Birth Records in Bristol County

Bristol County birth records are held by the city and town clerks where each birth took place, not at the county level. If you need a certified birth certificate from New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, or any of the other 17 cities and towns in Bristol County, you will go directly to the clerk's office in that community. This page explains how the system works, who keeps what records, and the fastest ways to get what you need, whether in person, by mail, or online.

How Bristol County Birth Records Work

Massachusetts does not keep birth records at the county level. Bristol County itself has no vital records office. Instead, each of the 20 cities and towns in the county holds birth certificates for events that happened within its borders. When a child is born at a hospital in New Bedford, that birth gets registered with the New Bedford City Clerk. A birth in Taunton goes to the Taunton City Clerk. The state also gets a copy through the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, but the local clerk is your first and fastest option.

This setup has been in place for a long time. Bristol County was formed in 1685, and local record-keeping has been the rule ever since. What this means for you today is simple: figure out where the birth happened, then contact that city or town clerk. If you are not sure, the state registry can help you locate the right office.

Note: The Bristol County Registry of Deeds covers property records, not birth records, and operates three district offices in Attleboro, New Bedford, and Fall River.

New Bedford City Clerk Birth Records

New Bedford is Bristol County's largest city, and its clerk's office handles more birth certificate requests than any other office in the county. The New Bedford City Clerk is located at 133 William Street, Room 118, New Bedford, MA 02740. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You can reach the clerk by phone at 508-979-1450, by fax at 508-991-6225, or by email at Elizabeth.Marques@newbedford-ma.gov.

The clerk keeps birth records for events that happened in New Bedford, as well as births where the parents were New Bedford residents at the time. Certified copies are available three ways: in person at the office, by mail with a written request and fee, or online through the city's ordering system. The online option is especially convenient. The city uses a portal called New Bedford Vitals, where you can place an order and pay without visiting the office.

New Bedford's online system has made it much easier for people who live far away or can't take time off work. You fill out the request form, submit your ID, pay the fee, and wait for the certificate to arrive by mail.

The New Bedford City Clerk website gives you access to the online ordering portal and contact details for the office. The screenshot below shows what the clerk's office page looks like.

The clerk's office page lists hours, staff contacts, and links to forms for vital records requests including birth certificates.

For online orders, the New Bedford Vitals portal handles the full process. The screenshot below shows the ordering system at newbedfordmavitals.permitium.com.

The portal walks you through the steps: choose your record type, enter the details, upload ID, and pay. Most orders are processed within a few business days.

Note: Fall River birth records are processed through the New Bedford City Clerk's system for centralized vital records in Bristol County.

Taunton Birth Records

Taunton is the county seat of Bristol County and the third largest city in the county. The Taunton City Clerk maintains birth records for births that occurred within Taunton's boundaries. If you need a birth certificate from Taunton, contact the city clerk's office directly for current hours, fees, and procedures.

Like other Massachusetts city clerks, Taunton's office can provide certified copies in person or by mail. The state fee structure applies, though some offices charge slightly different amounts for additional copies. Call ahead to confirm the current fee before sending a mail request. The Taunton city website gives you the most up-to-date contact information and any local forms you may need.

The screenshot above shows the Taunton City Clerk's page, where you can find contact details and access information for birth certificate requests in the county seat.

State-Level Birth Records for Bristol County

Massachusetts keeps copies of all birth records at the state level through the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, which is part of the Department of Public Health. The state holds records going back to 1926 for births that happened in Massachusetts. For events before 1926, you need to check the State Archives, which has vital records going back to the 1600s.

Ordering from the state is an option if you don't know the exact city or town where a birth happened, or if the local clerk's office is hard to reach. The state's ordering guide at mass.gov walks you through the process. You can order online through VitalChek, which you can reach at vitalchek.com or by phone at (866) 300-8535. Mail requests go directly to the Registry of Vital Records in Boston.

State fees are set by law. The current schedule is posted on the state fee schedule page. Some online orders can also be paid through UniPay, depending on the ordering channel you use.

Note: The state registry can take longer than local clerk offices, so if speed matters, start with the city or town clerk where the birth occurred.

Legal Framework for Birth Certificate Access

Massachusetts law governs who can get a birth certificate and under what conditions. MGL Chapter 46, Section 2A sets out the rules for access to vital records in the state. There are restrictions on who can get a certified copy of a birth certificate, especially for records less than 70 years old. Generally, you need to be the person named on the record, a parent, a legal guardian, or someone with a legal need such as an attorney or court-appointed representative.

MGL Chapter 46, Section 2B covers additional access rules for vital records. These statutes reflect a balance between protecting personal privacy and allowing people to access records they have a right to see. If you're not sure whether you qualify, the clerk's office or the state registry can tell you what documentation you'll need to bring or submit.

Records that are 70 years old or older are generally available to the public without restriction. This makes historical birth research in Bristol County more accessible, especially for genealogists looking at early 20th century and older records.

Other Cities and Towns in Bristol County

Beyond New Bedford, Fall River, and Taunton, Bristol County includes 17 other cities and towns. Each one keeps its own birth records. If the birth you're looking for happened in Attleboro, Dartmouth, Easton, Mansfield, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, or any other community in the county, you'll contact that community's clerk directly.

Most town clerks in Bristol County can be reached by phone or email, and many accept mail requests for certified copies. Some smaller towns may have limited hours, so it's worth calling ahead. If you're having trouble locating the right office, the state registry can point you in the right direction.

Bristol County spans a wide range of community sizes, from large cities with full-time staff to small towns where the clerk's office may only be open a few days a week. The process is the same everywhere, but the wait times and convenience vary.

• Attleboro
• Dartmouth
• Easton
• Mansfield
• Norton
• Raynham
• Seekonk
• Somerset
• Swansea

Note: Each town above has its own clerk; contact them directly for birth certificates from events in that community.

Getting a Certified Copy of a Birth Certificate

A certified copy is the official version you'll need for most legal and administrative purposes. Courts, passport offices, schools, and employers all want certified copies, not photocopies. The local clerk's office issues certified copies with a raised seal or other authentication mark that makes them acceptable for official use.

To get a certified copy, you'll need to provide some basic information: the full name on the birth record, the date of birth, and the place of birth. You'll also need to show identification, whether you're coming in person or sending a request by mail. Some offices want you to fill out a specific request form, which you can usually download from the city or town clerk's website.

Fees vary by office. The state sets a standard fee schedule, but local offices may differ slightly. In most cases, the first certified copy costs more than additional copies ordered at the same time. Paying by check or money order is common for mail requests, while in-person visits often accept cash or card.

Bristol County Cities with Birth Record Pages

These cities in Bristol County have dedicated pages with local clerk details and birth record procedures.

Nearby Counties

Birth records for neighboring counties are held by their own city and town clerks.