Birth Records in Drew County

Drew County birth records can be requested from the county health unit in Monticello or directly from the Arkansas Department of Health in Little Rock. This guide walks through each option, the fees you will pay, who is allowed to request records, and where to find older birth documents that predate the state system.

Where to Get Drew County Birth Records

The Drew County Health Unit is the nearest place to get a certified birth certificate for someone born in Drew County. The office is at 409 S. Main Street, Monticello, AR 71655. Call (870) 367-5326 to confirm hours before you go. Staff are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. If you arrive before 3:00 PM, you can get a certificate the same day.

The state office is also an option. The Arkansas Department of Health Division of Vital Records is at 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Phone: (501) 661-2174. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with same-day walk-in service available until 3:00 PM. Both locations have access to the same statewide records and charge the same fees.

The Drew County Clerk's office also lists birth and death certificates as one of its services, according to the Drew County official website. The County Clerk, Stephanie Chisom, oversees a staff that includes deputy clerks who can help with various record requests. For the most current details on what the Clerk's office can provide directly, contact them at the Drew County Courthouse in Monticello.

How to Request a Drew County Birth Certificate

Walk-in service at the Drew County Health Unit is the quickest way to get a certified copy. Go to 409 S. Main Street in Monticello, bring your ID, fill out the request form on site, and pay the fee. You will get the certificate before you leave, as long as you arrive by 3:00 PM.

For mail requests, write to the Division of Vital Records, 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Send a completed request form, a legible copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order made payable to the Arkansas Department of Health. Do not send cash. Mail turnaround times can vary but typically run two to four weeks.

Online requests go through VitalChek, the state's authorized online ordering service. You fill out the form on their site, verify your identity, and pay by credit or debit card. VitalChek charges a service fee on top of the standard state fee. Delivery by mail takes about one to two weeks. If you are in a hurry, walking into the local health unit is still the fastest method.

What You Need to Apply for a Birth Certificate

Getting your documents together before you visit saves time. Most requests are straightforward if you have the right information ready when you apply.

• Valid photo ID issued by a government agency
• Full legal name as it appears on the birth record
• Date of birth (month, day, and year)
• Place of birth (county or city in Arkansas)
• Full names of both parents as listed on the certificate
• Your relationship to the person named on the record
• Payment of $12 for the first copy; $10 for each additional copy

If the record is for someone other than yourself, you may need to show proof of your relationship. A copy of a court order, a birth certificate showing your relationship, or other legal documents may be needed. Call the Drew County Health Unit at (870) 367-5326 if you have questions about what to bring.

Drew County Birth Certificate Fees

State fees apply at all Arkansas health units, including the one in Monticello. The first certified copy of a birth certificate costs $12. Each additional copy of the same record requested at the same time costs $10. These rates are fixed by state law and do not change from county to county.

The $12 fee includes a non-refundable search fee. Even if the record cannot be found, the $12 is not returned. Plan to pay that amount regardless of outcome. If you order through VitalChek, the same base fees apply, but VitalChek adds its own service charge and any shipping fees. For multiple copies, ordering them all at once is cheaper than ordering them on separate requests.

Who Can Access Drew County Birth Records

Access to certified birth certificates in Arkansas is restricted by state law. Arkansas Code 20-18-305 limits who may obtain a certified copy of a birth record that is less than 100 years old. The law exists to protect the privacy of living people and recently deceased individuals.

Qualified requestors under the 100-year restriction include the subject of the record (if 18 or older), a parent listed on the certificate, a legal guardian with court documentation, the person's spouse or adult children, an attorney representing a qualified party, and certain government agencies. People outside these categories cannot get a certified copy of a restricted record. They may be able to access other types of records or request information without obtaining a certified copy.

Records that are 100 years old or older are open to the public. No proof of relationship is needed for those documents. As of 2026, birth records from 1914 through 1926 fall within the public access window. This window expands by one year each year. Researchers and genealogists can freely request copies of records in this range.

Note: Certified copies are the only type accepted for passports, Social Security applications, and similar legal uses. An informational copy is not the same thing and will not be accepted in those situations.

Historical Drew County Birth Records

Arkansas did not require statewide birth registration until February 1, 1914. No state vital records exist for births that occurred before that date. If you are searching for a birth that happened before 1914 in Drew County, you will need to use other resources.

The Drew County Clerk's office keeps marriage records going back to 1847. While these are not birth records, they are useful for tracing family lines. The clerk also maintains probate records and quorum court proceedings, some of which may contain age or birth-related information for people involved in estate cases.

The Drew County official website confirms that the County Clerk provides access to birth and death certificate services, in addition to maintaining marriage licenses and probate court records.

For older genealogical records, FamilySearch's Drew County, Arkansas Genealogy page offers free access to digitized collections. You can search census records, church registers, and other documents that cover the period before state registration began. The FamilySearch wiki also lists what records are available and which repositories hold them.

Drew County Clerk and Probate Records

The Drew County Clerk serves as the official record keeper for county government. The office handles marriage licenses, quorum court minutes, probate filings, voter registration, and other county-level documents. Per the county's official website, the clerk also acts as clerk for both the county court and probate court.

In probate matters, the clerk files instruments in decedent estate cases and keeps records of adoptions and guardianships. These records can be valuable for people doing family research when standard birth records are missing or unavailable. Birth-related details sometimes appear in probate documents, guardianship petitions, and other filings where ages and family relationships must be established.

The clerk also acts as secretary of the Board of Equalization and handles assumed name (DBA) certificates. For marriage records going back to 1847 and other county records, contact the Drew County Courthouse in Monticello. For county government information, the FamilySearch Drew County genealogy guide provides a useful starting point for identifying which offices hold which records.

Nearby Counties

Drew County is surrounded by several other Arkansas counties, each with its own health unit for birth certificate requests.