Find Birth Records in Huntsville

Birth records for Huntsville residents go through the Madison County Health Department on Max Luther Drive. Huntsville is Alabama's largest city with more than 230,000 people. That means a lot of birth certificate requests each year. The health department taps into the statewide vital records database. Staff can pull birth certificates for anyone born in Alabama, not just Madison County births. Walk-in service is open during business hours. Most requests take 15 to 30 minutes. Mornings can get busy, so expect a longer wait at those times. Bring your photo ID and be ready to show how you are linked to the person named on the certificate.

Where Huntsville Residents Get Birth Certificates

The Madison County Health Department handles all birth certificate requests for Huntsville. The office runs under the Alabama Department of Public Health. It has full access to birth records filed in Alabama since 1908. This is the only local spot in Madison County where you can get certified copies of birth certificates.

Office	Madison County Health Department
Address	301 Max Luther Drive N.W., Huntsville, AL 35811
Phone	(256) 539-3711
Hours	Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

The building has lots of parking. Public transit can get you there too. Vital records is on the main floor. Staff help with applications, answer questions about who can get records, and notarize papers if you need it.

Madison County Courthouse

The courthouse does not give out birth certificates. But it handles things like adoptions, name changes, and paternity cases. These can affect what is on a birth record. The court and health department work together on these.

Courthouse	Madison County Courthouse
Address	100 Northside Square, Huntsville, AL 35801

Fees and Costs

Madison County charges the same fees as all other counties in Alabama. The State Board of Health sets these rates. They are the same everywhere. You can pay with cash, check, or money order. Some places take credit and debit cards. Call ahead to check what they accept now.

Service	Fee
Search (includes one certified copy)	$15.00
Additional copies (same order)	$6.00 each
Expedited processing	$15.00 additional
Delayed registration	$20.00
Amendment or correction	$20.00

The $15 search fee gets you one certified copy if they find the record. Need more copies? Order them at the same time. Extra copies cost just $6 each. Make checks out to "Madison County Health Department."

How to Request a Birth Certificate

Getting a birth certificate in Huntsville is simple. Walk into the Madison County Health Department during business hours. Fill out the form. Show your ID. Pay the fee. Staff will search the database and print your certificate while you wait. The whole thing takes 15 to 30 minutes.

In-Person Requests

In-person requests are the fastest way. Bring a photo ID like a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. Fill out the form at the counter. Know the full name on the certificate, the birth date, where the birth happened, and the parents' names.

Mail Requests

You can also mail in your request. Get the form from the Alabama Department of Public Health website. Fill it all out. Add a copy of your ID. Send it with a check or money order to the Madison County Health Department or the state office in Montgomery. Mail takes 7 to 10 business days to process.

Online Requests

VitalChek is the state's online vendor. It costs more because VitalChek adds fees for processing and shipping on top of the state fee. But it is handy if you cannot go in person or mail it in. Orders go through the state office and get mailed to you.

Legal Requirements and Eligibility

Alabama keeps birth certificates private for 125 years from the birth date. Only certain people can get copies during that time. Alabama Code § 22-9A-22 sets these rules. Alabama Administrative Code 420-7-1-.22 has the details.

Who Can Request Certified Copies

• The person named on the certificate (if 14 years old or older)
• Parents listed on the certificate
• Spouse of the registrant
• Children of the registrant
• Siblings of the registrant
• Grandparents of the registrant
• Legal guardians with court documentation
• Attorneys representing the registrant
• Government agencies with official need

Not on the list? You need written approval from someone who is. Or get a court order. The approval must be notarized. Include a copy of that person's ID too.

Birth Registration Requirements

Alabama Code § 22-9A-7 says births must be filed within five days. If the birth happens at a hospital or birth center, they handle the paperwork. Home births? The midwife or doctor who was there must file it.

Huntsville Hospital Birth Certificates

Huntsville Hospital is the biggest birth facility in the area. They handle thousands of births each year. The hospital can give you medical birth records. But for official certified birth certificates, you must go to the Madison County Health Department. The hospital site has info on how to get hospital birth records.

New parents at Huntsville Hospital fill out the birth certificate worksheet before they leave. The hospital sends it to the state. A few weeks later, you can get certified copies from the Madison County Health Department.

Delayed Birth Registration

If a birth was never filed or the record was lost, you can apply for a delayed birth certificate. What you need depends on how long ago the birth was. Within one year? Use the standard form. Between one and five years? It gets marked "Delayed Registration." More than five years? You need proof from outside sources and a sworn statement from someone at least ten years older than you.

Amendments and Corrections

The state office in Montgomery handles birth certificate changes, not county offices. Common fixes include adding a father's name, fixing spelling, or updating info after a court order. It costs $20. Under Alabama Code § 22-9A-19, changes made more than one year after filing will show "AMENDED" on the certificate.

Adoptee Access to Original Certificates

Alabama lets adult adoptees see their original birth certificates. If you are 19 or older, were born in Alabama, and your certificate was sealed due to adoption, you can ask for a non-certified copy. It costs $25. You cannot do this online. It needs your real signature. The sealed file might also have court papers from the adoption.

Local Legal Aid Resources

Need legal help with birth certificate issues? Contact Legal Services Alabama. This nonprofit gives free legal help to low-income people across the state.

Organization	Legal Services Alabama - Huntsville Office
Toll-Free	1-866-456-4995
Spanish	1-888-835-3505

They can help with delayed birth registration, name changes, and getting records for court cases. They serve Madison County and the surrounding area.

Special Considerations for Huntsville

Huntsville is growing fast. The city adds about 10 new people a day. That means high demand at the health department. Many folks here work at Redstone Arsenal or NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. Some federal jobs need birth certificates for security clearances.

Need it fast? Pay the $15 expedited fee on top of the regular cost. Your request goes to the front of the line.

Nearby Cities

Huntsville is the biggest city in north Alabama. These other major cities also have birth certificate services at their county health departments: