How Massachusetts Birth Records Work
Massachusetts is one of the few open-record states: birth certificates are public documents here, and anyone can order a copy. That openness is the exception nationally — and it makes Massachusetts research dramatically easier than in closed states.
Massachusetts is the rare open-record state: most birth certificates are public and anyone can order one — the state that keeps everything else Puritan keeps vital records open. Content reviewed July 30, 2026 by the SearchSystems editorial team.
Where to Order
Massachusetts Vital Records Office
Official Free
The official custodian. Application forms, current fees, eligibility rules, and processing times — order direct and skip the third-party markup.
🌐 mass.gov
CDC — Where to Write for Vital Records
Official Free
The federal directory of every state's vital records office — the authoritative answer to 'where do I order' for any state and any year.
🌐 cdc.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
Certified copy or informational copy — which do I need?
Certified (with the seal) for passports, IDs, benefits, and court. Informational or research copies, where offered, prove content but not identity.
Who can order a recent Massachusetts birth certificate?
Anyone — Massachusetts treats them as public records.
How do I get a certificate for a deceased relative?
Provide the death certificate along with proof of your relationship — estates and genealogy claims do this constantly, and every state has a process for it.
The event predates statewide registration. Now what?
Massachusetts is the rare open-record state: most birth certificates are public and anyone can order one — the state that keeps everything else Puritan keeps vital records open.
Related Massachusetts Records
The Massachusetts vital records page covers death, marriage, and divorce certificates; Massachusetts court records handle name changes and adoptions; and county pages list the local offices that issue copies.