State Warns, "Don't Pay Too Much For Birth Certificates" 

DENVER, August 5, 2011– The vital records office at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment today warned the public about online birth certificate services that are charging more than five times the $17.75 cost of getting certificates through the state or local vital records offices. Colorado residents have reported paying up to $120 for an online service that assists people in completing the birth certificate application online and then submitting it to the state. The same service is available through the department’s website, http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/certs/birth.html . The department site also has a link to the state’s official online birth certificate service, VitalChek, http://www.vitalchek.com/colorado-express-vital-records.aspx?click_id=569142836701233154. The fee for using vital check is only an additional $9.

People who come in to the state vital records office – or one of the offices at local public health agencies – can obtain birth certificates quickly for $17.75, with no online processing fee.  For members of the public who can’t or don’t wish to travel to a vital records office, they can submit a request online using VitalChek, the state’s official birth certificate service, and pay $26.76 (which includes the state fee of $17.75, plus VitalChek’s $9 processing fee.)

“While other website services for obtaining Colorado birth certificates can be found online, there is no reason the public should pay more than necessary,” said Ron Hyman, state registrar. “There is just one official Web service for Colorado, and anyone using an online service other than VitalChek is paying far more than they should.”

“We have received complaints from the public and want people to know the least costly way to obtain birth certificates is through state and local vital records offices.  The next best way is using VitalChek,” said Hyman. “Every year about this time, due perhaps to students going back to school, vital records offices see an increase in the number of parents needing birth certificates. There is no reason they should pay more than needed.”