Lincoln County Birth Records

Lincoln County birth records are maintained through the county health unit in Star City and the Arkansas Department of Health's Division of Vital Records in Little Rock. This page explains your options for requesting a certified birth certificate, what you need to bring, the fees that apply, who qualifies to receive a copy, and how to find older records that predate statewide registration.

Where to Get Lincoln County Birth Records

The Lincoln County Health Unit provides certified birth certificates for people born in Lincoln County and throughout Arkansas. The office is at 104 S. Jackson Street, Star City, AR 71667. Phone: (870) 628-5121. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Walk-in requests receive same-day service if you arrive by 3:00 PM.

All 75 Arkansas county health units can issue birth certificates for any Arkansas birth since 2018. You do not need to visit the county where you were born. If you live in Star City but were born in another county, the Lincoln County Health Unit can still pull and print your certificate. This flexibility makes local health units a practical first option for most people.

The Arkansas Department of Health Division of Vital Records in Little Rock handles requests as well. Find them 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, same-day walk-in service until 3:00 PM. The state office and local health units use the same records system and charge identical fees.

How to Request a Lincoln County Birth Certificate

Walk-in requests at the Lincoln County Health Unit in Star City are the fastest method. Bring your ID and payment, fill out the form at the counter, and get your certificate before you leave. Arrive before 3:00 PM for same-day service.

If a walk-in is not convenient, you can send a mail request to the Division of Vital Records, 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Include a completed request form, a clear photocopy of your government-issued photo ID, and a check or money order made payable to the Arkansas Department of Health. Cash should not be mailed. Mail orders typically take two to four weeks to process.

Online orders are handled through VitalChek, the state's official online ordering partner. You complete the form on the VitalChek site, submit ID verification, and pay by card. A service fee from VitalChek applies on top of the standard $12 state fee, and delivery via mail takes roughly one to two weeks. For most people, the walk-in option at the Star City health unit is the quickest and most affordable path to a certified copy.

Note: The $12 search fee is charged on every request. It is non-refundable if the record cannot be found.

What You Need to Apply

Collecting the right documents before you go will prevent delays. These are the standard items required for a birth certificate request in Arkansas.

• Valid government-issued photo ID
• Full legal name of the person on the birth record
• Date of birth (month, day, and year)
• Place of birth in Arkansas (county, city, or hospital)
• Both parents' full names as they appear on the certificate
• Your relationship to the person named on the record
• Payment: $12 for the first copy, $10 for each additional copy at the same time

If you are not the person on the record, be ready to state and document your relationship. Parents, legal guardians (with paperwork), adult children, spouses, and attorneys for qualified parties can all request copies. For questions about eligibility, call the Lincoln County Health Unit at (870) 628-5121 before making the trip.

Lincoln County Birth Certificate Fees

Arkansas sets the same fees for certified birth certificates at every county health unit and state office. The first copy costs $12. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $10. These amounts apply at the Lincoln County Health Unit in Star City and at the ADH office in Little Rock. No county surcharges are added.

The $12 fee is non-refundable and includes a built-in search fee. If no record is found, the fee is not returned. To save money, order all the copies you need in a single transaction rather than placing separate requests over time. Online orders through VitalChek carry an additional service charge set by VitalChek, plus shipping costs, making in-person or mail requests a less expensive option when those are available to you.

Who Can Access Lincoln County Birth Records

Arkansas Code 20-18-305 restricts access to certified birth certificates for records less than 100 years old. This law protects the privacy of people who are alive or recently deceased. Not everyone can request a certified copy.

The people who qualify to request a restricted Lincoln County birth record are: the subject of the record (if age 18 or older), a parent listed on the certificate, a legal guardian with supporting documents, the subject's spouse or adult child, an attorney representing a qualified party, and government agencies with a lawful need. If you do not fit one of these categories, your request for a restricted record will be denied.

Once a record reaches 100 years old, it moves into the public domain. Anyone can request a copy with no proof of relationship required. As of 2026, Lincoln County birth records from 1914 through 1926 are fully accessible to the general public. The public window grows by one year annually. Researchers and genealogists working on family histories can request these older records freely. Lincoln County records going back to its 1871 founding are a useful resource for families with roots in this part of southeastern Arkansas.

Historical Lincoln County Birth Records

Arkansas began requiring statewide birth registration on February 1, 1914. No state vital records exist for births before that date. Lincoln County was created in 1871, so births between 1871 and 1914 are not in the state system. For that era, and for any earlier period, you need to use alternate sources.

The VitalChek Arkansas vital records page provides practical guidance on how to order birth certificates online and explains what the state ADH system contains.

VitalChek confirms that online orders for Arkansas birth certificates are fulfilled by the state ADH and that the $12 base fee applies alongside VitalChek's service and shipping charges.

For genealogical research, the FamilySearch Lincoln County, Arkansas Genealogy page lists available collections for this county. Census records, church registers, and other digitized materials are searchable at no cost. The County Clerk maintains marriage records going back to 1871, which are among the oldest official records in Lincoln County and can anchor family timelines when earlier birth records do not exist. Lincoln County was formed from parts of Arkansas, Bradley, Desha, Drew, and Jefferson counties, so records for earlier periods may be found in those parent counties.

Lincoln County Clerk Records

The Lincoln County Clerk does not issue birth certificates. That function belongs to the health unit and state ADH. The Clerk's office maintains other official records that are useful for legal and research purposes.

Marriage records in Lincoln County date back to 1871. These span more than 150 years and can serve as key documents when birth records are unavailable. The Clerk also holds probate court files, quorum court proceedings, and Board of Equalization records. Probate records often contain names, ages, and family relationships documented in estate and guardianship cases, which can fill in gaps when birth records are missing or incomplete.

For county government information, the Association of Arkansas Counties page for Lincoln County lists county details and contact information. The Clerk's office is at the Lincoln County Courthouse in Star City. If you need marriage records or other clerk-held documents, contact them directly for current fees and office hours.

Nearby Counties

Lincoln County is in southeastern Arkansas and shares borders with several counties that also have local health units for birth record requests.