Pulaski County Birth Records

Pulaski County birth records are maintained by the Arkansas Department of Health and can be requested at the Pulaski County Health Department, the state vital records office in Little Rock, or through mail and online services. As the state capital county and home to Arkansas's largest city, Pulaski County is also where the state Division of Vital Records is based, giving residents particularly convenient access to certified birth certificates and related vital documents.

Where to Get Pulaski County Birth Records

Pulaski County residents have more birth certificate options than most other counties in Arkansas. The Pulaski County Health Department is the first local option. Their vital records page at pulaskicountyhealth.com/vitalrecords.html confirms that the office provides birth and death certificate services with same-day walk-in service available. Bring a valid photo ID and payment. Staff will verify your identity and issue the certificate before you leave if you arrive during business hours. The Pulaski County Health Department can issue certified copies for births that happened anywhere in Arkansas, not just in Pulaski County.

The Arkansas Division of Vital Records is also in Pulaski County. That state office 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. Walk-in same-day service is available to customers who arrive before 3:00 PM. The state office also accepts mail requests and processes online orders placed through VitalChek.

Since 2018, all 75 Arkansas county health units have been authorized to issue birth certificates for births recorded anywhere in the state. Pulaski County residents have the added advantage of being close to both the local health department and the state vital records office, which makes in-person requests particularly easy to complete in a single trip.

The Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk's office is located at 401 W. Markham Street, Suite 100, Little Rock, AR 72201, phone (501) 340-8500. While the Clerk does not issue birth certificates, it handles marriage licenses, court filings, and other county records. The main Pulaski County government portal at pulaskiclerkar.gov provides information on all these services.

The Clerk's online portal shows office hours, service descriptions, and how to access records including court case lookups, real estate documents, and marriage license searches for Pulaski County.

How to Request a Pulaski County Birth Certificate

Walk-in service at the Pulaski County Health Department or the state Division of Vital Records is the fastest method. Either location can produce a certified copy the same day if you arrive before 3:00 PM. Bring your photo ID, the details needed to locate the record, and the fee payment. Staff will search the state birth records database and issue your certificate at the window.

For mail requests, download the application from the Arkansas Department of Health birth certificates page. Fill it out fully, include a copy of your government-issued photo ID, and attach a check or money order payable to the Arkansas Department of Health. Send the complete packet to the Division of Vital Records, 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205. Processing typically takes one to two weeks after receipt.

Online orders go through VitalChek. Phone orders also use the VitalChek system. Both add a service fee to the state base rate, and delivery options range from standard mail to overnight. For Pulaski County residents, in-person requests at either local office are generally faster and cheaper than VitalChek. But VitalChek is a practical option for anyone who cannot visit in person or needs a record urgently.

The County Records Department at the Pulaski County Clerk's office handles DBA registrations, minister credentials, and marriage licenses but not birth certificates. Their office at 401 West Markham St., Suite 103, Little Rock, AR 72201, can be reached at (501) 340-8500. Learn more at pulaskiclerkar.gov/departments/county-records/.

The County Records page outlines each service the Clerk's office provides, which helps clarify the distinction between county functions and the vital records functions that belong to the Arkansas Department of Health.

What You Need to Apply

The documents and information below are typically required when requesting a Pulaski County birth certificate in person or by mail. Having everything ready before you arrive reduces wait time and ensures your request can be processed without delay.

• Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID card)
• Full name of the person on the birth certificate
• Exact date of birth (month, day, year)
• County and city of birth
• Full names of both parents as listed on the original record
• Your relationship to the registrant
• Supporting legal documentation if requesting on behalf of another person

If your name appears differently on your current ID than on the birth record, bring legal documentation of the name change. A marriage certificate or court order will usually satisfy this. For requests on behalf of a minor, parent status confirmed by a birth certificate or custody order is generally sufficient. Attorneys acting for clients may also access records with proper authorization documents in place.

Note: For mail requests, send legible copies of all supporting documents rather than originals, as documents submitted to the state office cannot be returned.

Pulaski County Birth Certificate Fees

The fee for the first certified copy of a Pulaski County birth certificate is $12. Each additional copy of the same record requested at the same time costs $10. These rates apply whether you request at the county health department, the state office, or by mail. The $12 fee is non-refundable even if no matching record is found, so verify the spelling of names and confirm the birth date before submitting your request.

VitalChek orders add a processing fee that varies by delivery method. Standard mail is the least expensive VitalChek option. Overnight delivery carries a higher surcharge. Both the Pulaski County Health Department and the state Division of Vital Records accept cash. Mail requests require a check or money order made out to the Arkansas Department of Health. Credit and debit card options may be available at one or both local offices. Call ahead to confirm payment methods before your visit.

If you need certified copies for multiple purposes, such as for a passport application and a school enrollment, ordering all copies at once saves money since additional copies are $10 each rather than $12. A single walk-in visit is also faster than placing two separate requests on different days.

Who Can Access Pulaski County Birth Records

Arkansas Code 20-18-305 limits access to birth records that are less than 100 years old. In Pulaski County as in the rest of the state, only certain individuals may request a certified copy within that window. Eligible parties include the person named on the certificate (if 18 or older), parents listed on the record, legal guardians with documentation, and individuals who hold a valid court order granting access. Government entities acting for official purposes may also access restricted records.

Once a birth record reaches 100 years of age, it shifts into the public domain. Any person can request a copy without proving a family relationship. Records from 1914 through the late 1920s are now either in or near the public range. For Pulaski County specifically, the volume of historical records is larger than most counties given Little Rock's population, so public-domain records from the early registration period can be particularly useful for genealogical research. If you're unsure whether you qualify for a specific record, contact the state Division of Vital Records at (501) 661-2174 for guidance before visiting the office.

Historical Birth Records in Pulaski County

Statewide birth registration in Arkansas began February 1, 1914. But Pulaski County has a notable distinction: Little Rock has birth records available from 1881, predating the state's formal registration system by more than three decades. These earlier records were collected at the city level before the state took over. Researchers working on Pulaski County family history from the late 1800s may find records that don't exist for any other county in Arkansas.

FamilySearch has genealogical resources for Pulaski County at the FamilySearch Pulaski County, Arkansas genealogy page. Available collections include early vital records, census data, and other documents that complement the formal birth certificate system. The Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, part of the Central Arkansas Library System in Little Rock, holds extensive historical materials for the region. The Arkansas State Archives is also in Little Rock and maintains statewide records including early vital documentation. For deep genealogical research, Pulaski County researchers have more local institutional resources available than residents of almost any other Arkansas county.

The Pulaski County Clerk holds marriage records going back to 1838. These records can be valuable supplements to birth certificates when tracing family lines, particularly for the 19th century period before birth registration began. Marriage records can reveal maiden names, parental surnames, and the names of witnesses who may be family members.

The Pulaski County Marriage License Department handles all marriage licensing in the county. Both applicants must be present with valid photo ID to get a license. The fee is $60 and certified copies are available for $5 each. More details are at pulaskiclerkar.gov/departments/marriage-license/.

The marriage license page also explains how certified copies can be picked up in person or mailed, and notes that copies cannot be delivered by email, which is worth knowing if you need them quickly for legal or travel purposes.

Pulaski County Clerk Records and Related Documents

The Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk's office provides a wide range of record-keeping services beyond birth certificates. Marriage records go back to 1838. The Clerk's office also manages court filings for seventeen circuit court judges, real estate recording, voter registration, and small estate affidavits. All services are centralized at 401 W. Markham Street, Little Rock, with individual departments handling specific functions.

For birth certificate requests specifically, the Clerk is not involved. Those come only from the Arkansas Department of Health or the Pulaski County Health Department. But if you're building a comprehensive family history or need supporting documents for legal purposes, the Clerk's office has a broad set of records that complement what the health department maintains. The online case lookup tool lets you search court records without visiting the office, which can save time when researching older filings. More details on all Clerk services are available at pulaskiclerkar.gov.

DBA registrations and minister credentials are also handled by the County Records Department at Suite 103. DBA filings cost $25 and can be done in person or by mail with a notarized signature. Minister credentials must be recorded with a County Clerk before the minister can perform wedding ceremonies in Arkansas, and the fee for recording credentials is $5.

Nearby Counties

Pulaski County is centrally located in Arkansas and borders several counties where local health units also process birth certificate requests.

Cities in Pulaski County

Pulaski County has four qualifying cities with their own birth records pages, each served by the county health department and the state vital records office in Little Rock.