Although birth records are known as public files, they are not available to everyone and there are specific people who are allowed access to birth records. These people include the person whose name is on the birth certificate, a legal representative, someone from that person’s family and a power of attorney.

It’s obvious that the person whose name is on a birth certificate has access to the birth record but they will definitely have to prove their identity in order to obtain a copy. However, this shouldn’t be an issue since it’s every person’s right to obtain their own birth record.

Those in the immediate family of the person listed on a birth certificate are also entitled to the birth record. The immediate family includes spouses, parents, siblings and grandparents and they will also need to provide proof of identification as well as proof that they are in fact immediately related to the person whose birth records they are accessing. If you want to access the birth records of a person who has died and you are not in their immediate family, you may do so but only after providing a death record on site.

Lastly, a person with the power of attorney can obtain a copy of the birth records after proving their power by providing a notarized POA document. This document has to only be the original and no copies will be accepted as those who are responsible for guarding your records will not carelessly give out your information to the wrong people.