| Considered as vital records, birth certificates are | | | | statistics and demographics related to a particular |
| documents containing information about the birth of | | | | location since they are used as the basis for |
| an individual, including the name at birth, the date, | | | | computations. For countries that have a national |
| time and place of birth, a birth registration number | | | | identification system, birth certificates are the |
| and the name of the birth parents. All newborn | | | | foundations of the allocation of the digits assigned to |
| children are required to get a birth certificate, but this | | | | individuals. |
| is usually obtained after the doctor handling the | | | | Keep in mind, however, that the original copy of the |
| childbirth submits the forms to the proper | | | | birth certificate stays with the registrar in your locale, |
| government agency. Aside from recording live births, | | | | but you can request for copies of birth certificates at |
| birth documents also record still births that occur | | | | any time. Just make sure that the copies you acquire |
| within certain vicinities. | | | | are certified or authenticated to prove that they are |
| People acquire their own birth records for a number | | | | faithful copies of the original. |
| of very important reasons. It is usually one of the | | | | Most registrars have two kinds of birth certificates, |
| requirements when applying for a visa or for a | | | | namely the long forms and the short forms. Long |
| passport. In fact travel between the US, Canada and | | | | forms, which are usually photocopies, contain all the |
| Mexico will require birth certificates by the year 2007. | | | | information from the original, including data about the |
| You can also use birth documents to prove your | | | | birth parents. Short forms, on the other hand, contain |
| nationality. In some countries, the citizenship of an | | | | limited information. Short forms, also called computer |
| individual is highly dependent on where you were | | | | certifications, are oftentimes cheaper than the |
| born so birth certificates become particularly helpful. | | | | photocopies. |
| In determining your genealogy, birth records are | | | | Birth certificates in the form of computer |
| valuable since they also indicate the maiden name of | | | | certifications have now been made available online for |
| your birth mother. | | | | a minimal fee. Acquiring birth certificates online allows |
| Birth certificates are also fundamental requirements | | | | you the anonymity of requesting for birth certificates |
| when getting a social security number, enrolling in | | | | belonging to other people whether for purposes of |
| school or applying for an insurance plan. For parents, | | | | tracing your ancestry or conducting research on an |
| getting the birth records of their children is essential | | | | individual. |
| when submitting claims for child benefits as well as | | | | As with any request for public records, you will need |
| tax benefits. Voting, obtaining work permits, entering | | | | basic information such as the name of the individual |
| the military service and qualifying for pension are | | | | and the place where the birth took place for any |
| other instances in which birth certificates are | | | | requests. Depending on the service you are using, |
| considered required documentation. | | | | you will be able to receive copies of birth certificates |
| Birth records also hold valuable in determining the | | | | in as little as 24 hours. |