Torn Birth Certificate ok?

[scottie]

We managed to find my wife’s Birth Certificate...However the bottom left corner has been torn off over time. You can see the raised seal that is on the opposite right hand corner which is still intact. The only thing that was missing on the document from the torn off part is a section of a doctors signature. Will we be ok taking this with us in September?

[Dave_from_Marietta]

You might want to take it to your local passport office to see if they would accept it for a passport application.

[dgroet]

Go to your county health department and obtain a new birth certificate. I think you may have to send away for it if you no longer live in the city you were born. I just obtained a copy of mine today, as mine didn't have a raised seal. I paid $10 for it.

[scottie]

Yeah, we were trying to avoid ordering a copy from VitalCheck but we may not be so lucky.

[peg2001]

VitalCheck is convenient but you may be able to save a few bucks by ordering the birth certificate directly from the state where your wife was born. I did this for myself and my husband (Tennessee and North Carolina). Both states had information on how to order a birth cert on their website.

Peg

[kellyb2000]

Just FYI- if you have to send off for a birth certificate, do it by the county you were born in NOT the state. I live in Tennessee but had to get a copy of my husband's birth certificate from Orange County, CA and I almost had a nervous breakdown (exagerating just a wee bit) wondering if I would get it in time for our vacation. I ordered it from the State of California three times and even had "rush delivery" on it and it took as long as six months to get . I ordered it from Orange County and it took a week.

[disneydeb]

go to the town hall in the city where your wife was born they can give you one for 6 dollars just make sure it is the long form birth certificate and NOT the wallet card one.

[Windermere]

For Pennsylvania you have to order it from the state. The office is in New Castle - no where near the Capital and it didn't take long at all. If I remember correctly, they won't even talk about a birth certificate anywhere else in the state.

[peg2001]

I was born in Tennessee and ordered my birth certificate from the STATE in accordance to the instructions on the state website (you have to fill out an application and mail it in with payment). I received my birth certificate in 10 days and it cost $5!

I've ordered my husband's from the STATE of North Carolina for $10 one month ago. Haven't received it yet but they warned it could take 6 to 8 weeks.

You can usually pick up a birth certificate in person in the county where you were born but usually, if you are requesting by mail, it is through the state. This may vary widely in different states but this is my experience.

Peg

[SC Minnie]

When we sailed in January we were waiting for our turn to show our birth certificates to the Customs officer and noticed this lady with a BC that was literally about to fall apart. It appeared to have more holes than paper. She went through without a problem.

I ordered copies of mine and DD's from VitaCheck and had them in less than 2 weeks. I ordered 2 of both so we could keep one at home and one in the safe deposit box just in case we lost the one at home.:rolleyes: