Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-07-01-.12 - COPIES OF DATA FROM VITAL RECORDS

(1) Full or short form certified copies of vital records may be made by mechanical, electronic or other reproductive processes. Certified copies may be issued only to the registrant or the registrant's spouse, children, parents or guardian or their respective authorized representative. Others who demonstrate that records are required for determination or protection of their personal or property right may be authorized to obtain certified copies. Information contained in the "Information for Medical and Health Use Only" section of the birth certificate and information contained in the "Confidential Information" section of the certificate of marriage or certificate of divorce or annulment shall not be included.

(2) A certified copy or other copy of a death certificate will not be issued containing the cause of death unless

(a) Specifically requested by the spouse, children, parents or other next of kin of the decedent or their respective authorized representatives, or

(b) For one of the following reasons: when a documented need for the cause of death to establish a legal right or claim has been demonstrated; when the request for the copy is made by or on behalf of an organization that provides benefits to the decedent's survivors or beneficiaries; upon specific request by local, state or federal agencies for research or administrative purposes approved by the State Registrar; when needed for research activities approved by the State Registrar; or upon receipt of an order from a court of competent jurisdiction ordering such release.

(3) When a certified copy is issued, each certification shall be signed and certified as a true copy by the officer in whose custody the record is entrusted and shall include the date issued, the registrar's signature or an authorized facsimile thereof, and the seal of the issuing office shall be affixed thereon.

(4) Verification of the facts contained in a vital record may be furnished by the State Registrar to any federal or state court or law enforcement agency or to any other agency representing the interest of the registrant, subject to the limitations as indicated in (1) and (2) above. Such verifications shall be on forms prescribed and furnished by the State Registrar or on forms furnished by the requesting agency and acceptable to the State Registrar; or, the State Registrar may authorize the verification in other ways when it shall prove in the best interests of his office.

(5) When the State Registrar finds evidence that a certificate was registered through misrepresentation or fraud, he shall have authority to withhold the issuance of a certified copy of such certificate until a court determination of the facts has been made.

(6) The given name of a child shall be entered on the face of the original certificate of birth prior to the issuance of a certified copy in full (or part). Verified information from the record may be provided prior to entering the given name on the face of the certificate.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-07-01-.12

Original rule certified June 7, 1974. Repeal and new rule filed January 18, 1978; effective February 17, 1978. Amendment filed June 30, 1994; effective September 13, 1994. Amendment filed August 12, 1999; effective October 26, 1999.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 68-3-103, 68-3-104, 68-3-105, 68-3-205, and 68-3-206.