How to Get a Copy of a Birth Certificate

Getting married, requesting a passport or applying for a new job means you need a copy of your birth certificate record. A birth certificate does more than specify the location and date of your birth. It authenticates your identity and nationality. It is a necessity for acquiring many government-issued forms and IDs.

Instructions

• 1

  Get birth certificate copies from the United States government's Vital Records Offices. Vital Records Offices handle all certificates of birth, death and marriage. To obtain a certificate you must contact the Vital Records Offices in the state where you were born.

• 2

  Find a directory of Vital Records Offices on the National Center for Health Statistics, Center for Disease Control website. This can assist you in locating the agency in each state.

• 3

  Access to birth records is limited. To request a birth certificate you must be the person whose name is listed on the birth certificate, the parent or legal guardian, grandparent, an adult child or sibling, or the spouse of the person named on the birth certificate. If you are not on this list, don't bother applying.

• 4

  Provide the following information to conduct a search: the full name of the person on the birth certificate, the date and place of their birth, their current age, sex and race, their mother's and father's full name, your relationship to the person, and the number of certificates requested.

• 5

  Decide which way to apply for the birth certificate copy. Each state has slightly different application procedures but most allow you to apply in person, by mail or by fax. A few states do allow you to pre-order by phone, but you must pick up the birth certificate in person. The requester must provide a signed request form and valid photo identification . Valid identification can be a state-issued identification card, employer-issued photo identification or a driver's license.