i don’t believe birth certificates are public record lest false identity would be made much easier
anybody here know
when I have gotten my own I had to fill out a form that I was that person and answer some questions to prove it
I lost all my identification a few years ago and had a heck of a time getting my own birth certificate. In the end, my mother got it for me.
IMPORTANT GUIDELINES TO FOLLOW WHEN WRITING FOR VITAL RECORDS AND DOCUMENTS
Please remember, following these guidelines can greatly assist you in your search for records!
Make your letters concise and to the point. Do NOT include more than one or two requests at once, and be careful not to write confusing details of your family lines.
Provide complete information on an individual and event for which you need documents. Include all names that may have been used, including nicknames, alternate spellings, etc. List dates and type of event as completely and accurately as possible. If you don't know the exact date, specify the span of years you wish searched and be prepared to pay for searches that span several years.
Patience pays! Unless you already know the # of pages in a deed, or the exact cost of a document, don't send a specific amount of money in cash or a check. It is appropriate to send a signed, BLANK check, however, with a notation written, (preferably in red ink), UNDER the “$__________” line of the check which states, “Not to exceed $5.00”, or any amount you wish to specify. If you don't care to do that, you will need to make your first letter a statement of what records you need and a request for them to send you a statement of charges. You can then send a check for the exact amount in a second letter.
Always provide an S.A.S.E., (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope).
County and State offices have limited personnel and are often swamped with paper work. Genealogical queries are done as a service which is outside of their realm of responsibility. They ask therefore that you exercise patience and courtesy in your transactions with their offices.
When you write for a birth certificate be sure and include following information:
date of request
full name of person (last name in caps)
sex of person (male or female)
date of birth
place of birth
mother's maiden name
father's name
relationship to party
the reason the record is needed
requestor’s name & address
requestor’s driver's license number & state (some counties require it)
requestor’s signature
When you write for a death record be sure and include following information:
date of request
full name of deceased (last name in caps)
date of birth (necessary in some states)
date of death
place of death
relationship to party
the reason the record is needed
requestor’s name & address
requestor’s driver's license number & state (some counties require it)
requestor’s signature
When you write for a copy of a marriage license be sure and include following information:
full name of husband (last name in caps)
full maiden name of wife (last name in caps)
date of marriage
place of marriage
relationship to party
the reason the record is needed
requestor’s name & address
requestor’s driver's license number & state (some counties require it)
requestor’s signature
Birth certificates are NOT public records...especially if someone is still alive. The only person that can request a copy/certification of birth in most states is the person themselves.
I do a lot of geneaology research, and wanted a copy of my grandmother’s birth certificate which she had lost for information about her parents...and I could only get it after proving that I was indeed a relative and that she was deceased.