How to Get a New Birth Certificate

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Don't worry if you need to get a new birth certificate to obtain a driver's license, passport, or to make an insurance claim. These vital records are easily secured from state government offices.

Step 1: Determine type of certificate needed
Determine whether you need a certified birth certificate with an official seal or just a photocopy. A certified copy is needed for obtaining most formal documents.

Step 2: Go online for contact information
Go online to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov/ and search for "vital records." Find your state of birth for contact information of the appropriate records office you can write to for a new birth certificate.

Step 3: Be aware of state rules
Be aware of what different states require in order to obtain your birth certificate. Each will be different, so make sure you know ahead of time.

Tip
Birth certificates are usually only available to the individual and immediate family. A century after a birth, birth certificates become declared public record.

Step 4: Obtain an application
Obtain an application in person, online, by fax, or by mail. Gather the acceptable identification documents required.

Step 5: Submit the application
Submit the application for the new birth certificate in person, by mail, by fax, or online in accordance with state rules, including proper identification documents and fees.

Tip
In some states, such as New York, you can submit an application via smartphone.

Step 6: Hire an attorney
Hire an attorney to get a new birth certificate if you want to avoid the hassle of dealing with government offices. While it may still take up to a month or longer to obtain, the document will be the same authoritative record of birth.

Did You Know?
More than 135 million babies are born each year worldwide.