How do I get a Birth Certificate Application?

In order to obtain a copy of a certified birth certificate, the requesting party will have to fill out a birth certificate application. This application may be obtained in a number of ways, usually from the office of vital records for the jurisdiction in which the person whose birth certificate you are seeking to get a copy of was born. The birth certificate application typically has the requesting party fill out as much information as possible to identify the birth certificate sought. After filling out the application, the requesting party will send it back to the appropriate office of vital records, typically accompanied by a fee.

Birth certificate applications are typically issued, received, and processed by a jurisdiction’s office of vital records. Generally, anyone seeking to obtain a certified copy of a birth certificate can find this application either through contacting the appropriate office by phone or downloading one off the office’s Website. The availability of these applications to the general public will depend on the jurisdiction’s rules, however.

The standard birth certificate application involves the requesting party entering as much information as possible about the person whose birth certificate they are seeking. For example, the application may ask for the person’s name, date, and place of birth, as well as their mother’s name and father’s name. By entering as much information about the person as is known on the birth certificate application, the requesting party will aid the department in locating the requested birth certificate. The more information entered, the better the chances that the person will be able to obtain a copy of the birth certificate.

After completing the birth certificate application, the requesting party will have to turn in the completed application to the appropriate office of vital records along with any necessary fee. Some jurisdictions also require that the requesting party provide a notarized sworn statement declaring that he or she is authorized by law to receive a copy of the birth certificate. There are also common instances where the office of vital records is likely to waive the fee. For example, district attorneys who are requesting a copy of the birth certificate for child support enforcement purposes will often have their fee waived. Additionally, military veterans who need a copy of a birth certificate for the purpose of establishing their military benefits may also have their fees waived.