department.” We do not accept credit or debit cards. Do not send cash.
• Mail to:
  • Tompkins County Health Department
    Attn: Vital Records
    55 Brown Road
    Ithaca, NY 14850

Walk-in:

• Click here to download a request form
• Complete the form on your computer or device, print, and sign it. Or print the form, complete it in ink, and sign it.
• Bring it with the following:
  1. Identification (provide one (1) of the acceptable IDs listed below)
  2. Applicable fee(s). Cash, Check, or Money Order payable to “Tompkins County Health Department.” We do not accept credit or debit cards
• Come to:
  • Tompkins County Health Department
    55 Brown Road
    Ithaca, NY 14850
    Click here for a map to the Health Department offices.

Who is eligible to obtain a birth certificate copy?

• The person named on the birth certificate
• A parent of the person named on the birth certificate (requesting parent's name must be on birth certificate)
• Other persons by order of a New York State Court

Fee for a birth certificate copy (per transaction)

• The fee for each certificate is $30 for the original copy, $15 for each additional copy made during that transaction. (Accepted payment types listed below.)
  • Note: If you come back a different time or place a separate mail order for that same individual, you will be charged the original copy fee of $30. To save you money, please order all the copies you need at the time you place your original order.

Type of ID accepted

• One (1) of the following forms of valid photo-ID:
  • Driver license
  • Non-driver license
  • Passport (copy of Passport required if request is made from a foreign country that requires a U.S. Passport for travel.)
  • Naturalization Papers
  • Military ID
  • Employer’s Photo ID
  • Police report of lost or stolen ID
     
    ----- OR -----
• Two (2) of the following showing the applicant's name and address:
  • Utility bill or telephone bill
  • Letter from a government agency dated within the last six (6) months

Type of payment accepted

• Check or money order payable to the “Tompkins County Health Department.” 
• Cash accepted for walk-in customers. Do not send cash with mail orders.
• We do not accept credit or debit cards. 

Notes:

• For genealogy or family history copies, please visit our Genealogy web page.
• The Tompkins County Health Department Vital Records Office retains only birth certificates for individuals born in Tompkins County. All others should check with their local Health Department or City, Town or Village the birth took place. You may also make a request through the New York State Health Department.