District of Columbia Public Records

The District of Columbia Department of Health maintains the vital records for the area. All certificates require a valid government issued photo identification and some other piece of ID. Without a valid piece of official then three (3) other pieces of ID are required. Parents and guards must have require written permission to receive certificates of children over the age of 21.

Birth certificates become public records 100 years after their issuance. Death certificates are available 50 years after the death.

Vital Records Division
899 North Capitol Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 671-5000

• Birth Certificate Application (html)
• Death Certificate Application (html)

Marriage and divorce certificates are handled by the Superior Court of District of Columbia. Certificates cost $20 dollars for the first copy and $10 dollars each additional copy.

Moultrie Courthouse
500 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Room 4485
Washington, D.C. 20001
Phone: (202) 879-4840

Adoption records are held at the Family Court department of the Superior Court of D.C. Below are some of the most common forms for adoption record retrieval and modification.

• Vital Record Form (PDF)
• Petition to Break the Seal of Adoption (PDF)
• Consent of Biological Parent
• Consent of Adoptee

Parcel records can be found in various departments of the local government including the District of Columbia Geographic Information System, Office of Tax and Revenue and DC Office of Zoning

• Vector Property Map Modernization
• District of Columbia Zoning Map
• Real Property Assessment Database
• Real Property Sales Database
• Office of the Chief Technology Officer Maps