Birth Certificates in Norfolk County

Norfolk County birth records are held by each city and town clerk, not by the county itself. If you need a certified birth certificate from a birth that took place in Quincy, Brookline, Weymouth, Newton, or any other Norfolk County community, you go directly to the clerk in that town. This guide walks you through who maintains records, what you need to bring, how much it costs, and where else you can look if the local clerk can't help.

How Norfolk County Birth Records Work

Massachusetts keeps vital records at the local level. The county government in Norfolk does not hold birth, death, or marriage records. Each of the 28 cities and towns in Norfolk County has its own clerk's office, and that office is where births are filed and stored. When a child is born in Quincy, the record goes to the Quincy City Clerk. A birth in Walpole goes to the Walpole Town Clerk. That local office is your first and best source.

Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 46, Section 2A, births must be registered with the clerk of the city or town where the birth occurred. The law sets out what information must be recorded and who is responsible for filing. If you are not sure which town the birth was in, you can call the state office or search by town to narrow it down.

Some older records, especially those from the 1800s and early 1900s, have been digitized and are available through the Massachusetts State Archives. The Archives holds birth records going back several centuries for many towns in Norfolk County.

Quincy City Clerk Birth Records

Quincy is the largest city in Norfolk County, with well over 90,000 residents. The Quincy City Clerk manages all birth records for births that took place in the city. You can reach the clerk's office at City Hall, 1305 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02169. The main phone number is (617) 376-1131. There is also a fax line at (617) 376-1139, and a TTY line for the hearing impaired at (617) 376-1375. Assistant City Clerk Maureen L. Hallsen handles many of these requests.

You can learn more about services and hours at quincyma.gov. Walk-in requests are handled at City Hall during regular business hours. If you plan to mail your request, call ahead to confirm the current process and any forms you need to include. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit in person. The typical fee for a certified copy in Norfolk County towns runs $10 to $15 per copy.

Note: Quincy maintains its own records separately from any state database, so always contact the city clerk directly for the most current availability and processing time.

Brookline Birth Records

Brookline is an unusual community. It sits entirely within Norfolk County but is bordered on multiple sides by Boston. Many people assume Brookline is part of Suffolk County or part of Boston, but it is its own town with its own clerk. The Brookline Town Clerk maintains all birth records for births that occurred in Brookline.

The Brookline Town Clerk office website gives you current information on how to request a certified copy, what forms to use, what identification is accepted, and how to pay. Requests can typically be made in person, by mail, or online through the state's VitalChek system. Processing times vary based on how busy the office is at any given time.

The image below is from the Brookline Town Clerk website, which is where you start any records search for births in Brookline.

If you were born in Brookline and need a certified birth certificate for a passport, name change, or any legal purpose, this is the office to contact first. They can confirm what records they hold and how far back their digitized records go.

Other Norfolk County Town Clerks

Weymouth and Walpole are two other Norfolk County towns with active clerk offices that handle birth record requests. The Weymouth Town Clerk maintains records for all births in Weymouth. Walpole charges $10.00 per certified copy, which is on the lower end of the typical range for this county. Each town sets its own fee schedule, though most fall between $10 and $15.

The Norfolk Town Clerk can be reached by phone at 508-641-0929 or by email at cgreene@norfolk.ma.us. Their website is norfolkmass.gov. The town of Norfolk is a smaller community, and the clerk's office there is less busy than larger city clerks, which can sometimes mean faster turnaround on requests.

The screenshot below shows information from the Norfolk Town website, which provides contact details and links for records requests in that community.

For towns not listed here, check the individual town's website or call their main municipal line to get directed to the clerk's office. All 28 towns in Norfolk County have a clerk who handles vital records by law.

State-Level Resources for Birth Records

The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) is the state agency that oversees birth records in Massachusetts. The RVRS does not replace local clerks, but it does maintain its own copy of birth records filed across the state. You can request a certified copy directly from the RVRS for births going back to 1926. For births before that year, the State Archives is a better source.

The state also accepts requests through VitalChek, an online ordering service that works with the RVRS. VitalChek's customer service line is (866) 300-8535 if you need to call for help with an order. Orders placed through VitalChek go to the RVRS and typically arrive within a few weeks, though expedited options may be available. Check the Massachusetts vital records fee schedule before you order so you know what to expect to pay.

The state also publishes a step-by-step guide at mass.gov/how-to/order-a-birth-marriage-or-death-certificate. That page covers all the methods available, who can request records, what you need to prove your identity, and how long each method takes.

Note: The RVRS is useful when a local clerk cannot locate an older record or when you are unsure exactly which town the birth occurred in.

Legal Framework for Birth Records Access

Massachusetts restricts access to birth records in certain cases. Under MGL Chapter 46, Section 2B, birth records for people under 70 years of age may only be accessed by the person named on the record, an authorized family member, or someone with a legitimate legal need. Records for individuals who have been dead for more than 50 years, or who would be over 70 if living, are generally treated as public records.

This means that if you are doing genealogy research on a more recent relative, you may need to show proof of your relationship. Bring a government-issued photo ID and, if needed, documents that show your connection to the person on the record, such as your own birth certificate listing a parent's name. Clerks in Norfolk County follow the same state rules on this.

Adopted individuals have additional rights under Massachusetts law to access their original birth records. Contact the RVRS or a local clerk for current information on that process, as procedures can change.

Historical Birth Records and Genealogy

Norfolk County has deep roots going back to 1793, and many families in this area have been in Massachusetts for generations. For researchers looking into older births, several sources can help.

The Massachusetts State Archives holds vital records for many Norfolk County towns from the 1600s through the early 1900s. These have been indexed and in many cases digitized, making it possible to search without visiting in person. The New England Historic Genealogical Society, known as NEHGS and found online at americanancestors.org, also holds significant collections of Massachusetts vital records. NEHGS membership gives you access to their full database, which covers many Norfolk County towns in detail.

Town clerks often keep their older records in house, especially for the 20th century. If you need a record from the 1920s through the 1980s, the local clerk is usually the fastest path. For anything before the 1920s, the Archives or NEHGS may have what you need.

Note: Some digitized historical records contain errors or partial information, so always request a certified copy from the clerk to confirm key details.

What to Bring and What to Expect

When you visit a Norfolk County town clerk in person, bring a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, or passport all work. If you are requesting on behalf of a child or another family member, bring documentation that shows your relationship.

Most clerks accept cash, check, or money order. Some offices now take credit cards, but that varies by town. Fees across Norfolk County typically run $10 to $15 per certified copy, with Walpole confirmed at $10. The first copy and any additional copies made at the same time may be priced differently, so ask when you call ahead.

Mail requests take longer. Allow at least two to four weeks when mailing a request to a busy clerk's office like Quincy. Smaller towns may turn it around faster. If you are in a hurry, going in person or using VitalChek with expedited shipping is your best option.

Norfolk County Cities with Birth Records Pages

These cities in Norfolk County each have a local clerk who maintains birth records and can issue certified copies.

Nearby Counties

Birth records in surrounding counties are kept by their own local clerks across Massachusetts.