Searching for your Own Birth Record

Birth records are the proof that we were born. No matter where you were born, your birth will be recorded in that county. Surprisingly, people who were adopted or who are estranged from their families may not know where they were born. Ye, when the go to apply for a job or a driver’s license, they will need a copy of their birth record.

The procedure for recording births and then storing them may vary from state to state, but have some similarities.

• Most births must be attended by a physician, midwife or other medical professional. If the mother went into labor away from home or a medical facility, usually a doctor will exam the child and records the birth after the delivery. Some families do not wish to have anyone present at the birth of their child and arrange in home births that are private. While this is a rare situation, arrangements need to be made with the county’s record office to make sure the child’s birth is recorded properly.
  
  
• In some states, like Georgia, birth records are kept by the county health departments. Some states have established departments of vital statistics to keep birth records. Other states house birth records at various offices at the county courthouse.
  
  
• Birth records must have an official state or county seal. Even if you are getting a copy of your birth certificate, that copy must be sealed to be official. If you need the birth record to get a driver’s license in another state, the licensing agency will likely not take it without the official seal.

If you were born in another state or county and need a copy of your birth record, how can you find it? You must know the state and county where you were born and the exact date. Once you have determined the county, you must find out who is in charge of the birth records. As mentioned above, this could be the health department, the office of vital statistics or an office at the county courthouse. Unfortunately, some smaller counties will require you to pick up a copy of your birth record in person. If you live miles away this can be inconvenient. Some counties will allow a parent or sibling to pick up the record. Your relative can mail the record to you, which saves you time and money.

Searching birth records from county to county and state to state can be time consuming. A better option is to use an online service that specializes in record searches. These services will allow you to access birth records from across the nation for less than $10. You can find out where you were born and in most case you can determine which county or state agency can provide the record to you faster than searching from agency to agency. Unless you want to spend countless hours on the phone or online searching for a birth record, an online search is your best option.