TN 67 (09-22)

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

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. See DOORS for fax and telephone information. :

  • 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

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.


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0200308072
GN 00308.072 - Pennsylvania (PA) Vital Records - 09/08/2022
Batch run: 09/08/2022
Rev:09/08/2022