When one hears someone speaking about their birth certificate, the image of
an old piece of paper with the information of their birth comes to mind. But
birth certificates are much more than pieces of paper-they are one of the most
important documents one can have.
The idea of documenting the birth of a country’s citizens has been taking place
for quite a long time. In China, Greece, Egypt, and other ancient civilizations,
it was necessary to have a record of the population in order to keep up the
influx of taxes. In addition, many countries had the need to keep records of
births in their country in order to insure that their armies were at their
greatest strength. During this time, the job of keeping up with the registration
of births rested with the churches.
The churches remained the primary caretaker of birth records until the
mid-nineteenth century. During that time, the role of registering births was
transferred from the churches to governmental agencies. The first to do this was
the United Kingdom, and most countries followed in their steps. Today there are
governmental agencies, in a good majority of countries, which are responsible
for the safe keeping of the birth records.
In most countries, birth certificates make use of a similar form. These
certificates are a means of collecting vital information about one’s citizens,
sometimes called vital statistics. In most nations, the job of making sure that
the correct information regarding births is recorded, resides with the
hospitals, doctors, or parents.
In the United States, the job of keeping track of births rests with the
individual states, because it is not a federal power granted by the
Constitution. However, the federal and state governments do work closely
together because the Fourteenth Amendment grants the right of citizenship to
those who are born in the United States. The proof of these births is contained
on the birth certificates on file with each state.
Birth certificate forms are similar throughout the United States, and those
filled out immediately following the birth are regarded as the original copy.
The information included is standard, and is usually provided by the attending
physician, the parents, or the hospital at the time of the birth. The facts
included are the father’s name, the mother’s maiden name, the baby’s name, the
date of its birth, and the county in the state in which the birth took place.
Some states also include the address of the parents, their race, and the name of
the hospital where the baby was born. The birth certificates usually contain the
signature of the attending physician, or a witness to the birth. Today, the
birth certificates sometimes include a registrar’s seal, and should be issued no
later that one year after the birth of the child.
Why is it so necessary for one to have a birth certificate? It is one of the
most vital pieces of information one can possess. These documents are the most
basic proof of one’s identity, stating their name, their birth date, and the
place of their birth. Birth certificates issued in the United States confirm
that those possessing them are true citizens of this country. Birth certificates
are necessary in order for children to register for school in their local
communities, especially if they have moved to a new area. Proof of birth is also
needed for obtaining passports to travel to countries outside of the United
States. In addition, in order to receive a Social Security Card, it is necessary
to show that the applicants have valid birth certificates. These Social Security
cards are vital when applying for things such as jobs, insurance coverage,
investments, or to open bank accounts. In most states, when applying for a
driver’s license, one of the proofs of identity needed is a birth certificate.
Even when getting married, it is necessary to provide birth certificates in
order for the couple to receive their marriage license. As can be seen, birth
certificates are one of the most important documents citizens can possess.
Unknown by many people, there are different types of birth certificates. As
mentioned above, each state is responsible for keeping records of those born in
their state. Because of this, although birth certificates contain the same
required information, each state’s forms may look very different from one
another. Some have stamped seals and some have raised seals, and there may be
differences in the look and feel of the paper. These are the original forms
which are filled out at the time of a child’s birth, and are sent to a local or
state registrar where they are stored. The form that most people receive a short
time after their child is born is not the original form. Actually, it is an
exact copy of the original form and is called the “Long Form” or a “Certified
Copy”. This is the form which is typically used when registering for school,
obtaining a drivers license, etc. In recent years, several states have been
using Electronic Birth Registration systems. These systems make it possible for
the information, which is on the certified copies of the birth certificates, to
be held in a data base online for use when necessary. Also available are “Short
Forms”. Basically, using information which is stored in a database, this
document certifies that an original birth certificate does exist. If these forms
include the names of the parents, they can be used in place of the long form in
many instances. In the case of legal adoptions in the United States, the
original birth certificate is sealed, and a new birth certificate is issued,
with the names of the adoptive parents and the adoptive name of the child.
As can be seen, there is a lot more to birth certificates than most people
realize. Because they are such important documents, they should be kept in a
safe accessible place, perhaps in a fire proof container with other important
papers. However, if necessary, it is possible to obtain certified copies of
birth certificates from the registry in each state. Keep in mind that each state
may have its own system for obtaining these replacements and there may be a fee
necessary for this. As mentioned above, one should remember that birth
certificates are one of the most important documents one may possess, and must
be cared for in a safe and secure manner.
No matter where you live in the United States, we process orders and help legally born residents throughout the United States obtain original birth certificates. No matter your age, location or background, we will be able assist you in obtaining your government issued birth certificate.
All orders will be processed the day they are received by the one and only William Bajillion.