How To Get a Birth Certificate Replacement

Have you lost your birth certificate? Don’t worry, it can happen to anyone.

In fact, it’s actually quite common for people to lose their birth certificates through unexpected incidents such as theft, floods, fires, or just simple misplacement.

However, losing this document can be problematic, as it’s an important form of identification that can be required to access a variety of necessary services. Birth certificates are also often used as proof of identity to replace other vital documents.

Because of these reasons, whether you lost your birth certificate or it was stolen, it’s essential that you quickly obtain a birth certificate replacement. Read on to learn how to quickly replace your birth certificate and why it’s important to do so.

Why Is Having a Birth Certificate Important?

All U.S. birth certificates include important information which helps to prove legal identity. This data can be helpful or necessary to carry out many key services, such as:

• Applying for, or renewing, a social security card, driver’s license, passport, or other government issued identification
• Researching genealogy
• Proving citizenship
• Applying for government and social benefits
• Enrolling in school or college
• Joining the armed forces
• Applying for memberships and credit cards
• Signing contracts or other financial agreements
• Claiming pension or other insurance benefits
• Voting in certain states
• Registering dual citizenship
• Signing up for sports
• Registering for employment-related securities
• Obtaining a marriage license or getting married abroad

What Information Is Included on a Birth Certificate?

U.S. birth certificates typically contain the same points of information regardless of the state in which the person was born. In general, these details are also similar on birth certificates from other countries.

However, depending on the type of birth certificate in question, different data might be included. In the United States, there are two types of birth certificates available, an informational birth certificate and a certified birth certificate.

An informational birth certificate is usually created by the hospital in which the child is born, and they cannot be used for legal purposes. Instead, they are generally used as keepsakes or added to scrapbooks. This type of birth certificate includes the following information:

• Name of the child
• Name of the parents
• Time and date of birth
• City, state, and country of birth
• Footprints and handprints of the baby

On the other hand, a certified (also known as authorized) birth certificate copy is an official record of a child’s birth. These are legal documents that can be used as a form of identification for the official purposes mentioned in the previous section. These include the following pieces of information:

• Full name of the child
• City, state, and country of birth
• Time and date of birth
• Sex/gender of the child
• Details about the birth
• Full name, birthdates, residences, and birth locations of the parents

How to Replace a Birth Certificate

If your birth certificate was lost, stolen, destroyed, or damaged, the first step in getting it replaced is reporting it to your state’s Vital Records Office and ordering a replacement. This can be done in person or by mail.

An easier way to obtain a birth certificate replacement is to order it online. This is especially helpful if you reside in a state other than where you were born, which means that visiting your local Vital Records Office may not be possible.

Processing times can vary depending on the state in which you reside, and going in person generally takes longer than filling out an online application. However, regardless of how you order a replacement for your birth certificate, you will need to provide the following information:

• Information about your birth and parents
• Address and phone number
• Complete application form
• Photo ID
• Application fee payment
• Your reason for replacement
• Proof of notarization (in certain states)

In addition to applying for the replacement of your own birth certificate, it’s also possible to apply for that of a close relative such as a spouse, child, or parent. Exact permissions may differ from state to state, and typically you will need to describe your relationship with the individual and provide supporting documents.