How To Get A Copy Of My Birth Certificate

Miss Marsh has been a seasoned writer for 10+ years. She currently holds a BA in Writing and English and has an MS in Psychology.

Birth certificates are needed for just about everything now a days. It's best to keep a copy for yourself.

You Need a Birth Certificate More Than You Might Think

Birth certificates are required for just about everything, from ordering a passport or requesting public assistance to signing children up for sports activities or getting a social security card. It's a good idea to always have a copy of your birth certificate available because you never know when you will need it. Obtaining a copy of your birth certificate is easy if you follow these few simple steps.

Purchase a Copy of Your Birth Certificate Online

It's easy to get a copy of your birth certificate if you have access to the internet. You'll need just a few bits of information including your father's name, your mother's maiden name, and the city and state you were born in. You'll also need your maiden name, if you've ever been married, since this is the name your birth certificate will be listed under. If you aren't sure of some of this information, ask your parents...or request it from your local courthouse.

Visit the CDC website

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention website is the best place to start for ordering a copy of your birth certificate. Simply go to the CDC's website or Google the CDC. Next, click on the link for the state you were born in. Follow the instructions listed on the page. Most state websites have a link you can click on to take you right to a site for ordering your birth certificate quickly online. All you have to do is input your personal information, remembering to double check that you typed everything accurately.

Your birth certificate will cost a fee, but depending on what state you live in, this fee could be fairly low.

You Have to Pay a Fee

The fee for purchasing your birth certificate online is anywhere from $9-$30 depending on your state's guidelines. The CDC website lists the fee per state on their webpage so you know ahead of time. Many states offer birth certificates for newborns and those serving in the Armed Forces for free, so be sure to look around the site for that information before ordering. After verifying the cost of your birth certificate order, you'll come to a page that explains agency information about your birth certificate. Click "continue" once you have read and understand this information. The next few pages will request more detailed information including your maiden name, your parent's names (including mother's maiden name), and your gender. You will also be asked to provide your parents' middle names, so be sure you know this information.

Payment Processing

You will then be taken to the payment processing page of your birth certificate order. Input your shipping address and credit card information. Be sure that your credit card address matches the billing address or your birth certificate order will not be able to be processed. There will be a standard shipping fee on your birth certificate order for most states, so be sure to check that carefully before proceeding. You may pay more to have it shipped quicker if you choose. Regular standard shipping can take up to 2 weeks. Expedited shipping will get your birth certificate to you in a matter of a day or two.

Be sure to keep a copy of your receipt from your birth certificate order. This is good to have for your records in case something happens to your order.

Keep a Copy of Your Reciept

When your birth certificate order is complete, print a copy of the receipt for your records in case anything were to happen during processing and/or shipping. You will receive an email at the time of order verifying completion of your order. You'll also receive an email when your birth certificate has been shipped. If you have questions pertaining to your birth certificate order, you can follow the birth certificate guidelines link under the CDC website. See below for that link.

Links to Ordering your Birth Certificate

Where to Write for Vital Records - Homepage
The links below are provided for those users who want direct access to individual state and territory information. To use this valuable tool, you must first determine the state or area where the birth, death, marriage, or divorce occurred, then clic
Where to Write for Vital Records - Application Guidelines
An official certificate of every birth, death, marriage, and divorce should be on file in the locality where the event occurred. The Federal Government does not maintain files or indexes of these records. These records are filed permanently in a Stat

Ever Needed Your Birth Certificate in a Hurry?

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Steven on November 11, 2010:

I ordered mine from express vitals. Ordered online and it only took three days.