Introduction to Arkansas Birth Certificates

This article is designed to help you get an Arkansas birth certificate.  Counter to common belief, not everything is on the Internet.  Individual birth certificates are one of the items that are not readily available online, and that is probably a good thing.  You do not want your birth certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your birth certificate.    

Arkansas birth certificates have been maintained by the Arkansas Department of Health for individuals born in the state of Arkansas since 1914, with some records from the two most populous cities (Little Rock and Fort Smith) dating back all the way to 1881.

Online Databases that have Arkansas Birth Information  

Database	Description
American Vital Records from the Gentleman's Magazine	The Gentleman's Magazine was founded in London in 1731. The first publication of its type, it featured a broad mix of news, essays, poetry, parliamentary debates, book reviews, and antiquarian notes. For the genealogist it is an absolute treasure-house of useful data. From the day of its inception until 1868 it published columns listing births, marriages, and deaths, enabling people throughout the English-speaking world to keep abreast of friends and relatives at home and abroad. These columns contain thousands of entries relating to North American which have now been extracted to form a unique source of genealogical reference material for the period from 1731 to 1868.
Early U.S. French Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1695-1954	In the 1940s the Institut Généalogique Drouin began microfilming records pertaining to French Canadians throughout French Canada and America. Consequently, this filmed set of records has become known as the Drouin Collection.  The entire Drouin Collection contains vital, notarial, and other miscellaneous records from Quebec, as well as French Catholic parish records from Ontario, Acadia, and the U.S. This database only contains the French Catholic parish records from U.S.
U.S. County History Catalog	Thousands of county histories organized by state and county
Mayflower Births & Deaths, Vol. I	This work is a compilation of birth and death records from the Bowman files, the largest manuscript resource on Mayflower genealogy in existence.  With references to 50,000 Mayflower relations, this two-volume work contains, besides records of births, baptisms, deaths and burials, references to burial location, cause of death, and address at death gleaned from land and will records, court and church records, transcripts of personal letters, and more. Volume I
Mayflower Births & Deaths, Vol. II	This work is a compilation of birth and death records from the Bowman files, the largest manuscript resource on Mayflower genealogy in existence.  With references to 50,000 Mayflower relations, this two-volume work contains, besides records of births, baptisms, deaths and burials, references to burial location, cause of death, and address at death gleaned from land and will records, court and church records, transcripts of personal letters, and more. Volume II

Arkansas Birth Certificate Authorized Persons

By Arkansas state law, Arkansas birth certificates are confidential records and can only be obtained by the following authorized individuals:

• Person Named on the Arkansas Birth Certificate
• Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian) of Person Named on the Arkansas Birth Certificate
• Husband/Wife of Person Named on the Arkansas Birth Certificate 
• Son/Daughter of Person Named on the Arkansas Birth Certificate 
• Sister/Brother of Person Named on the Arkansas Birth Certificate 
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the Arkansas Birth Certificate

Arkansas Birth Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

Anyone can obtain an Arkansas Birth Certificate, 100 years or later from the date of the birth for genealogy or other reasons.

Arkansas Birth Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order Arkansas Birth Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your Arkansas Birth Certificate.  Order online and you will get your Arkansas Birth Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – Order Arkansas Birth Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your Arkansas birth certificate online.  It usually takes 4-6 weeks upon receipt of request to be sent to you:

Step 1: Download Mail-In Application

Step 2: Please provide as much of the following information as possible to locate the Arkansas birth certificate:

• Full name of person at birth on the Arkansas birth certificate
• Date of birth on the Arkansas birth certificate
• Sex on the Arkansas birth certificate
• County (or city) of birth on the Arkansas birth certificate
• Hospital of birth - if not in a hospital state "home" 
• Full maiden name of mother on the Arkansas birth certificate
• Full name of father on the Arkansas birth certificate
• Your name 
• Your signature 
• Your relationship to the person whose Arkansas birth certificate you are requesting 
• Address where the Arkansas birth certificate is to be mailed 
• Self addressed stamped envelope
• Your daytime phone number
• By Mail: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

 

Vital Records Section-Slot 44

Date 4815 West Markham Street

Little Rock, AR 72205

Option 3 – In Person

In Person in Arkansas: You may go to any county health department in the State of Arkansas to obtain a certified copy of an Arkansas birth certificate. Most Arkansas birth certificates can be issued while you wait.

Arkansas Birth Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for an Arkansas birth certificate is $12.00, which includes one certified copy of the Arkansas birth certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the Arkansas birth certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $10.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "Arkansas Department of Health." Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.