Washington County Birth Records

Washington County birth records are held by the Taxpayer Services Vital Statistics division and go back to 1870. The main office is in Stillwater, and the county also has two service centers in Forest Lake and Cottage Grove that handle birth certificate requests. Whether you live in the northern or southern part of the county, there is a location close to you. Records for births and deaths between 1870 and 1900 are only available at the Stillwater location, so keep that in mind if you are looking for early records.

Washington County Vital Statistics Office

The Washington County Taxpayer Services Vital Statistics division handles birth certificates, death records, and marriage records for the county. The main office is at 14949 62nd St. N. in Stillwater. You can call at 651-430-6175 or fax to 651-430-6176. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Washington County birth certificates page on the county website has current details on requesting records.

Washington County is one of the larger counties in the Twin Cities metro area, and the three-location setup helps serve residents across the county. If you live near Forest Lake in the north, the Headwaters Service Center at 19955 Forest Road North is close. For residents in the south near Cottage Grove, the South Service Center at 13000 Ravine Pkwy So. is the nearest option. Both satellite offices can process birth certificate requests. One important thing to know: records from 1870 to 1900 are only at the Stillwater location. If you need a birth record from that period, plan to visit or contact the main office directly.

Washington County Service Centers for Birth Records

Washington County runs two additional service centers that can process birth certificate requests. The Headwaters Service Center serves the northern part of the county. It is at 19955 Forest Road North in Forest Lake. This is a convenient option for residents near the Anoka and Chisago county borders in the north. The South Service Center in Cottage Grove at 13000 Ravine Pkwy So. serves the southern part of the county, closer to Dakota County.

Both centers operate under the same Taxpayer Services umbrella as the main Stillwater office. They can look up records, take payments, and issue certified copies. The key limitation is that records from 1870 to 1900 are only available at the main Stillwater location. For records after 1900, any of the three offices can help. Call the main line at 651-430-6175 first if you are unsure which location to visit for a specific record.

Washington County Birth Records From 1870

Washington County has maintained vital records since 1870, making it one of the counties with longer recorded histories in the Twin Cities metro area. The county's birth record collection spans from the early settlement era through today. A certified birth certificate shows the child's name, date and place of birth, sex, and information about the parents. For records from the 1870s through early 1900s, some information may vary in completeness.

Access to certified copies is governed by Minnesota Statute 144.225. Certified copies go to the person named on the certificate, their parents or legal guardians, and authorized representatives. Records that are at least 100 years old are available more broadly under Minnesota Statute 144.2255, which opens access for genealogy and research. The Minnesota Historical Society holds some older vital records and can be another resource for very early Washington County births.

Birth Certificate Fees in Washington County

A certified birth certificate from Washington County costs $26 for the first copy and $19 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. These fees match the statewide schedule. The office accepts cash, check, money order, and credit card. For mail requests, send a check or money order only. Make it payable to Washington County.

If you need multiple certified copies for different purposes, order them all in one request to take advantage of the lower rate for additional copies. Ordering copies separately at different times means paying the full $26 each time.

Minnesota Birth Records Online

The Minnesota Department of Health Vital Records office maintains the statewide birth records system and can supply certified copies for Washington County births.

For births from 1935 forward, MDH has copies in its system and accepts orders online, by mail, or in person at the St. Paul office. This is an alternative to ordering from Washington County directly.

Ordering Minnesota Birth Certificates Online

The MDH birth records order page at health.state.mn.us walks you through the process for ordering a certified copy. Online orders go through VitalChek, which is authorized by the state and lets you pay by card and receive the certified copy by mail. This is a good option if you prefer not to visit a county office. The MDH county registrar directory lists Washington County Vital Statistics with contact details for all three locations.

Cities in Washington County

Washington County is part of the eastern Twin Cities metro area and includes several large suburban communities. All birth records for the county go through the Washington County Taxpayer Services Vital Statistics offices.

Other communities in Washington County include Stillwater, Oakdale, Cottage Grove, Forest Lake, and Lake Elmo. All residents request birth certificates through one of the three Washington County Vital Statistics locations.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Washington County. Each has its own office for birth records. If you are not sure which county a birth occurred in, check the birthplace on the original record.