BIRTH CERTIFICATE REQUEST PROCEDURES
In an effort to better serve and give you understanding of the process, we have developed this informational guide to help assist you.
OUT-OF-STATE
Until further notice, please contact La’Kesha Moore when processing out of state birth certificate requests. She can be reached at or by phone at 501-682-8537. She will process all requests (A-Z).
All requests will be processed and sent to the requesting state within 15 working days. It usually takes 6-8 weeks, depending on the state, to receive the birth certificate back into our office. If you have not received the requested birth certificate back within 75 days, please follow up with us to learn the status of the request.
The process is as follows:
1)Health Service Worker submits the child’s information on the application of the state from where you are requesting the birth certificate. Each state’s application can be retrieved by visiting the CDC website: If you locate the state on this website and follow the links, most will guide you to the Birth Certificate Application for that state.
2)Attach the current court order that has been signed by a judge(no more than 6 months old) along with the application to the Foster Care Unit, via scan and emailand/or fax to 501-683-5901(La’Kesha’s desk).
3)There may become an instance where there is a name change needed. In this instance, be sure to have the information needed in order to complete this part of the process (current name, date of birth, place of birth, parent’s names, and new name).Be sure to specify whether this is going to be a name change procedure ahead of time.
4)Day 1-5:The Foster Care Unit completes the required forms provided by the Department of Finance & Administration to request a warrant to purchase the original birth certificate.
5)All forms require the DCFS CFO’s signature.
6)Day 6-7:All completed forms and application are then submitted to Finance for processing.
7)Day 8-12:Finance produces a warrant that is submitted back to the Foster Care Unit.
8)Day 13-15:The Foster Care Unit then sends the warrant, application, and court order to the state from which the birth certificate is being requested which may take up to 6-8 weeks.
9)The timeframe for receipt of the birth certificate varies with each state, but once the Foster Care Unit receives the certificate, it is logged and sent to the requesting worker.
10)An email is sent out to advise the requesting worker that the original birth certificate(s) has been placed in interoffice mail.
11)The Foster Care Unit tracks the receipt of birth certificates monthly, so if you need to know the status of a birth certificate request, please feel free to contact the unit.
IN-STATE
Arkansas birth certificate requests are NOT processed through our office. The HSW fills out the application and it is faxed to the Arkansas Department of Health/Vital recordsunit at501-661-2717. Birth certificates are usually received back within a week.You may find the application at the Arkansas Department of Health website:
OUT-OF-COUNTRY
Procedures for out-of-country birth certificate requests are very similar to those for the out-of-stateones, except they are ordered from the US Department of State. You will find an application (Form DS-2029), called “Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad” on the US Department of State website: The same procedures are followed, only with a different form.
Please let us know if we can provide further assistance!