Faulkner County Birth Records

Faulkner County birth records are issued through the Arkansas Department of Health and can be requested at the local health unit in Conway or through the state office in Little Rock. Whether you need a certified birth certificate for a passport, school enrollment, or personal use, this page covers every way to get a copy and what you will need to bring.

Where to Get Faulkner County Birth Records

The Faulkner County Health Unit is the closest place to get a certified birth certificate if the birth occurred in Faulkner County. The unit sits at 710 S. Mitchell Street, Conway, AR 72034, and the phone number is (501) 329-3174. Staff are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. If you come in before 3:00 PM, you can usually walk out the same day with a certified copy in hand.

All 75 county health units across Arkansas gained full authority to issue certified birth certificates in 2018. Before that change, many requests had to go to Little Rock. Now you do not have to drive far if the Conway office is more convenient. The health unit handles in-person requests only; for mail or online orders, see the sections below.

The state office is the Arkansas Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, at 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Phone: (501) 661-2174. State office hours match county unit hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

How to Request a Faulkner County Birth Certificate

You have four main ways to get a birth certificate tied to a Faulkner County birth: in person at the Conway health unit, in person at the state office in Little Rock, by mail, or online through VitalChek.

For in-person requests at the Conway health unit, bring a government-issued photo ID and payment of $12 for the first copy. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time cost $10 each. Arrive before 3:00 PM if you want same-day service. The staff will ask you to complete a request form on site. Walk-ins are welcome during normal business hours.

Mail requests go to the state Division of Vital Records in Little Rock. Write the full name on the birth record, the date of birth, the county where the birth occurred, the names of both parents, and your contact details. Include a copy of your photo ID and a check or money order for $12 made out to the Arkansas Department of Health. Mail times vary, so plan for at least two to three weeks from send date to receipt.

Online orders go through VitalChek, the authorized third-party vendor for Arkansas vital records. VitalChek charges a service fee on top of the state fee, but orders can be placed any time and delivery options include standard mail and expedited shipping. This is often the fastest route if you cannot visit in person.

You can also call the state office at (501) 661-2174 to ask about phone orders or to check on a pending request. Staff can confirm what documents you will need and walk you through the form if you have questions.

The Faulkner County Circuit Clerk's office at 801 Locust Street, Conway, AR 72034 does not issue birth certificates but does handle court records, divorce decrees, and passport applications. If you need a birth certificate specifically for a passport, staff there may be able to point you to resources or help with the broader passport process.

What You Need to Apply

Arkansas requires applicants to show they have a direct and tangible interest in the record before a certified copy is released. This is a standard requirement across the state. Acceptable requesters include the person named on the certificate (if age 18 or older), parents listed on the record, legal guardians, and certain legal representatives acting on behalf of one of those parties.

You will typically need to provide:

• A valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport)
• Full legal name as it appears on the birth record
• Date and place of birth
• Full names of both parents, including the mother's maiden name
• Your relationship to the person named on the certificate
• Payment for the applicable fee

If you are requesting on behalf of someone else, you may need to show proof of your legal authority, such as a court order or power of attorney. Mail requests require a photocopy of your ID rather than the original. The state will not accept faxed ID copies for mail requests.

Birth Certificate Fees in Faulkner County

The fee is $12 for the first certified copy. Each additional copy of the same record, requested at the same time, costs $10. These fees apply whether you go to the Conway health unit, the state office in Little Rock, or submit a mail request. The $12 fee is non-refundable even if no matching record is found after a search is conducted.

Online orders through VitalChek carry an added service fee set by VitalChek, not by the state. That fee changes from time to time, so check the VitalChek site for the current amount before you complete your order. Expedited shipping adds another charge on top of that. If cost is a concern, the in-person or mail route avoids those extra charges.

Payment at the Conway health unit is accepted by cash, check, or money order. Call (501) 329-3174 ahead of your visit to confirm current accepted payment methods, as individual offices may have updates to their policies.

Who Can Access Faulkner County Birth Records

Arkansas law sets a 100-year rule for birth records under Arkansas Code 20-18-305. Birth records less than 100 years old are restricted to those with a direct and tangible interest. Once a record turns 100 years old, it becomes a public record that anyone can request.

Before the 100-year mark, certified copies go only to the subject of the record, parents or legal guardians, spouses, adult children, grandparents, siblings, or legal representatives acting for one of those parties. Other parties, such as researchers or distant relatives, can request an informational copy in some cases, but that copy is not valid as legal proof of identity.

Genealogists working with records under 100 years old should be prepared to show their relationship to the person on the record. For older records, no relationship is required and the request process is open to the public.

Note: If the record you need is under 100 years old and you cannot show a qualifying relationship, you may need to work with an attorney or obtain a court order to gain access.

Historical Faulkner County Birth Records

Statewide birth registration in Arkansas began February 1, 1914. Records before that date were not kept by the state in any systematic way. If you need proof of a birth in Faulkner County before 1914, you will need to look at alternative sources.

The FamilySearch wiki for Faulkner County is a good starting point. FamilySearch has indexed many early Arkansas records and offers free access to digital collections that include church records, census data, and early vital records. These are not official certified copies but can help establish family connections for genealogy research.

The Faulkner County Library in Conway holds local history and genealogy collections that may include records not available online. Newspaper birth announcements, family bibles, church registers, and early census records can all fill gaps when state records do not exist. The library's collection is worth a visit if you are researching Faulkner County families from the 1800s or early 1900s.

Early delayed birth certificates were also available through the state. If a person born before 1914 needed proof of birth later in life, they could file a delayed certificate with supporting documents. Some of these delayed records made it into the state system and can be requested through the normal vital records process.

Faulkner County Clerk and Related Records

The Faulkner County Clerk maintains marriage records going back to 1873, the year the county was formed. If you need a certified copy of a marriage license or need to verify a marriage in Faulkner County, the County Clerk's office is your first stop. Marriage records and birth records are separate systems; the Clerk handles marriages, while the health unit handles births.

The County Clerk also serves as the voter registrar for Faulkner County and keeps records related to the Quorum Court. For adoptions and guardianship records, those go through the Circuit Court and are handled by the Circuit Clerk at 801 Locust Street in Conway. The Circuit Clerk's office also handles passport applications, which often require a birth certificate, so both offices may be relevant in a single visit to Conway.

The image below shows the Faulkner County Circuit Clerk's website, which is a useful resource for understanding the court records available in the county. The site includes information on case lookups, e-filing, and contact details.

Visit the Faulkner County Circuit Clerk page to learn more about court records and services.

The Circuit Clerk's office can help you understand what court-related documents may be needed alongside a birth certificate for legal matters in Faulkner County.

State-Level Birth Records for Faulkner County Births

All birth certificates for Faulkner County births are ultimately held by the Arkansas Department of Health, Division of Vital Records. The state office in Little Rock is the central repository for every certified birth record in the state, including those from Faulkner County. The Conway health unit can access and print from that same state system, which is why both locations can issue the same certified documents.

If the Conway health unit is closed, understaffed, or you simply prefer to deal directly with the state, you can contact the Division of Vital Records at 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205, or call (501) 661-2174. The state office also provides same-day service if you arrive before 3:00 PM, just as the county unit does.

For out-of-state requesters or those who cannot travel to Arkansas, the VitalChek online platform at vitalchek.com is the best option. You complete the order online, upload a copy of your ID, and the certificate is mailed to you. Processing times depend on the shipping option you choose at checkout.

Nearby Counties

Counties that border Faulkner County may also hold records relevant to your search.

Cities in Faulkner County

Conway is the only city in Faulkner County with its own birth records page.