How to Order a Duplicate Birth Certificate

Certified copies are legal documents.

A birth certificate is the first official document many Americans receive. It is also a very important document. A birth certificate can be used as proof of age and citizenship when obtaining a passport or driver's license. It can be used to trace genealogy and even as a memento of birth. The guidelines of ordering a copy of a birth certificate differs from place to place, but generally the process is the same.

Things You'll Need

• Government-issued photo identification such as a current driver's license

Instructions

1. Determine which type of birth certificate copy you need. Certified copies have a raised seal and are printed on a specific kind of paper. These can be used for identification and are legal documents. Certifications are simply copies with no seal that are on plain paper. They are not legal documents, and they can only be used for personal purposes such as genealogy information. An Apostille seal is a seal added to a certified copy that is required for use in foreign countries included in the Hague Treaty. For countries outside the Hague Treaty, an Exemplified seal may be needed. It's also typically required for dual citizenship or international adoption. Contact the consulate of the country to which you're applying for dual citizenship or international adoption if this is the case.

2. Research the Centers for Disease Control's website to find out where to apply for a duplicate birth certificate. Each state and territory has its own department that handles birth certificates. Usually it's the public health department. Birth records before the early 1900's are usually located in the state archives. New York City has a separate department from the one for New York State. Foreign-born or high seas-born citizens (including those born in the former Panama Canal zone) have their own departments in Washington, D.C. The U.S. federal government does not distribute copies of birth certificates.

3. Fill out the application, include the required fee and identification, and mail or submit it online to the appropriate state department. Proper identification can include a valid driver's license, a government ID, a social services ID, or a U.S. or foreign passport. If you need an Apostille or Exemplified seal, indicate it on the application so that your certified copy contains the State Registrar or Assistant State Registrar's original signature.

4. Check the status of your application on the state department's website if that service is available. Delivery times may vary.

5. Forward the certified copy to the office of the state's Secretary of State if you need an Apostille or Exemplified seal.

Tips & Warnings

• Many states offer keepsake or heirloom birth certificates. These are decorative and are intended only for display. Some donate a portion of the proceeds to charity.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Where to Write for Vital Records
• State of New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services: Order a Vital Record
• New York State Department of Health: Birth, Death, Marriage & Divorce Records
• Alabama Department of Public Health: Alabama Center for Health Statistics - Vital Records
• Texas Department of State Health Services: Texas Vital Statistics
• Delaware Public Health and Social Services: Birth and Death Records

Resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Where to Write for Vital Records
• National Center for Health Statistics: Application Guidelines