How to Get a New Birth Certificate

I recently needed my birth certificate and realized that I didn't have it. Actually, I haven't needed it since making my passport. Being unable to find one, I had looked to the internet for answers.

In my initial search, I found a lot of companies that would be willing to help me for a fee, but I was not too excited about paying a company and then providing them with my most important personal information.

There are ways to get them yourself from you state agencies, it's just a matter of finding where and how. In the end, I was able to order mine over the internet directly from my home state for a processing fee of $10.

Things You'll Need

• Your name, social security number, and home address.
• If you are doing it over the internet you'll need a credit card to pay the processing fee.

Instructions

1. I suggest you go straight to your state's website and do a search there. You would be surprised how often these documents are requested. Often information about replacing documents is in the FAQ or very easy to find.

2. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has a page on which there are links provided for where one should write for vital records in each state. Links for all fifty states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Canal Zone, foreign or high seas, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands are provided.

3. The methods for obtaining a birth certificate may vary by state, but in general there are different prices for doing it in person, by mail, and over the internet.

4. You will most probably be asked to provide the following information: name at birth, birth date, city and county of birth, gender at birth, parents' names including mother's maiden name, your relationship to the person named on the birth record, a valid reason for the request, and your signature, daytime phone number, and mailing address. All of this, of course, may vary slightly by state.

5. You will have to pay something. Mine cost a total of $35 with processing fees and shipping. If you can go to a state office in person to get one that may be the cheapest and fastest way.

Tips & Warnings

• Read the instructions for your state very carefully, if you can it may be best to call the office responsible for vital records to make sure you have provided all the necessary information.

• If your state allows you to order over the internet, prepare all the information you need before starting so that you don't have to cancel part way through.

• As always be careful of fake state home pages, scams, and phishing, especially when giving out vital information on the internet, or by phone.

• In general the only people other than you who should be able to even begin this process are immediate family members, legal representative, or someone with power of attorney

• There may be additional fees depending on some circumstances, for example if the year of birth is unknown.

• Make sure to check the cost of shipping and other fees. They were much higher than I anticipated. In the end my order cost a total of $35 with express shipping.

Resources

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention - Where to Write for Vital Records