Birth certificates are vital records which are maintained by each state. Examples of other vital records are marriage licenses, divorce records, and death certificates. Birth certificates can be ordered one from the state where you were born.

Each state has a different process for ordering birth certificates but most of them provide a link on their official website where individuals can order birth certificates for a nominal fee. Before you submitting an order for a birth certificate check to see if your state is “closed records state” or an “open records state”. Closed records states will only provide vital records if they associated with the person who requests them or a direct descendant of the person who requests them. Open records states will usually provide vital to anyone who requests them. This is especially important to know if you are requesting a birth certificate(s) because as part of genealogy research.

A few things you should have available before prior to requesting a birth certificate:

1. The state where you or the person whose birth certificate you are requesting was born. Having the actual city of birth may also be of assistance during the process.
2. Plan to have 1-2 pieces of valid government issued identification (ID), like a driver’s license or passport.
3. You may need to provide the actual birth date.