Certified Copies in Kentucky: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in Kentucky
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in Kentucky, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $10.00
- Death certificate
- $6.00
- Marriage
- $6.00
- Divorce
- $6.00
Vital records
Issued by: Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics
Post to: Office of Vital Statistics, 275 East Main Street 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621
Verify current fees: (502) 564-4212
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $10.00 |
| Death | $6.00 |
| Marriage | $6.00 |
| Divorce | $6.00 |
What Kentucky requires
- Cheque or money order to Kentucky State Treasurer.
- Births, deaths and stillbirths from January 1911; marriage and divorce from June 1958.
- Before June 1958 use the Clerk of County Court where the licence was issued.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a Kentucky entity come from Kentucky Secretary of State, normally online and often the same day.
- 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 Kentucky goes through Kentucky Secretary of State, at $5.00 per apostille, plus $25.00 for expedited service. Note that Kentucky also requires a county-level step for notarised documents, though a certified vital record issued by the registrar skips it.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a Kentucky birth certificate?
From Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics. Post to Office of Vital Statistics, 275 East Main Street 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621. A certified copy is $10.00.
Does the Kentucky 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.
What will Kentucky reject?
Cheque or money order to Kentucky State Treasurer.
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.
