Are Birth Records Public in Nevada?
No, birth records in Nevada are considered confidential. According to the Nevada Public Records Act, they are unavailable to the general public but may be released to certain authorized persons upon request. A certified birth certificate in Nevada is used for the following purposes:
- Obtaining passport
- Travel
- Proof of citizenship
- Registration in school
- Obtaining a driver's license
- Applying for social security
- Personal identification
What are Birth Records in Nevada?
Birth records in Nevada contain details of birth events that take place within the limit of the state. Birth is an important life event, the reason it is one of the known vital records. Statewide recording of births began in Nevada in 1911, although a few counties started earlier in 1887. Before 1887, the only available sources for birth proof in Nevada were baptismal records and Newspapers. The following are some of the vital information entered into a person's birth record in the State of Nevada:
- Name of the person
- Date of birth
- County of birth
- The person's parents' names
- Mother's marital status as of the time of birth
- Birth registration information (place and date or registration, and registration number)
- The person's gender
- Type of birth
How to Find and Request Birth Records Online in Nevada
The Office of Vital Records, Nevada Division of Public and Behavioural Health (DPBH) does not accept Nevada birth records online orders. Consequently, no one can obtain or look up birth records online directly from this office. Persons interested in getting birth records online in Nevada can process them through any approved independent vital record vendor. Third-party vital records vendors are not state-run, but they offer convenience, although for a fee. They accept payment by all major credit cards. Requesters must provide copies of valid photo identification during their applications. They must also provide accurate information on the registrants to avoid delays in processing their requests.
Considered open to citizens of the United States, public records are available through both traditional, government sources, and through third-party websites and organizations. In many cases, third-party websites make the search easier as they are not limited geographically or by technological limitations. They are considered a good place to start when looking for a specific record or multiple records. In order to gain access to these records, interested parties must typically provide:
- The name of the person listed in the record. Juveniles are typically exempt from this search method.
- The last known or assumed location of the person listed in the record. This includes cities, counties, and states.
While third-party sites offer such services, they are not government-sponsored entities, and record availability may vary on these sites when compared to government sources.
How to Get Birth Records in Nevada
To obtain birth records in Nevada, qualified requesters must first complete the Application For A Certified Copy Of Birth Certificate Or Verification Form. Completed application forms can then be submitted in person or by mail at the appropriate vital records office. The Office of Vital Records, Nevada Division of Public and Behavioural Health (DPBH) maintains birth records registered in Nevada from July 1, 1911, to date. Records of births before 1911 are available at the County Recorder's Office where the event occurred.
In-Person Birth Record Application in Nevada
Interested persons should visit the Office of Vital Records or the County Recorder's Office to request birth records in Nevada with completed application forms and their proof of identity. Birth record requests in person usually come at a cheaper rate compared to other application methods.
Mail-In Birth Record Application in Nevada
For a mail application, a requester should enclose in the request a completed application form, proof of identity, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The requesting documents may then be forwarded to the State Office of Vital Records or County Recorder's Office.
The Office of Vital Records provides two separate listings of acceptable identification. In the primary listing, a document must be valid and have the requester's photo to qualify as the only proof of identity. A requester must provide two documents from the secondary listing as an identity proof to obtain birth records in Nevada. These identification documents are listed below:
Primary Identification Listing
- Alien registration or permanent resident card (Form I-151 or I-551)
- Department of Corrections identification card issued by a U.S. State, Territory, County, City, or the Federal Bureau of Prisons
- employment authorization card (Form I-766)
- Foreign passport (subject to verification by the embassy, consulate, or the INS)
- Current job corps identification card issued by U.S. Department of Labor
- A valid pilot license issued by the FAA (must be valid if it has an
- expiration date)
- School, University, or College Identification Card issued by a U.S. school system. It must also contain a photo for the current school year
- Temporary resident card (Form I-688, I-688A, or I-688B)
- A tribal identification card issued by a federally identified native American tribe
- U.S B1 / B2 Visa accompanied by a valid I-94 card
- U.S. certificate of citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561)
- U.S. certificate of naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570)
- U.S. citizen identification card (Form I-197)
- U.S. military identification card (Active duty, dependent, retired, reserve, and National Guard)
- U.S. Passport issued by U.S. Department of State
- Valid U.S. State or Territory issued driver’s License
- Valid U.S. State or Territory issued Identification Card (must be issued by a State DMV)
- Weapon or gun permit (must be issued by a U.S. local, state, or federal government, and must be valid)
Secondary Identification Listing
- Birth Certificate of Applicant
- Consular Identification Card
- Court Order of Adoption
- DD-214 Military Discharge Paperwork
- Divorce Decree
- Government Issued Work Identification Card
- Hunting or Fishing License from a U.S. State or
- Territory
- Marriage License
- Medicaid Card
- Mexican Voter Registration Card
- Motor Vehicle Registration or Title
- Probation or Parole Documents
- Property Tax Receipt
- Selective Service Card
- Social Security Card
- Social Services Card
- Voter Registration Card
- Work Identification, Pay Check Stub, or W-2
Where Can I Find Birth Records in Nevada?
Besides applying for birth records from the County Recorder's Office, qualified applicants can request Nevada birth records in-person or by mail at/to:
Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Public and Behavioural Health
Office of Vital Records
4150 Technology Way, Suite104
Carson City, NV 89706
For further inquiries on their mode of operations, requesters may contact the Office of Vital Records by email or call (775) 684-4242.
How to Get Birth Records From a Hospital in Nevada
Hospitals in Nevada are not official repositories of birth records. Hence, they are not authorized to issue them. The purpose of the paperwork completed at the hospital after childbirth is to file the event at the State Office Vital Records. The Office of Vital Records releases such records to qualified individuals upon request.
Can Anyone Get a Copy of a Birth Certificate in Nevada?
No. The Office of Vital Records will not release a birth certificate to anyone in Nevada unless they prove their relationship to the person named on the certificate. Proof of relationship is to convince the State Registrar that a requester has a direct and tangible interest in the certificate. The Nevada Revised Statute 440.650 describes a "direct and tangible interest" as:
- A direct relationship by blood or marriage to the registrant (a registrant is a person named on a certificate or record)
- A Legal relationship to the registrant
- A requirement imposed by law to help a legal process
Persons in the category of direct relationship by blood and marriage, and the proof they must provide are:
- The registrant who must provide proof of identity
- Parents who must be listed on the birth certificate
- Registrant's child who must tender own birth certificate
- Registrants grandparents who must prover their child's birth certificate (certificate of the registrant's parent)
- Registrant's siblings who must provide their birth certificates
- Registrant's grandchild who must tender own and their parent's birth certificates
- Registrant's current spouse or domestic partner who must present certified marriage or domestic partnership certificate
Individuals or entities with legal relationships with persons named on Nevada birth certificates may also obtain them once they have the relevant proof of identity and documents. They include:
- Public guardians
- Adoptive parents and adoptee (in the case of adoption)
- Attorneys
- Donor Networks
- Informant
- Probate Officials/Public Administrators
- Personal representatives or Estate executors
- Adoptive agencies
- Registrant's legal guardian
- Power of Attorney
Entities and individuals who may obtain Nevada birth records to facilitate legal processes include Insurance companies, law enforcement, Attorneys, and Title companies. Others are School districts, DMV liens and titles, ex-spouse, federal, state, and county investigative agencies.
How Much Does a Birth Certificate Cost in Nevada?
The cost of ordering a birth certificate in Nevada from the State Office of Vital Records is currently $25. The Vital Records Office accepts payment by money orders, checks, cashier checks, credit cards, and cash. Requestors are advised not to send cash via mail cash. It is only acceptable for in-person requests. The Office of Vital Records will only request payment once they have confirmed that the requester is qualified to obtain a birth certificate and it is recorded with the State of Nevada. Requesters should make the fee payable to the Office of Vital Records.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Birth Certificate in Nevada?
Nevada birth records requests made via mail to the State Office of Vital Records are usually processed and delivered within three to four weeks. For in-person applications, requesters can wait in line to obtain records on the same day. They must be sure to enclose all required documents in their applications to avoid excessively long waiting periods.
How to Expunge Your Birth Records in Nevada
No one can expunge birth records in Nevada as the state does not allow vital record expungements. Nevada, however, seals records. Record expungement is the process ordered by a judge or court, by which such a document is permanently removed.
How to Seal Your Birth Records in Nevada
When a birth record is sealed, it is not considered to be a public record. In Nevada, a birth record is eligible for sealing after finalizing an adoption. An adoption file includes an original birth certificate, amended birth certificate, and adoption proceedings. Typically, the court issues an order to the Office of Vital Records to prepare an amended birth certificate after adoption. This certificate contains all adoptee's vital information just as they appear on the original birth certificate. However, while preparing an amended birth certificate, birth parents named on an adoptee's original birth certificate are replaced with the adoptive parents. It is after this that the original birth records and other adoption proceedings are sealed.
Original birth certificates and adoption records are usually sealed to protect the anonymity of birth parents. Also, the need to protect adoptees from stigmatization, most especially if their parents were not married at the time of birth, is another reason for sealing birth records in Nevada. A sealed Nevada birth record still exists but may only be accessible by order of the court.
How to Unseal Your Birth Records in Nevada
A Nevada sealed birth record contains identifying and non-identifying information of parties involved in the adoption. The Nevada's Adoption Reunion Registry is a mutual consent registry and database containing contact information provided by parties to adoptions, including Nevada state agencies and private adoption agencies. The Division of Child and Family Service maintains the Nevada register for adoptions. The division can provide information to identify adult adoptees and persons related to them within the third degree of relationship. Nevada's register for adoption contains the following information:
- Names and other necessary details of adult adoptees (adoptees who are 18 years of age or older)
- Names and details of persons who released a child for adoption
- Names and information of persons who are related within the third degree of consanguinity to adoptees
These parties submit their information to the division voluntarily. Such information may be accessed by the adoptee (aged at least 18 years), birth parents, and persons related within the third degree to the adoptee.
Non-identifying information in a Nevada adoption record includes the physical description of birth parents, occupation, religion, marital status, and education. This information can only be released to an adoptee who is age 18 or older, or an adoptive parent, if an adoptee is under the age of 18. Upon request of non-identifying information, the Division of Child and Family Services of the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services will release the following information to an adoptive parent:
- A copy of any of the adoptee's medical records held by the division
- Information concerning any assistance that may be available to an adoptee if it is discovered that such an adoptee has any special needs
- Any information on adoptee's psychological and emotional problems and any information about the medical and sociological history of the adoptee
In Nevada, adoptees can only obtain copies of their original birth certificate by first getting an order from the court.
