Obtaining Certified Copies of Birth Certificates

I.  Birth Record Access Policy:

Access to restricted birth records may be limited by G.L. c. 46, sec. 2A.  Access to non-marital (out-of-wedlock) births is limited by G.L. c. 46, sec. 2A to the following:

• The subject of the record (child)
• Parents listed on the record
• Father not listed on the record with documentary proof of paternity (such as an adjudication of paternity (Court certified copy only) or properly completed Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity (certified copy only); 
• Legal Guardian of the Child (Court certified copy of appointment);
• Legal Representative of the Child;

For those persons with restricted access to birth records, proof of identity (a photo ID) is necessary and in some cases, additional documentation is also necessary.  Access by persons other than those listed above requires a court order.

Access to records not restricted by G.L. c. 46, sec. 2A are available to the public.

II.  Obtaining a Certified Copy of Birth Records by Mail:

In order to request a certified copy of your birth record or the birth record of your child(ren) by mail the following information and documentation must be provided:

1.  A letter providing the name and date of birth of each person subject to the request;
2. Proof of identity of the person requesting the record (Parent signature is sufficient);
3. A check or money order in the full amount charged for each certificate [current charges: $10.00 for each birth certificate] [please do not send cash by mail][checks or money orders made payable to The City of Lawrence];
4. A self-addressed, pre-stamped envelope with the address where the documents are to be sent [please be sure to provide sufficient postage to mail your documents];

If you are requesting a birth record for someone other than yourself or your own child[ren] and access to the record is limited [ie:  impounded]-please follow the following instruction:

1. A letter authorizing you to obtain the birth record signed by the person eligible to access the record must be provided along with the name and date of birth of each person subject to the request;
2. The letter authorizing you to obtain a certified copy of the record(s) signed by the person eligible to access the record must be notarized.  COPIES OF SIGNATURES AND/OR COPIES OF NOTARIZATIONS WILL NOT BE HONORED.
3. Proof of identity of the person requesting the record (copy of photo ID);
4. A check or money order in the full amount charged for each certificate [current charges:  $10.00 for each long form certificate][please do not send cash by mail][checks or money orders payable to The City of Lawrence]
5. A self-addressed, pre-stamped envelope with the address where the documents are to be sent [please be sure to provide sufficient postage to mail your documents];

TO ORDER A BIRTH CERTIFICATE GO TO:

Birth Certificate Request

Special Mail Arrangements:

Any special mail arrangements [ie: overnight mailing, two day mail, return receipt mail] must be pre-paid in advance.  Otherwise, all completed requests will be sent by regular mail.

Mail all requests to:  

City of Lawrence, MA
Attn: Office of the City Clerk
200 Common Street
Room 107
 Lawrence, MA 01840

For your safety and for the protection of sensitive records, the Office of the City Clerk will not respond to requests for specific information regarding any record by telephone, e-mail, or fax.  

[updated:  02-18-21]