Birth Records in the United States

A birth record (or birth certificate, or Certificate of Live Birth, as it can sometimes be called) in the United States is created whenever a new baby is born on United States soil. A birth record can be filled out by the mother or the hospital staff at time of birth, and contains information such as the baby’s full name, the gender of the new child, a physical description of the child (including race, length, weight and any physical abnormalities), time of birth, date of birth, location of where the birth occurred, parents’ full names and the name of the attending physician. Once the form is complete, the birth record is forwarded onto the state or local vital records registrar.

There is not one standard form that each state uses, and each state is free to create its own format for a birth record. Keeping a correct birth record is the state’s responsibility. However, from 1900 to 1946, the United States Census Bureau did create a standard form for birth records. This government office also collected vital statistics and had a general goal to increase the accuracy of all vital records recording. In 1946, these duties were passed to the United States Public Health Service, which creates forms they recommend for standardized use by the individual states.

This is very important, because birth records are used to establish citizenship in the United States; without a proper birth record, no Social Security card, passport or work visa can be issued, and the Social Security card is paramount to many things in the United States (including identity verification for a job).

With the advancement of the Internet, people can obtain birth records by placing a request online and either waiting for the official copy to come in the mail or view a shorter copy online. Typically, the shorter copy cannot be used to prove identity, however.