Massachusetts Birth Records
Massachusetts birth records are kept by city and town clerks, the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, and the State Archives. If you need to find or request a birth certificate in Massachusetts, the process depends on the year of birth and where the birth took place. Records from 1926 to now are held by the state and local clerks. Older birth records, dating back to 1841, are kept at the State Archives in Boston. This guide covers how to search Massachusetts birth records, where to request them, and what to expect at each step.
Massachusetts Birth Records Overview
Where Massachusetts Birth Records Are Kept
Massachusetts has one of the oldest vital records systems in the country. Birth records have been filed since 1635, making this state a valuable resource for genealogical research. The state started requiring formal registration of all births in 1841. Understanding which office holds the record you need is the first step.
The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) is the main state agency for birth records from 1926 to the present. It is located at 150 Mount Vernon Street, 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125. You can reach the office by phone at 617-740-2600 or by email at vital.recordsrequest@state.ma.us. The RVRS is open Monday through Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. It also holds genealogical research hours on select days each week. Every five years, a block of older records is transferred from RVRS to the State Archives, so very old records from 1926 onward may be found at either location depending on the year.
The Massachusetts State Archives holds birth records from 1841 through 1930. The Archives are located at 220 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 02125. Their phone number is 617-727-2816. For records from 1841 to 1925, digital images are available and searchable online. You can also request up to five digital copies by email at no charge. Certified copies from the Archives cost $3.00 per certificate. Processing takes about four to six weeks.
For births that occurred before 1841, contact the city or town clerk in the place where the birth happened. Local records go back further in many communities, with some towns having records from the early 1600s.
The RVRS homepage at mass.gov covers how to order birth certificates, fee details, and genealogical research hours for the Dorchester office.
How to Order Massachusetts Birth Certificates
There are three main ways to get a Massachusetts birth certificate: online through VitalChek, by mail to the RVRS, or in person at the state office or your local city and town clerk. Fees vary by method. In-person requests at the state office cost $20 per copy and are usually filled the same day. Mail requests to the RVRS run $32 per copy for standard service, with processing at 15 to 20 business days. Expedited mail costs $42 per copy and takes 7 to 10 business days. Mark your envelope "Expedited Mail Service" so it gets routed correctly.
The state ordering guide at mass.gov walks through each method for getting a birth certificate, including what information you will need to provide with your request.
Online and phone orders go through VitalChek, which is the official third-party service for the RVRS. Call VitalChek at (866) 300-8535 or order at their website. The standard online fee is $54 for the first copy and $42 for each additional copy. That includes a $12 VitalChek processing fee on top of the state fee. Expedited online orders cost $62.50 for the first copy. Delivery options range from free standard USPS mail to next-day UPS shipping for an added cost. Credit cards, including MasterCard, Visa, AMEX, and Discover, are accepted.
VitalChek is the official online ordering partner for the Massachusetts RVRS. Orders placed here are processed and mailed directly from the state office in Dorchester.
Many cities and towns offer their own ordering options at lower fees. Boston charges $12 in person and $14 by mail. Cambridge charges $5 per copy at the city clerk's office. Lowell charges $10 in office and $25 by mail, with online ordering available through the UniPay system. Fees and processing times vary by municipality, so contact your local clerk to confirm before you submit a request.
Massachusetts Birth Record Fees
The full fee schedule for vital records is published by the RVRS at mass.gov. It covers all methods including mail, in-person, and VitalChek online orders.
Fees change from time to time, so it is a good idea to verify the current amounts before you send a payment. The state office accepts cash, check, and money order in person but does not take credit cards at the counter. Mail requests require a check or money order made payable to "Commonwealth of Massachusetts." Local city and town clerks may have different payment rules, so call ahead.
Note: The fee for a certified copy at the State Archives is just $3.00, significantly lower than the RVRS fee, but Archives copies are limited to records from 1841 to 1930.
What You Need to Request a Birth Record
Every request for a Massachusetts birth certificate requires some basic information. You need the full name of the person on the record, the date of birth, the city or town where the birth occurred, and the names of both parents, including the mother's maiden name. You also need to show who you are and your connection to the record.
Acceptable forms of ID include a driver's license, a government-issued photo ID, a state ID card, or a U.S. passport. Some cities also accept a school ID in certain cases. For mail orders, a photocopy of your ID is sufficient. In-person requests typically require you to show the original. If you are requesting a birth record on behalf of someone else as a legal guardian or legal representative, you will need to provide supporting documentation showing that relationship. The RVRS may ask for guardianship papers or a power of attorney.
Access Rules for Massachusetts Birth Records
Most Massachusetts birth records are open to the public. However, MGL Chapter 46, Section 2A places restrictions on records for births where the parents were not married at the time. Those records are limited to the child, the parents listed on the record, a father not listed who can show paternity documentation, a legal guardian, or a legal representative. Anyone in one of those categories must show valid photo ID when requesting the record.
A major change came in 2022 regarding pre-adoption birth records. Under MGL Chapter 46, Section 2B, all adoptees born in Massachusetts now have the right to access their original birth certificate, regardless of birth year. The adoptee must be at least 18 years old and must provide proof of identity and pay the applicable fee. The record will be marked: "This record was amended by adoption. This is not a certified copy of a birth record." This law went into effect on November 3, 2022 and applied retroactively to all birth years.
The mass.gov page on MGL c.46 Section 2B covers the 2022 pre-adoption birth records law in full, including who qualifies and what the record will show when issued.
Under MGL Chapter 46, Section 1, birth certificates must include the date and place of birth, the child's name and sex, and the names, occupations, and residences of both parents. Section 3 requires physicians to file birth reports within 15 days. Home births must be registered with the local city or town clerk. Under Section 33, the state maintains a centralized automated database for vital records, which allows certified copies to be issued statewide.
Historical Birth Records and Genealogy
Massachusetts is a prime state for genealogical research. Birth records go back to 1635 in some towns, making this one of the richest sources of family history data in the United States. The state was the first to require consistent statewide recording of vital events, starting in 1841.
The State Archives vital records page shows the digital collections available for births from 1841 to 1925, which can be searched and viewed online at no cost for basic access.
Several free and subscription databases can help with research. FamilySearch has Massachusetts birth records from 1636 to 1924, available at no cost. Ancestry.com holds the Massachusetts Birth Index from 1840 to 1910, along with other vital records collections. The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), located at 99-101 Newbury Street in Boston, is the premier resource for New England genealogy. Their collections include extensive Massachusetts vital records going back centuries. MyHeritage also offers Massachusetts birth index records from 1840 to 1910. The "Vital Records to 1850" series, known as the Tan Books, covers 206 Massachusetts cities and towns and is available at NEHGS and the State Archives.
Browse Massachusetts Birth Records by County
Each city and town in Massachusetts maintains its own birth records. County boundaries are still used for courts and registries, even though most county governments were abolished. Pick a county to find local clerk contact information and resources for birth records in that area.
View All 14 Massachusetts Counties
Birth Records in Major Massachusetts Cities
Massachusetts has dozens of cities where residents can request birth records directly from the city clerk. Below are some of the largest cities. Each has its own office and process for getting a certified copy of a birth certificate.