The Importance of Having Your Birth Certificate

A birth certificate is a crucial document to have. This document is issued to record a person’s birth and includes identifying information, such as name, date of birth, gender and parentage. You might not think it is a vital piece of paper to retain in a safe place, but you need to think again!

Reasons That You Need a Birth Certificate

There are many reasons why you will need your birth certificate, but here are just a few:

• Getting Your Driver’s License: Most states in the US require that you have a birth certificate to prove your identity when applying for a driver’s license. Check with your local DMV to see if this is true in your state as well.
• Registering for School: If you are registering for school, you will need a birth certificate. This will prove to the school that you are whom you say you are and in the correct class based on your age.
• Playing Sports: When signing up for sports, there is often an age requirement. Having your birth certificate is necessary to prove what age you are so you can be placed on a team.
• Travel: If you are planning to travel out of the country, you will need your birth certificate to apply for a passport. In this instance, you will need a certified copy of your birth certificate.
• Marriage: If you are planning to get married, in some states, you may need to provide a copy of your birth certificate when applying for a marriage license.
• General Identification: There are numerous other instances where a birth certificate is required throughout life, and it is an essential document to have handy. You won’t need it every day, but the amount of times that you are asked for it may surprise you.

Certified vs. Un-Certified Birth Certificates

You might become confused at the difference between a Certified or Uncertified copy of your birth certificate. It is important to understand the difference between the two. A “Certified” Birth Certificate can be used for legal purposes. They have a raised seal and a signature to prove that they are an official, genuine birth certificate. Uncertified or Non-Certified copies of your birth certificate are generally photocopies of the official document and can only be used to informational purposes.

Can’t Find Your Certified Birth Certificate?

If you cannot find your Certified Birth Certificate, you might find yourself in a time crunch when it comes time to apply for a marriage license, passport or registering for school. Without this certified document, you will not be able to begin the process. If you are unsure where to begin, call Certified Field Agent! We have a team of trained, professional document retrieval specialists called Certified Field Agents, who will be able to locate and secure a certified copy of your birth certificate. Don’t pass up on that trip to Europe because you don’t think you can find the right documents, let Certified Field Agent track down your birth certificate!