Fairbanks North Star Birth Records

Fairbanks North Star Borough birth records are filed at the state level by the Alaska Department of Health in Juneau. The borough is the second largest in Alaska with about 95,000 people. Fairbanks is the seat and the main city. The borough was incorporated in 1964. No local office here issues birth certificates. To search for or order a Fairbanks North Star Borough birth record, you must go through the state. This page covers the steps, fees, rules, and ways to find both new and old records.

About Fairbanks North Star Birth Records

Fairbanks North Star Borough is the second largest borough in Alaska by population. About 95,000 people live here. The seat is Fairbanks, which also serves as the hub for interior Alaska. Other communities in the borough include North Pole, Fox, Ester, and Two Rivers. The borough was incorporated in 1964. It has a full set of local services, from schools to roads to property records. But it does not issue birth certificates. That is a state function in Alaska.

All Fairbanks North Star Borough birth records are handled by the Health Analytics and Vital Records Section, or HAVRS. This is part of the Alaska Department of Health. The main office is in Juneau. A walk-in branch sits in Anchorage. Under AS 18.50.160, hospitals and clinics must file every birth with the state within five days. Fairbanks Memorial Hospital handles most births in the borough. The hospital fills out the form and sends it to Juneau. The state then holds the record for life.

Fairbanks North Star Borough birth records contain the child's full name, date and place of birth, and the names of both parents. These records are used to prove age, get a passport, claim benefits, or do family research. The Alaska Department of Health vital records page has more on what the records contain and who can get them.

Ordering Fairbanks North Star Birth Records

There are four ways to order a Fairbanks North Star Borough birth record. Online is fastest. Mail costs the least. Walk-in service is same-day, but you must go to Anchorage or Juneau since there is no vital records walk-in in Fairbanks. Fax takes the same time as mail.

Online orders go through VitalChek. The state has approved VitalChek as its one online vendor for vital records. You fill out the form, upload a copy of your photo ID, and pay by card. There is a service fee on top of the $30 state fee. Orders ship in about two to three weeks. Many Fairbanks residents use this method because the nearest walk-in office is in Anchorage, which is about six hours by car.

Mail orders go to Health Analytics and Vital Records, P.O. Box 110675, Juneau, AK 99811-0675. Print the state form, fill it out, sign it, and mail it with a copy of your ID and a check or money order. The wait is two to three months for mail orders. Fax orders go to (907) 465-3618 and take the same time. The Alaska vital records orders page has the form and latest steps.

The page below from Alaska Court Records lists vital records info for Fairbanks North Star Borough residents, including how to get a birth certificate.

The Alaska Court Records Fairbanks North Star page explains the steps to order a birth record from the state office and what ID you need.

Walk-In Options for Fairbanks Residents

There is no vital records walk-in office in Fairbanks. This is a common point of confusion for Fairbanks North Star Borough residents. The state runs walk-in offices only in Juneau and Anchorage. The Anchorage office is at 3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 101. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Phone: (907) 269-0991. The Juneau office is at 5441 Commercial Boulevard. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Phone: (907) 465-3391.

Both offices can issue a Fairbanks North Star Borough birth record the same day. Bring your photo ID and the fee. The offices take cash, checks, money orders, and cards. You do not need to visit a specific office based on where the birth took place. All Alaska birth records are in one central system. If a same-day copy is not urgent, most Fairbanks residents stick with VitalChek or mail.

Note: Despite being Alaska's second largest city, Fairbanks has no walk-in vital records office. Use VitalChek or mail, or plan a trip to Anchorage.

Who Can Order Fairbanks Birth Records

Alaska is a closed-record state. Recent Fairbanks North Star Borough birth records are private. Only people with a direct tie to the record can order a certified copy. The state checks your ID with every request to make sure you qualify.

You may order a Fairbanks North Star Borough birth record if you are:

• The person named on the record, age 14 or older with a photo or school ID
• A parent listed on the birth certificate
• A legal guardian with certified court papers
• A third party with a notarized consent letter from the person on the record
• An attorney or government agency on letterhead

Valid IDs include a driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID, Tribal or BIA card with photo, or a school ID for minors. Expired IDs are accepted if not more than one year past the date. Make the copy large and clear, and sign your name under it. Under Alaska Statute 18.50.310, birth records become public after 100 years. A Fairbanks North Star Borough birth record from 1926 or before is now open to anyone.

Fairbanks North Star Birth Record Fees

A certified copy of a Fairbanks North Star Borough birth record costs $30. Each extra copy ordered at the same time is $25. Heirloom certificates are $55 for the first and $50 for each extra. Two designs by Alaska artists are sold through the state. Make checks out to the Alaska Vital Records Office.

Other fees may apply. A name change or correction is $60, which includes one new copy. An apostille for foreign use is $42. Special research is $75 per hour. The state warns you to pick one ordering method per request. Sending the same order by mail and online can lead to double charges. Applications expire after 180 days if you do not provide documents the state asks for.

Historical Fairbanks Birth Records

Fairbanks has a rich history that dates back to the gold rush in the early 1900s. Birth records for the Fairbanks area start as early as 1904. The state began to require birth filing in 1913. Before that, some births were recorded by churches, hospitals, and local authorities. The Fairbanks birth records from 1904 to 1967 are part of the FamilySearch Alaska vital records set. St. Joseph Hospital birth records from 1913 to 1919 are also in the collection.

The Alaska State Archives has vital statistics indexes from 1816 to 1998. FamilySearch and the archives worked together to scan more than 1.1 million pages. You can search these for free on the FamilySearch Alaska vital records wiki. Fort Yukon Episcopal birth records from 1899 to 1970 also cover some families with ties to the Fairbanks area.

Below is the Public Record Center page that lists vital records and other public records info for Fairbanks area residents.

The Public Record Center Fairbanks page has links to state and local offices for various types of records in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.

Under Alaska Statute Title 18, Chapter 50, birth records become public 100 years after the date of birth. So a Fairbanks North Star Borough birth record from 1926 or before is now public. The Alaska State Archives in Juneau has the broadest set of older records. The FamilySearch Alaska vital records catalog also offers free digital scans.

Fairbanks North Star Local Resources

The borough seat is Fairbanks. The Fairbanks North Star Borough government handles property records, schools, roads, and other local services. The borough website is at fnsb.gov. But the borough does not file or issue birth records. For a Fairbanks North Star Borough birth record, call the state at (907) 465-3391 or the Anchorage office at (907) 269-0991.

The CDC where to write page for Alaska also lists the state office as the only contact for birth records. The CountyOffice.org Alaska birth records page has a list of every borough and census area with the same state contact info. If you need to fix or change a Fairbanks North Star Borough birth record, call the Special Services Unit at (907) 465-1200 or email BVSSpecialServices@alaska.gov. Corrections take about three months with no rush option.

Nearby Boroughs and Census Areas

Fairbanks North Star Borough borders other parts of interior Alaska. Each one uses the same state system for birth records. These pages may be helpful.

Denali Borough, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area.