In the United States, your birth certificate is a primary form of identification. It also proves citizenship. All birth certificates share the same information. But not all copies of them are the same. You can receive this crucial piece of paper as a certified or informational version.
In some situations, a certified copy of your birth certificate is required. In other situations, presenting an informational copy is all you need to do. Let us explain. Here’s more information about certified birth certificates and how to know if your birth certificate is certified.
What Is a Certified Birth Certificate?
Certified and informational birth certificate copies contain the same information. However, only certified birth certificates can be used to verify an identity. Therefore, you’ll typically need a certified birth certificate when tracking down this vital document.
If you needed to prove someone is from a specific state, city, or country, an informational copy would do the job. You could also typically use this type of copy for genealogy or family history, but not for legal purposes.
Depending on who you are, you might not have the option to choose between a certified vs. an informational birth certificate copy. Some individuals don’t meet certain requirements. These people can only request non-official informational or heirloom copies.
However, in most states, only the person named on the certificate or that person’s relatives can qualify for how to get a certified birth certificate copy.
When Certified Birth Certificates Are Best
It’s always better to have a certified copy of your birth certificate when applying for a:
Having a certified birth certificate copy may also be a requirement for your child. For instance, most schools require this information from parents to ensure their children are at the appropriate age to start kindergarten.
What Does a Certified Birth Certificate Look Like?
At this point, you have an understanding of what certified birth certificates are. However, you may now be asking, “How do you know if your birth certificate is certified?” Thankfully, there are a few ways to answer this question.
Certified birth certificate copies typically feature:
- An Official Seal: If you’re unsure if your certificate is official, look for a government seal. It might be raised in the paper or include a signature from a state, county, or city registrar.
- Specific Stamping: In most cases, a certified birth certificate copy will feature the words “CERTIFIED COPY” in stamp or printed form.
- Paper Used: Sometimes, what a certified birth certificate looks like does involve what it’s printed on. Certified copies are typically printed on watermarked paper or a thicker type of paper. Informational birth certificate copies are often printed on plain paper.
Now that you know what a certified birth certificate is, wanting the easiest way to get it is understandable. Contact Vital Records Online. Our company helps customers throughout the United States obtain certified copies of birth certificates and other vital records. Additionally, our streamlined process saves you lots of time and effort.
