People usually need to obtain a new birth certificate after losing or damaging an old certificate, or after such changes as spelling corrections or name additions. In the United States, vital records for marriages, deaths and births fall under the management of each state or territory. As a result, to obtain a new birth certificate, you must submit a request directly to the department or division of Vital Records or Health and Human Services in the state or territory where the person named on the birth certificate was born. Requests may be made online or by phone, fax, mail or in-person.
Instructions
1. Go to your state or territory's Vital Records or Health and Human Services Web page or local office. If you don't know the web or local address, click the "Vital Records by State or Territory" link in the Resources section. Select the link for the state or territory where the person named on the birth certificate was born to access contact information provided by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
2. Select a method for submitting your birth certificate request according to your state or territory's procedures and/or your personal preferences. If submitting a written application, print or pick up a hard copy of any required form(s).
3. Provide vital statistics on the basis of the request method you chose. Include the full name (at birth) of the person whose certificate is requested, the date of birth, place of birth (town and/or county), mother's full name and maiden name, father's name, father's date of birth (if available), your name and your relationship to the person named on the certificate.
4. Submit the request with a copy of identification (for example, a driver's license, military ID, passport or other government ID) and any supporting or supplemental documentation, such as a court order, marriage license, power of attorney, acknowledgement of paternity, or other proof of relationship or right to the new birth certificate. If submitting your request via web form or phone, fax or mail the copy of your identification and/or any other documentation once you've submitted the request. In addition, submit any fees upfront via credit card or mail a money order or check.
5. Wait for four to six weeks for a new birth certificate request to be processed. If you're not contacted for additional information or or don't receive a copy of the new birth certificate by that time, call the office of Vital Statistics or Health and Human Services for an update on the status of your request.
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