History: During the 2003 General Assembly legislation was introduced and passed (HB1450 and SB 1267) to establish a new type of vital record for parents who experience a fetal demise of twenty weeks or more. Prior to the legislation the only available documentation was the report of spontaneous fetal death. Effective July 1, 2003 a Certificate of Birth Resulting in a Stillbirth will be issued upon request from the parent.
Note: The Office of Vital Records has spontaneous fetal death reports from 1999 to the present
How to obtain the certificate
- The parent must mail a completed Application for Certification of a Death Record. Included with the request should be a fee of $12.00 and a legible photocopy of their identification. Stillbirth records are not issued through our walk-in service.
- The request should include the following information:
- Name of stillborn (optional)
- Mother’s maiden name and married name
- Father’s name
- Date of event
- Hospital of occurrence
- If the spontaneous fetal death occurred prior to 1999 it will be necessary for you to submit documentation from one of the following sources.
- Physician/midwife who provided care to the mother.
- Documentation from the medical record.
- Copy of the report of spontaneous fetal death.
- Funeral Service Director (if they provided a service)
- Copy of identification (see listing under identification)
Upon receipt of the above items the certificate will be mailed to the address provided.
Effective: July 1, 2003