To obtain a copy of your birth certificate, you may either complete the Application for Birth Certificate at the counter, print and fill in the Birth Certificate Request Form (PDF) to mail in, OR include the following information in a letter.
The name on the birth certificate being requested
The date and place of birth
Father's full name (first, middle, last)
Mother's full name (first middle, last and including her maiden name)
Relationship to the person whose certificate is requested
Your handwritten signature and complete return mailing address
If the person was born out of wedlock, only those individuals named on the record may obtain them and positive identification will be required, such as your driver's license. Also, these cannot be mailed to a post office box address.
PLEASE NOTE: Failure to provide all of the above information will result in the application being rejected or delayed in processing.
IMPORTANT: In addition to your written request, you must include the necessary fees. Make your check or money order payable to the City of Boston. Absolutely no telephonic requests or verifications will be accepted.
$12.00 per copy (no surcharge) if obtained in person at City Hall.
$15.00 (*includes $3.00 surcharge) if obtained by mail. There will be a 3-4 week wait for mail requests.
*Surcharge is for the entire order, not per copy. For example, if you request two certificates at $12.00 each, the total would be $24.00 plus $3.00 fee.
$10.00 per record for any records requested that are prior to 1870 as an additional research fee.
All fees are payable by cash, check or money order.
Hours of Operation
| Monday | 9AM - 4PM |
| Tuesday | 9AM - 4PM |
| Wednesday | CLOSED |
| Thursday | 9AM - 4PM |
| Friday | 9AM - 4PM |