Birth records are among the most valuable and commonly used documents in genealogical research. These records not only provide information about when a family member was born, but also help identify their parents.
However, obtaining birth records can be a challenge due to privacy laws. In this article, we will explore the types of birth records available, the information they provide, and where to find them.
Types of Birth Records
There are three types of birth records:
- Original Documents: Birth records are typically created at the time of birth, signed by the attending doctor, witnessed, and filed. However, in some cases, this process may not occur.
- Amended Birth Documents: Changes to the original registration, such as the discovery that the father of the child is different from what was originally documented, may result in an amended birth registration.
- Delayed Birth Documents: In some instances, a birth certificate is not issued immediately, resulting in the issuance of a delayed birth certificate at a later date.
It is important to know what type of document is available when requesting birth records, as using incorrect terminology could result in receiving no information.
Information Found in a Birth Certificate
While the information provided in a birth certificate may vary depending on when and where the birth occurred, most certificates include:
a) The name of the child
b) The gender of the child
c) The child’s race
d) The mother’s name (sometimes the mother’s maiden name is also included)
e) The father’s name
f) Date, time, and location of the birth
Some birth certificates may contain additional information, such as:
a) The mother’s age, race, occupation, and place of birth
b) The father’s age, race, occupation, and place of birth
c) The number of children in the family
d) The number of this child in the family
Where to Find Birth Records
The best way to find birth records is to contact the community where the person was born. The records are filed permanently in a state/provincial vital statistics office or in a local office or archives if the records are old enough.
Guidelines for obtaining birth records can be found on the Canadian and United States government websites. You can also find a list of where to write for vital records in the United States.
Fees and policies for obtaining birth records vary by location, but all locations require the following information to obtain a birth record:
- Full name of person whose record is requested.
- Sex.
- Parents’ names, including mother’s maiden name.
- Month, day, and year of birth.
- Place of birth (city or town, county, and state) and the name of the hospital, if known.
- Purpose for which copy is needed.
- Relationship to person whose record is requested.
- Daytime telephone number with area code.
In addition to contacting the community where the person was born, birth records may also be found in military information, city directories, and census data.
Obtaining birth records may require patience and persistence, but they are one of the most useful pieces of information in a genealogy project.
