How to Obtain Lost Birth Certificates for Military Dependents

Replacement birth certificates are relatively simple to obtain.

With the amount of moving a military family does, it's quite easy to lose a birth certificate along the way. A certified birth certificate is mandatory for enrolling in a new school or college and applying for some jobs, so its loss can be a source of stress and its replacement a necessity. Even if the military dependent was born outside the United States, however, obtaining a replacement birth certificate is a relatively simple process.

Instructions

1. Contact the health department of the county of birth if the military dependent was born in the United States. Generally, you can request a replacement birth certificate by walk-in, by mail or online. Not all counties or states offer an online ordering option for birth certificates. The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics has a page with links to all 50 states and U.S. territories for contact information for ordering vital records (see Resources). The process of getting a replacement birth certificate for a U.S.-born military dependent is the same as for a civilian.

2. Write a request for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240) if the military dependent was born outside the United States. An FS-240 is the equivalent of a birth certificate a baby is issued if born on U.S. soil. According to the Department of State, only the military dependent, parent/legal guardian or a person with written authorization from the individual can request an FS-240.

3. Provide all the necessary information on the FS-240 request. According to the Department of State, the request must include full name of the child at birth, any adoptive names of the child, child's date and place of birth, any available passport information, full name of parent, and a statement detailing the location of the original FS-240 or what might have happened to it. Include the serial number of the FS-240 if known.

4. Sign the request and have it notarized.

5. Make a check or money order payable to the Department of State in the amount of $50 for each copy of the FS-240 you are requesting.

6. Mail the request, a copy of valid photo identification (a valid driver's license or state-issued ID card or military ID card) and payment to:

   Department of State
   Passport Services
   Vital Records Section
   Room 510
   1111 19th Street, NW
   Washington, DC 20522-1705

References

• Army Well-Being.org
• Travel.State.Gov: Apply for a Certified Copy of a Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• Kitsap County Health District: Birth Certificates

Resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Where to Write for Vital Records