How Do I Get a Birth Certificate?

Have you had a baby recently? Do you need to apply for a passport? While these questions may not appear related, they share a common element: the birth certificate. You will need an official copy of a birth certificate many times in your life, such as when you apply for a passport or when your child enters school. Ordering a copy of your child's birth certificate while they are young will benefit you and the child.

  1. Official Copies

    • The birth certificates issued by hospitals are keepsakes, but not legal documents. Be sure to obtain an official, government-certified copy of the birth certificate. Use this document as proof of identification when you apply for a passport. Check with your school district to determine if your child's birth certificate is required for enrollment. You may also need to supply an official birth certificate to obtain a driver's license, marriage license, game and fish license, or business license. Contact the individual licensing authority to determine if an official copy of your birth certificate is required in your state.

    Governing Body

    • Although the United States government operates the Census Bureau, which measures population statistics, birth and death records are under the direction of individual states. Your first step in obtaining an official copy of a birth certificate is to contact the state of birth.

      Within each state is a segment of government primarily dedicated to birth, death and marriage records. These state offices do not carry the same name across the country, although "vital statistics" and "vital records" are the most common names. To locate your state office for vital statistics, visit the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. You can get the contact information for the state in which you were born, including telephone number, fax number and physical address.

    Ordering

    • Request a birth certificate from your state by mail, fax or online. When submitting your request, you will need to supply the full name on the birth record, date of birth, county and city, and mother's maiden name. You may also need to submit copies of any documents required to prove legal guardianship. Once you send in your documentation, expect several weeks to pass before receiving your official copy of the birth certificate.

      Private services will obtain your birth certificate for a fee. You give them your information, and they handle the exchange with the state. Request these services from companies such as VitalChek and USBirthCertificate.net.

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