Certified Copies in District of Columbia: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in District of Columbia
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in District of Columbia, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $23.00
- Death certificate
- $18.00
- Marriage
- $10.00 from DC Superior Court, 500 Indiana Avenue NW, Rm. 4485
- Divorce
- $6.50 from DC Superior Court, Rm. 4335, for divorces since 16 September 1956
Vital records
Issued by: District of Columbia Health, Vital Records Division
Post to: Vital Records Division, 2201 Shannon Pl SE, Washington, DC 20020
Verify current fees: (202) 442-9303
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $23.00 |
| Death | $18.00 |
| Marriage | $10.00 from DC Superior Court, 500 Indiana Avenue NW, Rm. 4485 |
| Divorce | $6.50 from DC Superior Court, Rm. 4335, for divorces since 16 September 1956 |
What District of Columbia requires
- Marriage and divorce records come from the DC Superior Court, not from DC Health.
- Cheque or money order to DC Treasurer; the Treasurer requires an address imprinted on the cheque.
- Births from 1874, deaths from 1855 with a gap during the Civil War.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a District of Columbia entity come from District of Columbia Office of the Secretary, normally online and often the same day.
District of Columbia Office of the Secretary
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in District of Columbia goes through District of Columbia Office of the Secretary.
District of Columbia apostille details Apostille or legalisation?
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a District of Columbia birth certificate?
From District of Columbia Health, Vital Records Division. Post to Vital Records Division, 2201 Shannon Pl SE, Washington, DC 20020. A certified copy is $23.00.
Does the District of Columbia Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
Can I get a certified marriage certificate from the state of District of Columbia?
Not in the ordinary way. $10.00 from DC Superior Court, 500 Indiana Avenue NW, Rm. 4485 Plan on dealing with the county rather than the state office.
What will District of Columbia reject?
Marriage and divorce records come from the DC Superior Court, not from DC Health.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
