Find Birth Records in Revere

Revere birth records are maintained by the Revere City Clerk and cover births that took place in the city or where parents were Revere residents at the time of registration. The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics also holds a statewide copy for all births registered after 1926. This page explains how to get a certified Revere birth certificate, how the state and online options work, and where to search for older historical records.

Revere City Clerk for Birth Certificates

The Revere City Clerk holds vital records for the city, including certified birth certificates. The clerk's office is located at Revere City Hall. You can find contact information, office hours, and any current online ordering options at revere.org. The clerk's vital records page at revere.org/departments/city-clerk has more detail on how to submit a request.

Walk-in service at City Hall is the fastest way to get a Revere birth certificate. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. The clerk will ask about your relationship to the person named on the record, since Massachusetts law limits who can receive a certified copy. Most in-person requests are processed the same day. Mail requests are also accepted. Include the full name on the record, the date of birth, a copy of your ID, and a check or money order for the fee. Contact the clerk's office to confirm the current fee before mailing.

Note: Hours and procedures at Revere City Hall can change seasonally, so confirm current details at revere.org before making the trip.

Eligibility for Revere Birth Records

Massachusetts restricts who can receive a certified birth certificate. These are not open-access public records. The person named on the certificate can always request their own copy. So can their parents, spouse, and adult children. Legal representatives with proper documentation are also eligible.

Under MGL c.46 §2A, records involving births to unwed parents have additional restrictions. In those cases, access is limited to the child, the parents listed on the record, and authorized legal representatives or guardians. If you are not sure whether you qualify, call the clerk's office before going in. They can tell you what to bring.

Adoptees have rights under MGL c.46 §2B. Any person 18 or older who was born in Massachusetts and later adopted can request their original pre-adoption birth certificate. This rule was updated in November 2022 and now applies regardless of when the adoption occurred. The certificate you receive will be marked to show it was amended by adoption. It is not a standard certified copy, but it is a valid legal document with the same standing under state law.

If you are requesting for a deceased family member, bring documentation that shows your relationship to the person, such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate showing parentage, or a copy of a will or estate document. Having these ready makes the visit go faster.

State Registry Backup for Revere Births

The RVRS holds birth records for all Massachusetts births registered after 1926. Their office is at 150 Mt. Vernon Street, 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125. Phone: 617-740-2600. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Both the local clerk and RVRS hold valid copies, and a certified certificate from either source carries identical legal weight.

In-person at RVRS costs $20 per copy. Cash, check, or money order only. No credit cards. Mail orders run $32 per copy at standard processing (15-20 business days) or $42 for expedited (7-10 business days). The full details are in the state ordering guide. A complete fee breakdown is available at the RVRS fee page.

Revere is in Suffolk County, the same county as Boston. The RVRS in Dorchester is geographically close to Revere, which makes an in-person state visit a reasonable option for local residents who want to avoid the city clerk's office.

Online Ordering Through VitalChek

VitalChek handles online and phone orders for Massachusetts birth certificates. Their number is 866-300-8535. Online orders cost $54 for the first copy, which includes a $12 VitalChek service fee. Additional copies are $42 each. Expedited processing is $62.50 per first copy with next-day turnaround. Standard processing runs 7-10 business days.

Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover cards are all accepted. Shipping options range from free standard USPS mail to UPS upgrades for faster delivery. VitalChek is useful when you can't visit an office in person, but the service fee adds real cost compared to going directly to the Revere City Clerk or the state RVRS. Factor that in when deciding which method to use.

Historical Revere Birth Records Research

The Massachusetts State Archives holds birth records from 1841 to 1930, including Revere births from that period. Their address is 220 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 02125. Phone: 617-727-2816. Email for up to 5 digital record images at no charge: archives@sec.state.ma.us. Certified copies cost $3 each with a 4-6 week processing time. There is a maximum of 5 certificates per order.

Records from 1841 to 1925 are digitized and available online through the Archives website. That lets you search and view records without placing a formal request. For births before 1841, records were kept locally and their quality varies. Very early Revere records may be incomplete or missing entirely depending on how well they were stored over the years.

Free genealogical research tools include FamilySearch, which has Massachusetts birth collections going back to 1636. The New England Historic Genealogical Society at americanancestors.org is another strong option for tracing Massachusetts and New England family history, with access to vital records, town clerk records, and early church records that may document Revere births before modern registration began.

What Revere Birth Certificates Show

A standard Massachusetts birth certificate contains the child's full name, date and place of birth, and sex. It also lists the parents' names, their occupations and residences at the time of birth, and the attending physician or midwife. Under MGL c.46 §1, these fields are required for all birth registrations across the state.

Older Revere records may look different from modern certificates. Pre-1900 records were handwritten and some fields that are standard today may be missing. If you need a certificate for a legal purpose, confirm with the requesting agency that an older format is acceptable. Most courts and government agencies accept certified copies in any format issued by the state or a local clerk.

A certified copy carries the same legal weight as the original under MGL c.46 §2A. That makes it valid for passport applications, Social Security purposes, school enrollment, and most legal proceedings. If the document will be used internationally, you may also need an apostille, which requires a raised seal and separate processing through the state.

Suffolk County and Revere Birth Records

Revere is in Suffolk County, which also includes Boston, Chelsea, and Winthrop. Suffolk County government no longer maintains vital records at the county level. Birth registration in Revere is handled entirely at the city level by the Revere City Clerk, with a parallel copy at the state RVRS.

Court matters connected to birth records, such as adoptions and name changes, go through the Suffolk County Probate and Family Court in Boston. If you need an amended birth certificate following a court order, that process involves both the court and the city clerk. For more on how Suffolk County courts connect to vital records, visit the Suffolk County birth records page.

Nearby Massachusetts Cities

These cities near Revere each maintain their own birth records through local clerk offices.