Birth Certificates

The City Clerk’s Office is responsible for original records of all births that have occurred at Heywood Hospital or elsewhere within Gardner. Births occurring elsewhere in Massachusetts may also be on file here if the parents were residing in Gardner at the time of the birth.

Fee


The fee for each certified copy is $10.

How to Obtain a Birth Certificate


  • In person: Walk-in requests are accepted and you may wait while the certificates are prepared.
  •  Order online
  • By mail: Please fill out the Birth Certificate Request Form (PDF) and return with a check or money order payable to “City of Gardner.” If the record requires identification, the appropriate person must sign the request and include a photocopy of a driver’s license or government issued photo ID.

Records Requiring Identification


A record is not accessible to the general public if the parents were unmarried at the time the child was born (and have not since married and amended the birth record), or if the father’s name does not appear on the record. When this is true, only the mother, father (if listed) or child may request a certificate. Identification will be required. Identification is not required for other records.

Urgent Mail Requests 


You may use an express or overnight service to send your request. Include a prepaid envelope of the same type for express or overnight return. Our address for services other than the U.S. Postal Service is:
95 Pleasant Street
Room 121
Gardner, MA 01440


State Registry


The Massachusetts State Registry of Vital Records and Statistics can also provide certificates for Gardner or any other Massachusetts community.

Certificates & Apostiles


A state certification is sometimes necessary for documents which will be used for government and legal business outside the United States. Find out how to obtain apostilles when the situation warrants.