How to Get a Certified Copy of a Birth Certificate
Losing a birth certificate can be a harrowing experience. Worse, it can put a serious dent in your travel plans if you're planning on leaving the country. You must usually have a certified copy of a birth certificate for adoption proceedings, to obtain a driver's license or identification card, to get dual citizenship, immigrate to another country or to obtain a passport. If you have lost your birth certificate or that of your immediate family members, it can be replaced with a certified copy.
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Things You'll Need
- Driver's License
- Photo ID
- Proof of Relationship
- Check or Money Order
- Birth Data
Instructions
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Visit or write to the Office of Vital Statistics of the state where the birth took place. In most cases you must be the person in question, or that person's immediate family member to obtain a certified copy of a birth certificate. The National Center for Health Statistics website has name, address and telephone information for the Office of Vital Statistics for many states and for American Samoa, Foreign or High-Seas Events, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico. Call the telephone number listed to verify that the name, address and fee information on the site is current and correct.
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Make out a check or money order in the amount of the applicable fee.
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Provide the proper information about the person for whom the certified copy of a birth certificate is requested. Write down their name, gender, parents' names, mother's maiden name, month, date and year of birth and place of birth. Include the city and state, and also write down the name of the hospital if known. Write down the reason for requesting a certified copy of the birth certificate, your relationship to that person, and a telephone number where you can be contacted during the day.
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Place your certified copy of the birth certificate in a safe place once it arrives. Keeping a filing cabinet which is organized by subject is a very good idea for keeping track of personal records.
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Tips & Warnings
Some private services such as VitalChek allow you to order a certified copy of a birth certificate online. While more expensive, this option is much easier and faster than applying the old-fashioned way.
Send your application well in advance of your travel plans to ensure that you have adequate time to obtain a passport or other documents.
Some counties and cities can also provide official certified copies of birth certificates.
You must apply directly to the City of New York for copies of birth certificates for births which took place within the city.
You may be required to submit a copy of your driver's license, picture ID or passport in order to complete your application.
In most cases you may also request certified copies of death, marriage and divorce certificates from your local Office of Vital Statistics.
