A certificate of birth is an important document that gives essential information regarding a person’s birth. This document is vital because it provides the child’s statistics, tax, military, and census information. It also acts as a proof for an individual’s age, identity, and citizenship status. With it, you can acquire a social security number, driver’s license, or apply for other benefits.

You need to be familiar with the following tips for applying and replacing a U.S. birth certificate:

1. Types of birth certificates
The U.S. birth certificate is categorized into two; long-form and short-form birth certificates. A long-form certificate is a copy of the real document on file with the exact place where you were born. A short-form certificate is a notarized document proving the existence of a long-form guarantee on file. The following tips will help you to distinguish a long-form from a short form certificate. A long-form lists the exact hospital where you were born while a short form does not, a long-form certificate has a file number, and the date of filing of the certificate unlike a short form, long-form lists the parents’ names and birthdays while a short form does not.

2. Who can apply?
In the U.S., each state has its protocols for requesting and applying for copies of a birth certificate. You can either apply for a birth certificate online via the state’s website or manually. However, to apply for a birth certificate online, you need to be a citizen, either one of your parents or guardian is a U.S citizen. Also, in case you are the legal parent or guardian with full-court proof of child custody or were born in one of the country’s states.

3. Birth certificate with parental information
A birth certificate with parental information is of considerable significance to acquiring and replacement of birth certificates. The document is recommended for newborns where parental information is needed and can be used for the same identification purpose as a certificate of birth with subject information, child health insurance, and immigration or citizenship applications.

4. Certified copy of birth registration
To apply for a copy of your birth certificate, you need to get a certified copy of your certificate from the appropriate government agency. If you are a citizen by birth, you will go to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions to provide you with the name and address of each vital record office. U.S. non-citizens are advised to login to the U.S. Department of state’s website for the names of issuing authority in each state. A certified birth certificate should have your full names, date of birth, place of birth, parents’ name, the issuing agency, and official seal, registration date, and issuing date.

5. Cost and delivery
The cost of applying and delivery for birth certificates in the U.S.A varies from state to state. For instance, in 2018, the states-issued certificates of birth ranged between $ 7.00 in North Dakota to $ 34.00 in Michigan. In case you are a U.S. citizen, visit the vital records office for the cost and delivery while the non-citizens visit the issuing authority in each country.

6. How to order online
The United States offers an alternative to apply for a birth certificate online. There are two options here:

• Vital records online are the first option. You will be able to order your certificate in ten minutes. The certificate will be delivered to your door.
• Call vital records. With this option, you should be able to link with a person to guide you appropriately.