Health Department

Birth and Death Certificates

Birth and Death records can be obtained at the Knox County Health Department Main Clinic at 140 Dameron Avenue only. See information below for local address and phone number.

If you have an immediate need, you can also obtain records from the State of Tennessee.

Please note, the Vital Records Department closes for lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Birth certificates are available for persons born in Tennessee. Short forms (which have all the necessary information) are available for all births in Tennessee, in any county, dating back to January 1949. Birth certificates may only be purchased by the person named on the certificate or by a parent, guardian, spouse or child of the named person. The cost is $8 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy if purchased at the same time.

Long form birth certificates, with more detailed information, are only available for Knox County births in the past five years. The cost is $15 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy if purchased at the same time (on the same person). Please allow six to eight weeks for newborns.

Death certificates are available for any death that occurred in Knox County in the past five years. The cost is $7 per certificate. Death certificates may only be purchased by a parent, guardian, child, spouse or legal representative of the person named or by a funeral home. If cause of death is needed, you must bring a copy of your driver’s license. If you are not an eligible family member, you must bring documentation of your need for the certificate. Please allow at least two weeks for recent deaths.