After Birth

• After the birth of a child, the nurse or birth representative will assist the parents in completing the parenting information for the birth certificate. The information generally takes about two weeks to update. Depending on the state of the birth, parents will either receive a copy of the certificate in the mail or will be required to obtain the certificate from the U.S. Department of Vital Statistics in their local area.
  
  

Purchasing a Certificate

• Whether you are obtaining a birth certificate for the first time or simply need a new copy of the certificate, you can obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of Vital Statistics. There is a local office in every major city. You can locate the local offices by searching for the U.S. Department of Vital Statistics Office in the government section of your local white pages. Upon visiting the office, you will be required to complete a short request form. The form will ask for the name of the child, the name of the parents listed on the certificate and birth date. Upon turning in your request form, you will also be required to pay a certificate fee. In turn, the representative will provide you with the new birth certificate and an envelope for storage.
  
  

Write for Your Certificate

• You also have the option of mailing a written request for the certificate. Written requests should include the child's name as listed on the birth certificate, birth date and parents of the child. You will also need to include the applicable fee with your request. The requests should be sent to the Vital Statistics department in your state capital. Written requests can take up to 45 days and will be issued via standard mail.
  
  

Other Vendors

• There are many birth certificate vendors out there. It is important to use caution when using these services. The vendors generally charge more than Vital Statistics charges. Additionally, there may be concerns with protecting your information. For the most reliable certificate and safest return of information, you should obtain all government-issued documents directly from the government.