Birth Certificate- Hospital Copy Or State Copy

[bratray]

hi

how do i know if i have a hospital copy of a birth certificate or state copy- mine has a raised seal- am i to understand that hospital copies aren't accepted??.... is this because they don't have a raised seal

thanks

 

[ldb1030]

State certified copy of birth certificate is what you need. It's issued by the state, not the hospital.

 

[myboysmom]

Can you use a photocopy, or does it have to be the original?

 

[jel0511]

Originally posted by ldb1030
State certified copy of birth certificate is what you need. It's issued by the state, not the hospital.

Actually, that might be correct for where you live, but in NJ, our birth certificates are issued by the city/town you are born in.

Can you use a photocopy, or does it have to be the original?

It has to be the original, with the raised seal.

 

[bratray]

yes, that is where mine was registered- i live in NY state and it was registered by our city- i am really thinking about getting passports to be on the safe side- i couldn't imagine being told i had the wrong documentation and being denied boarding

 

[TiggerKing]

Originally posted by myboysmom
Can you use a photocopy, or does it have to be the original?

It does NOT have to be the original, but it does have to be a CERTIFIED copy, i.e. containing the raised seal of the state, city or county of your birth.

Also, from what I have discovered, make sure that you get the long form, and not the short form.

 

[ldb1030]

Originally posted by jel0511
Actually, that might be correct for where you live, but in NJ, our birth certificates are issued by the city/town you are born in. It has to be the original, with the raised seal.

Yes, that is correct for where I live but even in your state, is it not issued by the hospital.

Also, my family has short form and that has always worked fine!

 

[WMILLER86]

Short form-long form? What is the difference?


Willie

 

[cruisenewbie2004]

The hospital certificate is not official. It is a keepsake for the scrapbook, but not an official state document.

 

[tvguy]

Apparently some states issue a Birth Certificate without the parents name on it, I believe that is the short form they are referring to.
Kind of useless to me, since there are two reasons for the birth certificate, to prove where the person was born, and if they are a minor, to prove who their parents are.
The best solution if a passport, and if your kids last name is different from the parents they are traveling with, get whatever custody papers you have to prove you have legal custody.