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