Birth Certificates
A certified birth certificate is an official government document that records the details of a person's birth. It is one of the most fundamental forms of identification and is required for many important life events. Whether you need a replacement copy for yourself or are ordering one for a family member, GoCertificates makes the process simple.
When Do You Need a Birth Certificate?
There are many situations where a certified copy of a birth certificate is required. Here are some of the most common:
Passport Applications
School & Sports Enrollment
Driver's License or State ID
Employment Verification
Social Security Benefits
Marriage License Applications
International Travel
Legal Proceedings & Name Changes
Many organizations and government agencies require a certified copy specifically — a photocopy of your original will not be accepted in most cases.
How It Works
Ordering a certified birth certificate through GoCertificates is straightforward. Here's what to expect:
1
Select Your State
Birth certificates are issued by the state where the birth occurred. Even if you've moved, you'll need to order from your birth state.
2
Complete the Application
Our guided online form collects the information the state requires. The process takes most people less than 10 minutes.
3
Verify Your Identity
For your protection, states require identity verification. You'll upload a photo of an acceptable government-issued ID. Some states may also require proof of your relationship to the person named on the certificate.
4
We Review & Submit
Our team reviews your application for accuracy before submitting it to the state agency. This step helps reduce delays caused by errors or missing information.
5
Certificate Delivered
The state agency processes your request and ships the certified certificate directly to you. Processing times vary by state and are determined by the issuing agency.
What You'll Need
Personal Details
- Full name as it appears on the birth record
- Date of birth
- Place of birth (city/county and state)
- Parent names (may vary by state)
- Your relationship to the person on the certificate
Acceptable Forms of ID
- State-issued photo driver's license
- State-issued photo ID card
- U.S. or foreign passport
- U.S. military ID card
- School, university, or college ID card
- Certificate of U.S. citizenship
- Temporary or permanent resident card
Additional ID options may be available depending on the state. Requirements are shown during the ordering process.
Processing Times & Fees
Processing times and fees vary from state to state. Here's what to keep in mind:
- Processing time is determined by the state agency, not GoCertificates. This is the time it takes the state to review, approve, print, and prepare your certificate for shipping.
- Shipping time is separate from processing time. Add both together for your total expected delivery window.
- Expedited options are available in many states and can be selected at checkout. Note that choosing expedited shipping does not always expedite the state's processing time.
- Our service fee covers the cost of our secure online platform, guided application process, accuracy review, and expert support throughout.
- State agency fees are charged separately by the issuing state for the certificate itself. These are set by each state and are outside our control.
You can check the status of your order at any time. If you have questions about your specific timeline, contact us at 1-800-324-6380 (Option 1) or orderprocessing@genesisinfo.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click on any question below to reveal the answer.
A Certified Copy of a Birth Certificate has an official seal (raised, embossed, multicolor, or impressed, depending on the state),
a state registrar’s signature and the date it was originally filed. It is the most accepted version of your birth certificate besides
the original. Many entities will not accept a photo copy of the original and require you to provide a Certified Copy.
A certified birth certificate can be typically used for travel, passport, proof of citizenship, social security, driver's license,
school registration, and other legal purposes.
Processing and shipping times vary from state to state. Processing and shipping are separate procedures and the times should be
added together to determine when the Certificate will be delivered. Many, but not all, states offer expedited processing and shipping
which you may select during checkout to speed up the process. Choosing expedited shipping does not always mean that the state will
expedite the processing in every state. Please refer to your email confirmation, we have provided you a link where you may check the
status of your order. If you have not received this email, please contact us and we can provide you with that information.
1-800-324-6380 (Option 1) or orderprocessing@genesisinfo.com
You will need to order a Certified Copy in the state you were born, the state you reside in will not be able to assist you with this record.
This also varies state to state. Typically, you may order a birth certificate for yourself or those related to you but for security
reasons, you may be asked to provide proof of your relationship. After you select your state, click the relationship link to see who you
may order for.
For security reasons we need to verify who you are in order for the state to release any records to you. Verification by ID will
ensure the safety of your personal information.
Most states will accept the following forms of identification:
- • State Issued Photo Driver’s License
- • State Issued Photo ID Card
- • U.S. Passport
- • Foreign Passport
- • U.S. Military ID Card
- • School, University or College ID Card
- • Certificate of U.S. Citizenship
- • Temporary or Permanent Resident Card
Many states have additional options you may use to verify your identity, they can be found during the ordering process.
Yes, if you cannot scan and upload the ID via your computer, you may take a clear, legible photo on your mobile phone/tablet and
send it to us at orderprocessing@genesisinfo.com. If you sent it by email, please include your order number for faster processing.
Yes, you can upload a photo of your ID to our site via your mobile phone/tablet two different ways. First, if you have an account,
you can log in to your account and choose the upload ID option. This will access your photo library and either allows you to choose a
photo already taken or to take the photo and upload it at that time. Second, if you have not created an account, you will get a link via
email. The link will connect you to the upload ID page where you can follow the steps above. This requires use of internet on your
mobile device and the regular charges will apply.
For our online orders we accept all major credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.
Ready to Order Your Birth Certificate?
Get started now — our guided process takes less than 10 minutes.
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