In most states, birth certificates are private records only available to immediate family members or those who can prove they have a tangible interest in obtaining them.
In states where birth records are kept private, all direct family members, third parties with a legal interest, or with a court order may get a certified copy of a birth certificate for someone else. These include:
- The registrant
- A parent or legal guardian of the registrant
- A direct family member (child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or domestic partner) of the registrant
- A party entitled to get the record as a result of a court order
- A member of a law enforcement agency, or a representative of another governmental agency
- An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant's estate
In Texas, for example, birth records are kept private for 75 years after the citizen’s birth is first recorded. Therefore, only eligible applicants may request a copy of a Texas birth certificate.Find out the fastest way to get a birth certificate in Texas.
If you are not a direct family member, or if you do not have a tangible legal interest to obtain a certified copy of a birth certificate, you may apply for an informational copy of a birth certificate.
An informational copy will contain the registrant’s basic information. However, it is not a legal document and may not be used to prove someone's identity. Informational copies are often requested for genealogical purposes.
In states such as California, anyone with the right information can request an informational copy or abstract of a birth certificate.
The applicant just needs to fill out the birth certificate application with the following details:
- The certificate bearer’s full name
- The parents’ full names, including the mother’s maiden name
- The date and place of birth
In Texas, on the other hand, applicants who are not direct family members who wish to obtain a copy of a birth certificate will need an immediate family member to provide them with a written, notarized, signed statement authorizing the Department of State Health Services - Vital Statistics Section to release a certified copy of the certificate to them.
This statement must be presented alongside a photocopy of the ID of the individual granting the applicant permission as well as a copy of the applicant’s photo ID.
The statement must specifically identify the applicant by their full name. contain all relevant information; however, it is not a legal document and may not be used to prove someone's identity. Informational copies are often requested for genealogical purposes.
Under UK legislation, birth certificates are designated as 'public records', and as such anyone can request a duplicate certificate to be produced. The only caveat to this is that for births that occurred within the past 50 years, you must be able to provide the full details of that birth.
When you order a replacement birth certificate you will need to provide:
- The person's full name (including any middle names)
- The person's complete date of birth (year and month is not acceptable)
- The father's full name
- The mother's full name
- The mother's maiden surname
- The place of birth (town/city as a minimum)
This legislation is in place to prevent instances of identity fraud and we are unable to help you where these details are not known. If the birth took place over 50 years ago, much less information is required in order to make the request.
Only certain individuals are allowed to receive an authorized certified copy of a birth, death, or marriage record. An authorized certified copy of a birth record is required to obtain a driver's license, passport, social security card and other services related to an individual's identity.
Who Can Receive an Authorized Certified Copy
- The registrant or a parent or legal guardian of the registrant
- A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of the registrant
- A party entitled to receive the record as a result of a court order, or an attorney or a licensed adoption agency seeking the birth record in order to comply with the requirements of Section 3140 or 7603 of the Family Code
- A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business
- An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant's estate, or any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the registrant or the registrant estate
Informational Certified Copies
Those who are not authorized or do not wish to submit the notarized Certificate of Identity may receive an Informational Certified Copy.
Informational Certified Copies have the words "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY," imprinted across the face of the copy.
Authorized vs. Informational Certified Copies:
Authorized copies are used for legal purposes. Informational copies are used for mostly non-legal purposes and ancestry.
Birth Record Request Options
The REAL ID Act
To obtain a REAL ID some individuals may need a copy of their birth and/or marriage certificate, and possibly amend a record for accuracy. We encourage customers to review the requirements to obtain a REAL ID driver's license.
Check the requirements with your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to help plan and minimize potential delays to obtain the required documentation.
Information on the requirements for California's REAL ID can be found on the DMV's REAL ID Interactive Checklist.