Search Tuscaloosa Birth Records

Birth records for Tuscaloosa residents go through the Tuscaloosa County Health Department on Hargrove Road East. The city has more than 114,000 people. That makes it Alabama's fifth largest city. A lot of those people are University of Alabama students. Many need birth certificates while in college for passports, jobs, or other reasons. The health department is part of the state system. Staff can pull birth records for anyone born in Alabama, not just folks from Tuscaloosa County. The office is known for fast service. Most walk-in requests get done in 30 minutes or less.

Where Tuscaloosa Residents Get Birth Certificates

The Tuscaloosa County Health Department handles all vital records for the city and nearby areas. The department runs under the state system and follows statewide rules for birth certificates. Staff can see all Alabama birth records going back to 1908.

Office	Tuscaloosa County Health Department
Address	2350 Hargrove Road East, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
Phone	(205) 562-6900
Fax	(205) 562-6903
Hours	Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Vital Records Hours	8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

The building is on Hargrove Road East, easy to reach from Interstate 20/59. Parking is on site. The office closes at 4:00 PM. Get there with time to spare so you can finish before they close.

Tuscaloosa County Courthouse

The courthouse handles adoptions, paternity cases, and name changes. These can affect birth certificates. But the courthouse does not give out birth certificates. Those legal cases lead to court orders. The orders get sent to the state to update the birth record.

Courthouse	Tuscaloosa County Courthouse
Address	714 Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

Fees and Costs

Tuscaloosa County uses the same fees as all other counties in Alabama. The State Board of Health sets these rates. They apply statewide.

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

You can pay with cash, checks, or money orders. Call ahead to see if they take cards right now. Make checks out to "Tuscaloosa County Health Department."

How to Request a Birth Certificate

The Tuscaloosa County Health Department has three ways to get birth certificates: in person, by mail, or online. Walk-in is the fastest. Most people are done in under 30 minutes.

In-Person Requests

Go to the health department on Hargrove Road East during business hours. Bring your photo ID. Fill out the form at the counter. Staff will search and print your certificate while you wait. Tuscaloosa put out more than 24,200 certified copies in 2022. That shows high demand but also a fast team.

What to Bring

• Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID)
• Payment for the fee
• Information about the birth (full name, date, place, parents' names)

Mail Requests

Get the form from the Tuscaloosa County Health Department website or the ADPH site. Fill it all out. Add a copy of your ID. Mail it with payment to the Tuscaloosa office or the state office in Montgomery. Processing takes 7 to 10 business days after they get it.

Online Requests

VitalChek is the online vendor for Alabama. It costs more because of service and shipping fees. The state office handles the order and mails it to you.

Legal Requirements and Eligibility

Alabama law restricts access to birth certificates for 125 years from the date of birth. During this period, only eligible persons can obtain certified copies. These rules are established by Alabama Code § 22-9A-22 and detailed in Alabama Administrative Code 420-7-1-.22.

Who May Request Certified Copies

• The registrant (if 14 years old or older)
• Parents named 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 eligible parties
• Government agencies for official purposes

Persons not on this list need notarized written authorization from an eligible person. The authorization must include copies of both IDs.

Birth Registration

Under Alabama Code § 22-9A-7, births must be registered within five days. DCH Regional Medical Center and other local hospitals handle birth registration for parents. The hospital files the certificate with the state before the family leaves.

University of Alabama Students

Tuscaloosa is home to the University of Alabama. That brings tens of thousands of students to town. Students often need birth certificates for passport applications, driver's license renewals, financial aid, and job applications. If you are from another state, you cannot get your birth certificate here. Contact your home state's vital records office.

Students from Alabama who go to UA can get their birth certificates here. The office can pull records from the statewide database no matter which Alabama county you were born in.

University of Alabama School of Law

The University of Alabama School of Law runs legal clinics. They may help with vital records issues. Law students work under faculty attorneys to help clients with civil legal matters. Contact the law school to ask about clinic options and who can use them.

DCH Regional Medical Center

DCH Regional Medical Center is the main place for births in Tuscaloosa. Parents fill out birth certificate info with hospital staff. The hospital sends it to the state. A few weeks later, you can get certified copies from the health department.

The hospital can give you medical birth records. But these are different from official certified birth certificates. For legal and government uses, you usually need the certified version from the health department.

Delayed Birth Registration

If a birth was never registered, Tuscaloosa residents can file for delayed registration. The process varies based on how long ago the birth occurred:

• Within 1 year: Standard process, not marked delayed
• 1 to 5 years: Certificate marked "Delayed Registration"
• Over 5 years: Requires documentary evidence and affidavit

More than five years late? You need proof from at least two outside sources. Plus a sworn statement from someone at least ten years older than you. Contact the health department for the exact steps.

Amendments and Corrections

The state office in Montgomery handles birth certificate changes. The county cannot do it. Under Alabama Code § 22-9A-19, changes made more than one year after filing make the certificate show "AMENDED."

Common changes include adding a father's name, fixing spelling, and updates from court orders. It costs $20. Call (334) 206-2637 for more info.

Adoptee Access

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 must sign the request by hand. No online option. The sealed file may have other papers from the adoption too.

Local Legal Aid

Need legal help with birth certificate issues? Contact Legal Services Alabama. They give free civil legal help to low-income folks who qualify.

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

They can help with delayed registration, name changes, and getting records for court cases or benefits.

Processing Time

Tuscaloosa is known for quick service. Walk-in customers usually get their birth certificates in 30 minutes or less. That is faster than some other Alabama counties. If you are short on time, Tuscaloosa is a good spot to go.

Mail takes 7 to 10 business days to process, plus time in the mail both ways. Online orders through VitalChek depend on what shipping you pick.

Nearby Cities

Tuscaloosa sits in west-central Alabama, about 60 miles southwest of Birmingham. Other big cities where you can get birth certificates include: