What You Should Know

Coronavirus Q&A

VitalChek's Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response

At VitalChek, we're closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19. We remain committed to continuing to operate at the highest standards of web security when processing orders. We've already taken a number of steps in support of our teams, communities and customers. We are working in close coordination with state and local agencies that issue the certificates; we'll continue to do so as we navigate these uncertain times together. The Q&A below provides for detail and will be updated regularly to reflect our efforts and recent events.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last Updated: 08-17-2020

Q: Why am I experiencing long wait times when calling customer service?

A: There is currently an unprecedented demand for birth certificates, as individuals need them in order to obtain a RealID driver's license. This alone created order backlogs at many agencies, which in turn lead to a substantial increase in phone calls. As the COVID-19 situation unfolded, it lead to further resource strains on vital records agencies. Now, with some agencies closing down some or all of their offices, the number of phone calls to VitalChek have increased even more. Unfortunately, this has resulted in longer wait times.

Q: Will my order take longer to process due to the COVID-19 situation?

A: In many cases it will take longer, as agency staffs continue to struggle with the increased volume or orders and decreased staff availability. We monitor processing times and will continue in our efforts to notify consumers of the current processing times at a particular agency.

Q: What alternatives do I have to receive my certificates given the current situation?

A: The best overall option is to order online. Online orders are reviewed and electronically transmitted to the agency for processing. Currently, the vast majority of agencies can process online requests, although this could change. The other options vary, depending on the agency from which you wish to get the record. In most cases you can obtain the record by going to the vital record agency, but many agencies are beginning to close their doors to the public for now. You can order via the mail and can normally obtain a copy of an agency's mail application form on its website. In some cases you can order by phone, but with the long hold times it is probably better to order online.

Q: If I have already placed an order what is my best approach to getting an update?

A: We will send you regular email updates as to the status of an online your order, including a receipt of any documents you submitted, or still need to provide, when VitalChek transmits the order to the agency for processing, and when the agency ships the order to you (along with a tracking number if you requested shipment via UPS). Otherwise, you can check the status on our website, using your order number and PIN number.

Q: How much longer will my order take to process?

A: Your order should process within the timeframe provided when you placed your order. Because of the unique situation that currently exists, that timeframe can change quickly. We will do our best to post changes in the chart below. Please bookmark this page so that you can check to see if there have been any changes.

Q: I am hearing that some state agencies are no longer taking vital records orders?

A: Agencies are adjusting policies and procedures based on the local situation. This can effect issuance turnaround processing times. Below we have provided a state by state update on key information:

Mobile Users: Please slide & adjust table to the right to see full details for a location.

State	Agency Name	Agency Updates	Current Processing Times
AL	Alabama Vital Records	Office will open to the public on 5/4.	No impact at this time.
CA	Los Angeles County RR/CC	Office closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
CA	Contra Costa County Recorder	Office closed to the public until further notice. Accepting online orders only.	No impact at this time.
CA	Orange County Health Care Agency	Office will open to the public on 6/19.	No impact at this time.
CA	San Bernardino County Recorder	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
CA	San Francisco County Assessor-Recorder	Office closed until further notice. Orders are still being accepted.	Delayed until further notice.
CA	San Francisco County Clerk	Office closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	10 business days
CA	Santa Clara County Recorder	Office closed to the public until further notice. Accepting online orders only.	7 - 10 business days
CO	Colorado Vital Statistics	Office will open to the public by appointment only. Please check agency website for additional information https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/news/ways-order-vital-records	No impact at this time.
DC	D.C. Vital Records	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
DE	Delaware Vital Records	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
FL	Florida Vital Statistics	Office is open to the public. Orders are being accepted and processed.	No impact at this time.
FL	Miami-Dade County Health Department	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
GA	Fulton County Bureau of Vital Statistics	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
GA	Georgia Department of Public Health	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
IA	Iowa Vital Records	Office is now open to the public. Orders are being accepted and processed	UPS orders 2-5 business days / regular mail orders 15-20 business days.
IL	Illinois Dept. of Public Health	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	10 – 15 business days
IL	Cook County Clerk	Office is now open to the public. Orders are being accepted and processed.	10 – 14 business days.
IL	St. Claire County Clerk	Office closed until further notice. Orders are still being accepted.	Delayed until further notice.
IN	Indiana State Dept. of Health	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	35 - 45 business days
IN	Dubois County Health Department	Office closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
KS	Kansas Vital Records	Office will open to the public for limited services on 6/15. Please check agency website for restrictions. https://www.kdheks.gov/vital/	No impact at this time.
KY	Kentucky Vital Records	Office closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
LA	Louisiana Vital Records	In person services are currently limited. Please check agency website for restrictions. http://ldh.la.gov/index.cfm/page/635.	UPS Orders 7-10 business days / regular mail orders 8-10 weeks
MA	Massachusetts Vital Records	Office closed until further notice. Orders are still being accepted.	Delayed until further notice.
MD	Maryland Vital Records	Office closed until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	15 - 20 business days
MI	Michigan Department of Health and Human Services	Office closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
MI	City of Detroit Vital Records	Office closed until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	UPS Orders 7 – 10 business days / regular mail orders 15 – 25 business days
MI	Wayne County Clerk	Office closed until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	15 – 25 business days
MN	Hennepin County Vital Records	Office closed until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	2 - 3 weeks
MO	Missouri Dept. of Health and Senior Services	Office is open to the public by appointment only. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
MS	Mississippi Vital Records	Office is open to curbside and will call orders only. Orders are still being accepted by mail and online.	No impact at this time.
MT	Montana Vital Records –DPHHS	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
NC	North Carolina Vital Records	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	10 – 15 business days.
NJ	City of Plainfield	Office closed until further notice. Orders are still being accepted.	Delayed until further notice.
NV	Nevada Vital Records	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
NY	New York State Vital Records	Office closed until further notice. Orders are still being accepted.	35 – 45 business days.
NY	New York City Department of Health	Office closed to the public until further notice. Accepting online orders only.	20 - 25 business days
OH	Ohio Vital Records	Office closed until further notice. Orders are NOT being processed.	Delayed until further notice.
OH	Cleveland Vital Records	Drop Box for Birth and Death Certificate applications is available near the security desk in City Hall, Tues-Wed from 9 am to 1 pm. Certificates applied for in this way will be mailed back to you. Orders being accepted by mail, phone, and online.	45 - 60 business days
OK	Oklahoma Vital Records	Office is closed until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact to online or phone orders at this time.
OR	Oregon Vital Records	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
PA	Pennsylvania Vital Records	Office closed until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	14 business days
PR	Puerto Rico Department of Health	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	40 – 60 business days.
RI	Rhode Island Dept. of Health	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Online orders and mail-in orders are being accepted. A drop-box is available at the agency if customers wish to drop off their documents to order.	No impact at this time.
SC	South Carolina Vital Records	Effective 3/27 office will be closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	3-5 business days.
SD	South Dakota Vital Records	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
SD	Hughes County Register of Deeds	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
TN	Memphis and Shelby County Health Department	Office closed until 8/26. Orders are NOT being accepted at this time.	Delayed until further notice.
TN	Tennessee Vital Records	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	7 – 10 business days.
TX	Texas Department of Health	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
TX	Austin Vital Statistics	Office closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
TX	City of Dallas Bureau of Vital Statistics	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
TX	El Paso County Clerk	Office closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
TX	City of College Station	Office closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	7-10 business days.
VA	Virginia Vital Records	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
WA	Washington State Center for Health Statistics	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
WA	Chelan Douglas Health District	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
WA	Clark County Health Department	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
WA	Cowlitz County Health Department	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
WA	Grant County Vital Records	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
WA	Kitsap Public Health District	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
WA	Pierce County Vital Records	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
WA	Seattle and King County Public Health Department	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	UPS orders 1-2 business days / regular mail orders 7 – 14 business days.
WA	Snohomish Vital Records	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
WA	Spokane Vital Records	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
WA	Whitman County Public Health	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
WA	Yakima Health District	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
WI	Milwaukee County Register of Deeds	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
WV	West Virginia Vital Registration	Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	No impact at this time.
U.S. Citizens Born Abroad		Office is closed to the public until further notice. Orders are still being processed.	Significant delays, see agency website for more information: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications.html