Union County Birth Records Search

Union County birth records are held by the Arkansas Department of Health and can be requested at the Union County Health Unit in El Dorado or at the state office in Little Rock. This page explains how to get a certified birth certificate, who qualifies to request one, and where to find older records from this county.

Where to Get Union County Birth Records

The Union County Health Unit handles local birth certificate requests. It is part of the Arkansas Department of Health's statewide network, which has allowed all 75 county health units to issue certified certificates since 2018. The unit is at 211 W. 1st Street, El Dorado, AR 71730. Phone: (870) 862-3434. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Come before 3:00 PM for same-day service.

The state office at 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. It has the same hours and same-day service policy. Check the Union County Health Unit ADH detail page for any changes before visiting.

You can also order online. VitalChek is the state-authorized third-party service for online birth certificate orders. A convenience fee applies, but you can order from home and have the certificate mailed to you.

The VitalChek Arkansas vital records portal details the steps and accepted ID documents for online orders. The screenshot below shows what the ordering page looks like.

VitalChek is a reliable way to order a Union County birth certificate without visiting the El Dorado health unit or the Little Rock state office in person.

How to Request a Union County Birth Certificate

Three methods are available for getting a Union County birth certificate. In-person requests are the quickest. Go to the Union County Health Unit at 211 W. 1st Street in El Dorado or to the state office in Little Rock. Bring your photo ID, fill out the request form, and pay the fee at the counter. Certificates are typically ready the same day when you arrive before 3:00 PM.

Mail requests are processed by the Division of Vital Records in Little Rock. You need a completed application, a photocopy of your valid government-issued ID, and a check or money order payable to the Arkansas Department of Health. Download the application from the ADH birth certificates page before mailing your package. Processing by mail takes several weeks. Do not send cash.

Online orders work through VitalChek. You fill out a form, upload your ID image, and pay by card. VitalChek mails the finished certificate to you. The service charge is extra, but it is convenient for people who are not near El Dorado or Little Rock. Either way, make sure the information you submit is complete and accurate so your request does not get delayed.

What You Need to Apply

Missing or incomplete information will cause delays. Gather the following before you apply for a Union County birth certificate:

• Completed birth certificate request form
• Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID)
• Full name on the birth record
• Date and place of birth
• Mother's full maiden name and father's full name
• Your relationship to the person on the record
• Fee payment in the correct form

Access to birth records is limited to those with a direct and tangible interest. That includes the person named on the certificate, parents listed on the record, legal guardians, adult children, spouses, and attorneys acting with documented authority. If you are requesting on behalf of a deceased relative, you may still qualify depending on your relationship. Call the Union County Health Unit at (870) 862-3434 before you go if you have any questions about eligibility.

Birth Certificate Fees in Union County

The state fee for the first certified copy is $12. Extra copies ordered at the same time cost $10 each. These rates apply at the Union County Health Unit, the Little Rock state office, and for mail requests. The fee is non-refundable because it covers the search, whether or not the record is found in the system.

VitalChek adds a service charge on top of the state rate. That amount is typically $7 to $10 extra per order. Counter payments at the health unit can be made by cash, card, or check depending on what the local office accepts. The state office in Little Rock accepts all common payment methods. Mail-in requests must use a check or money order.

If you need the certificate for multiple purposes such as a passport application and a legal proceeding, order all copies at once. Each separate future request starts at the base $12 fee, so getting extras now is more cost-effective.

Who Can Access Union County Birth Records

Arkansas restricts birth record access under Arkansas Code 20-18-305. Birth records less than 100 years old are confidential. Only qualifying individuals may get a certified copy. Qualifying persons include the named individual, parents on the record, legal guardians, spouses, adult children, and legal representatives with documented authorization from a qualifying person.

Once a record is 100 years old, it becomes a public document. Anyone may then request a copy without showing any specific relationship. This applies to the earliest records in the state system, going back to 1914. Those early records are now accessible to the public for genealogy and research purposes.

State and local government agencies can also access records when they have a lawful purpose. If you are unsure of your eligibility, a quick phone call to the health unit or the state office will tell you what you need to bring.

Historical Union County Birth Records

Arkansas began statewide birth registration on February 1, 1914. Union County birth records before that date are not in the state system. For earlier research, the FamilySearch Union County, Arkansas Genealogy page is a useful free resource. It lists digitized collections, repositories with local holdings, and links to records that predate state registration.

Union County was created in 1829 from Hempstead and Clark counties, so its recorded history goes back almost 200 years. Pre-1914 birth evidence may turn up in census records, church documents, family Bible entries, court papers, and probate files. The County Clerk holds marriage records from 1830. Those records can sometimes confirm family birth years by way of stated ages at the time of marriage.

Union County is the largest county by area in Arkansas, so its history and records are spread across a wide geography. The Arkansas State Archives in Little Rock can be a useful contact for deeper research involving pre-statehood or early settlement records.

Union County Clerk and Related Records

The Union County Clerk does not issue birth certificates. The state holds those. But the Clerk maintains other records that are useful for family research and legal purposes. Marriage records go back to 1830, which is one of the earlier county-level marriage record sets in Arkansas. The Clerk can provide certified copies of marriage records and related documents.

Probate records are also held at the county level. These files can be valuable for family history research, since they typically name heirs, list ages, and sometimes include dates of birth. If a relative died in Union County and left an estate, their probate record may give you the birth information you need when no direct birth certificate exists.

For current office contact information and county government details, see the Association of Arkansas Counties Union County page.

Nearby Counties

Union County is in south Arkansas and borders several counties with their own local birth certificate access points.

Cities in Union County

El Dorado is the only qualifying city in Union County with its own birth records page.