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GN 00308.072: Pennsylvania (PA) Vital Records

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  • Effective Dates: 11/17/2016 - Present
  • Effective Dates: 02/14/2018 - Present
  • TN 26 (12-12)
  • GN 00308.072 Pennsylvania (PA) Vital Records
  • A. Process for requesting birth, death, marriage, and divorce verifications and certifications from Pennsylvania (PA)
  • You can find the most up-to-date information from the Department of Health. In addition, you can find Employer Identification Number (EIN) information on the Third Party Payment System Vital Records EIN intranet site at http://eis.ba.ssa.gov/ofpo/dap/tpps/vitalrecords.htm.
  • The Division of Vital Records (DVR) branch offices accept walk-in requests for birth ($20.00) and death ($9.00) records. For a list of PA DVR branch offices, see GN 00308.072C (in this section).
  • There is no charge for field office (FO) verifications of birth and death records or for certifications of death records. Certifications of birth records are $20.00.
  • B. Procedure for obtaining vital records in person from Pennsylvania State sources
  • 1. Address and FO code
  • a. Birth and death records Division of Vital Records 101 S. Mercer St., Room 401 New Castle, PA 16101 FO code 210
  • b. Marriage and divorce records
  • Obtain marriage or divorce records from the courthouse or from the county that granted the divorce or issued the marriage license.
  • 2. Cost of copy for birth or death records
  • Birth records cost $20.00 and death records cost $9.00 if an individual requests the record. For FO requests, see instructions in GN 00308.072C.5. (in this section). The cost for marriage and divorce records varies in each county.
  • 3. Type of payment for birth, death, marriage, and divorce records
  • The DVR accepts checks or money orders payable to “Vital Records.”
  • 4. Remarks about requesting vital records by fax or mail
  • Fax individual requests that do not require payment to the DVR to 724-656-3224. Mail requests requiring payment with the check or money order to: Division of Vital Records P.O. Box 1528 New Castle, PA 16101-1528
  • The DVR requires photo identification for all requests (i.e., in-person, fax, and mail). The DVR does not accept telephone requests. Examples of acceptable forms of identification are State-issued driver's licenses and state-issued non-driver photo identifications. The DVR office has a special form for individuals who do not have a photo ID (e.g., the Amish).
  • 5. Instructions for requesting birth and death certificate verifications and certifications
  • You may verify a Pennsylvania (PA) Division of Vital Records birth or death certificate; however, you must attach a copy of the PA Division of Vital Records—issued birth or death certificate to the request for verification.
  • a. Instructions for FOs in the Philadelphia Region
  • For birth certificate verifications, use the Electronic Verification of Vital Events (EVVE) system. For instructions about EVVE, see GN 00302.980. If the EVVE search is not successful,
  • * attach the birth certificate to the Request for Verification of Birth Record and, for death certificate verifications, attach the death certificate to the Request for Verification of Death Record; and
  • * fax the request to PA Division of Vital Records at 724–656-3224.
  • There is no charge for verifications of either birth or death certificates.
  • There is a $10.00 charge for a Request for Certification of Birth Record. FOs within the Philadelphia Region should mail the form with the check, money order, or third party draft payable to “Vital Records” to the: Division of Vital Records P.O. Box 1528 New Castle, PA 16101-1528
  • There is no charge for a Request for Certification of Death Record. Fax requests to PA Division of Vital Records at 724–656-3224.
  • A valid employee or government ID (of the employee submitting the request) and the Agency Approval Number, which all Philadelphia Region FOs received, must accompany all requests.
  • b. Instructions for FOs outside the Philadelphia Region
  • Fax copies of the following items to the New Castle, PA, FO at 724-652-5766:
  • * an e562, which you can also use as your fax coversheet, and
  • * one of the appropriate request forms mentioned in GN 00308.072B.5.a, and
  • * a copy of the employee government ID (of the employee submitting the request), and
  • * a copy of the birth or death certificate for all verifications.
  • If requesting a birth certification, do not send a third party draft. New Castle will be responsible for payment.
  • C. PA DVR branch offices
  • You may apply in person at one of the following offices. Same-day processing varies by office. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding State holidays. The DVR requires valid government-issued photo identification.
  • Make payment for walk-in services with a check or money order only ($10.00 per certified copy of birth and $9.00 per certified copy of death). The DVR may waive this fee for individuals who served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces or their dependents.
  • Erie Division of Vital Records 1910 West 26th Street Erie, PA 16508-1148
  • (814) 871-4261
  • Persons requesting same-day processing should arrive at the office no later than 1:30 p.m.
  • Harrisburg Division of Vital Records 555 Walnut St., 1st Floor Harrisburg, PA 17101-1914
  • (717) 772-3480
  • New Castle Division of Vital Records Room 401, Central Building 101 South Mercer Street New Castle, PA 16101
  • 1-877-PA-HEALTH or (724) 656-3100
  • Persons requesting same-day processing should arrive at the office no later than 1:30 p.m.
  • Philadelphia Philadelphia Public Office Division of Vital Records 110 North 8th Street; Suite 108 Philadelphia, PA 19107-2412
  • (215) 560-3054
  • Please allow 4 days processing time.
  • Pittsburgh Division of Vital Records 411 7th Ave., Suite 360 300 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1973
  • (412) 565-5113
  • Scranton Division of Vital Records Room 112, Scranton State Office Building 100 Lackawanna Avenue Scranton, PA 18503-1928
  • (570) 963-4595
  • Persons requesting same-day processing should arrive at the office no later than 11:30 a.m.
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