Taunton Birth Records
Taunton birth records are held by the Taunton City Clerk at City Hall, which is the primary local office for certified birth certificates in this Bristol County city. You can request a Taunton birth record in person, by mail, or through the state's online system. The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics holds copies for births filed after 1926, giving you a second route if the city clerk is not convenient. This page explains both paths, what to expect, and what to bring.
Taunton Overview
Taunton City Clerk Birth Records
The Taunton City Clerk keeps birth records for all births that took place in Taunton, as well as births where the parents were residents of the city at the time of birth. City Hall is the place to go for a certified copy. You can reach the clerk's office or find hours and contact details at taunton-ma.gov. Call ahead before visiting to confirm what payment methods the office accepts and whether an appointment is needed.
Walk-in requests at the clerk's office are typically handled the same day. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. The person named on the certificate, their parents, adult children, or legal representatives can all request a copy. If you are requesting on behalf of someone else, bring paperwork that shows your relationship or legal authority. Having that ready before you arrive will keep the process short.
The Taunton City Clerk's office holds recent records directly and can often pull them faster than going through the state. For most Taunton residents, starting here is the right call.
Mail Requests for Taunton Birth Certificates
If you cannot get to City Hall in person, mail is an option. Send your request to the Taunton City Clerk at City Hall. Include the full name as it appears on the certificate, the date of birth, and your own name and mailing address. Attach a legible photocopy of a valid photo ID. Payment should be by check or money order made out to the City of Taunton. Check the current fee on the city's website or by phone before sending your check, since fees can change.
Mail turnaround times vary by volume at the clerk's office. If you need the certificate quickly, in-person pickup is usually faster. For a non-urgent request where you can wait a week or two, mail works fine. Keep a copy of everything you send in case the office needs you to follow up.
Note: Do not send cash through the mail. A check or money order is the only safe way to pay for a mailed birth record request.
State-Level Taunton Birth Record Access
The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics is located at 150 Mt. Vernon Street, Dorchester, MA 02125. Their main phone number is 617-740-2600. The RVRS holds copies of every birth filed in the state since 1926. If you need a Taunton birth certificate and prefer to order from the state rather than the city, the RVRS can handle that request.
Fees at the state level differ from local fees. In-person requests at the Dorchester office cost $20 per copy. Mail requests run $32 per copy standard. Expedited mail is $42. Online orders through VitalChek cost $54 for the first copy and include a service charge. The full breakdown is at mass.gov/info-details/vital-records-service-fees. VitalChek also has a phone line at 866-300-8535 if you prefer to order by phone.
Under MGL c.46 §2A, certified copies issued by either the local clerk or the RVRS carry the same legal weight as the original document. Both are valid for passports, benefits claims, and court submissions.
Online Ordering Options
The easiest online route for Taunton birth certificates is through VitalChek, which is the state's authorized third-party service. The site is available at any time and accepts credit and debit cards. You fill out the form, pay online, and the certificate ships to you. The state's own step-by-step guide at mass.gov/how-to/order-a-birth-marriage-or-death-certificate explains the process if you have never done this before. It also clarifies who is eligible to place an order and what happens if your request is denied.
Some cities in Massachusetts use the UniPay platform for local online orders. Check the Taunton city website to see if that option is available for Taunton clerks office requests. If it is not, VitalChek through the RVRS is the reliable fallback.
Who Can Get a Taunton Birth Certificate
Massachusetts law limits who can get a certified copy of a birth record less than 70 years old. Access is set by MGL c.46 §2B. Eligible requesters include the person named on the record (if they are 18 or older), a parent listed on the certificate, a legal guardian, the person's spouse, or an adult child of the person named. Attorneys working on behalf of a family member may also qualify, as can certain government agencies acting with legal authority.
You will need to show valid photo ID. If the record belongs to a minor and you are the parent, bring proof of parentage. The clerk or the RVRS will ask. Birth records older than 70 years are open to the public without restriction. Those records are good for genealogy work and general research.
Note: Records for adoptees have separate rules under state law, and the RVRS handles those requests differently than standard birth certificate orders.
Historical Taunton Birth Records
Births before 1926 are not in the RVRS system. For older Taunton birth records, the Massachusetts State Archives is the right source. The archives collection covers vital records from the colonial period through 1925. You can search and access those records through the Secretary of State's portal at sec.state.ma.us. Certified copies from the archives cost $3.00 per record. That rate applies to births, marriages, and deaths in the pre-1926 collection.
Older records have also been indexed through platforms like FamilySearch, which offers free access to digitized and transcribed Massachusetts vital records. FamilySearch is a good starting point for genealogy research on Taunton families from the 1800s and early 1900s. The index is searchable by name, date, and location.
Bristol County Birth Records
Taunton is the county seat of Bristol County, one of the more populous counties in southeastern Massachusetts. The county page covers other cities and towns in Bristol County along with court resources that can affect birth and vital records in the region. Adoption decrees, name changes, and some amendments to birth records flow through the Bristol County Probate and Family Court.
Nearby Massachusetts Cities
These cities near Taunton each have a local clerk for birth records requests.