Birth Certificates With No Raised Seal?

[Wish Upon A Star]

Ok, I hunted down our birth certificates and found that both mine and DH's even though they are the original birth certificates, they have no raised seal like my DD and DS birth certificates have.

Anyone have a birth certificate that is original with no raised seal on it? Will DCL accept this?

 

[ivanova]

my b/c from LA County (circa 1960s) does not have a raised seal but is official (stamp is in purple ink) and is accepted like those with raised seals.

 

[musicgirl]

Yes, it will be accepted. Not all birth certificates have raised seals.

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

They aren't even stamped . . .but they are typed on a nice cardstock . . .they say Statement of Birth on the front and on the backside it lists 6 things like good for school enrollment, certification, etc. They are circa 1960's.

 

[ivanova]

they may not be considered "certified" copies then ... and you do need "certified" (stamped, raised seal, etc.)

 

[Kaa]

My husband's birth certificate from Harris County, TX doesn't have a raised seal either. There is verbage at the bottom of the certificate that states it is certified and proof of certification is the embossed edges of the certificate. He has used it 5 times now without any problem.

 

[DrCavin]

Best to contact DCL & get an answer from them.

 

[JulieWent]

My original from Ventura County, California had a raised seal, but it has kind of worn down. I went ahead and ordered another one, just to be sure. The new one is very raised.

Julie

 

[Rence]

It is true that not all Birth Certificates have raised seals, but you do not a certified copy of your birth certificate. How different government entities certify them can vary from county to county.

What concerns me is that it says "Statement of Birth" on the document. I had always heard this used to refer to a different document. I did some web searching and on several different county websites they refer to the paperwork filed at the time of birth as a "Statement of Birth", some counties indicate that you will get a copy of the Statement of Birth at the time the paper work is filed. This may be what you have.

All these sites then go on to refer to how to obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate. Because they discuss these two documents seperately, I would think that they may be different documents.

I'm not an expert, but when I read you post there was something about the title "Statement of Birth" that bothered me. So I would recommend that you at least check it out. Perhaps you could call the county that issued the document to see if that is what a certified birth certificate looks like. If its not, then you could get the information to order one.

 

[anlashokna]

Run into this all the time processing passports. The Birth Certificates are likely from the hospital given to your parents as a momento of the occasion, they look official but are not. Most hospitals have always given out a nice certificate of birth but its not an official state birth certificate. You can get an official certificate quickly through www.vitalchek.com.

 

[scrapperjill]

They aren't even stamped . . .but they are typed on a nice cardstock . . .they say Statement of Birth on the front and on the backside it lists 6 things like good for school enrollment, certification, etc. They are circa 1960's.

Wish upon a star...this would concern me...It sounds as if what you have is the actual hospital birth cercertificat...and not a certified BC...that you have to order from the state/county vital records...they cost anywhere from$5-25 depending on what state/county your in. It's not something you just get after the birth of a child...but something you need to send off for. Of course I haven't seen all 50 states BC...but the ones that I have seen have never said anything on the back as to what it may be used for.

We went down to the vital records office in our home town (you can go to any within the state that your birth was in)...requested it..paid the fee and had them within a few min.

Good luck.

 

[minkydog]

Or you can do what i did, which is take it to a notary with your Driver's License and any other documentation you may have to prove who you are. The notary will stamp it and sign it and then it will be official.

I went through this when i went on a mission trip with my old hospital-issued birth certificate (the only one I have ever had)and was stopped upon entering the country(Jamaica). It took some fancy footwork to get in and then get back out again. Soon as I got home I got that thing fixed! Didn't want to be held up in Canada or South America.

 

[tvguy]

I have to deal with this all the time with Little League. An official birth certificate MUST have either:

1) A raised seal
2) An official stamp (and must be the original, not a copy)
3) Printed on special official document paper (and be an original)

A notary would be useless. They can only attest to whether a signature on a document is yours, they can not make an unofficial birth certificate offical.

An easy test is to take the birth certificate to the closest Post Office that handles Passports, they can tell you in an instant if this is an official Birth Certificate.
Speaking of Passports, they are the BEST proof of birth. The only time our birth certificates are ever out of our sight is when we renew our Passports. We use the Passports for school/little league/soccer and travel. They are durable, and an official document, and so our Birth Certificates don't get beat up. I can't tell you how many badly beaten up Birth Certificates I have had to examine for Little League. Some have gotten wet, others the kids have drawn on the back with crayons, others look like the dog ate them.

 

[scrapperjill]

But remember a BC costs as little as a few bucks...and it's EASY to get and to get replaced...a passport you first need to get the official BC, two passport photos...then send the official BC, photos, application, and a hefty fee to get the passport. In the end your looking at over $100 for a passport...easy.

Don't get me wrong...I lined right up to get mine..but for proof of ID for cruising or for little league...all you need is the $10 official birth certificate.

 

[minkydog]

I have to deal with this all the time with Little League. An official birth certificate MUST have either:

1) A raised seal
2) An official stamp (and must be the original, not a copy)
3) Printed on special official document paper (and be an original)

A notary would be useless. They can only attest to whether a signature on a document is yours, they can not make an unofficial birth certificate offical.

I beg to differ. It was not useless to me--i got my passport with the aforementioned birth certificate, no problem. I have also used it to obtain driver's licenses and nursing licenses in 4 states.

cathy

 

[HappyLawyer]

Be safe, if you have a local currency exchange you should be able to order state birth cert. for 10 bucks these will be certified

 

[disneygatorfan]

All DCL is looking for is a non-photo-copyed official document, from a government agency.


It needs to cary an official seal of some government agency, state or county usually. But some agencies do not have raised seals.

If your Birth certificate is from the hospital, then it will not be considered valid. If they are from a hospital, I would call DCL, run it by them, and then check with some of the internet sites that can provide documentation. Or if you live in the same state you were born in, they should have a vital records office in your county. Or, you can always contact the vital records office in your home state.. Many will let you overnight mail, or fax a request for a birth certificate, via photo id.

 

[tvguy]

I beg to differ. It was not useless to me--i got my passport with the aforementioned birth certificate, no problem. I have also used it to obtain driver's licenses and nursing licenses in 4 states.

cathy

No need to beg. As is often the case with life, there is policy, and there is practice.
I don't doubt that they accepted a notorized birth certificate.....however, they aren't supposed to under the law.

I have a Press Pass from the Daily Planet signed by Perry White....and I have used it to get past police lines.......but it is no substitute for my REAL press pass.

 

[minkydog]

No need to beg. As is often the case with life, there is policy, and there is practice.
I don't doubt that they accepted a notorized birth certificate.....however, they aren't supposed to under the law.

I have a Press Pass from the Daily Planet signed by Perry White....and I have used it to get past police lines.......but it is no substitute for my REAL press pass.

 

[ADisneygirl]

Run into this all the time processing passports. The Birth Certificates are likely from the hospital given to your parents as a momento of the occasion, they look official but are not. Most hospitals have always given out a nice certificate of birth but its not an official state birth certificate. You can get an official certificate quickly through www.vitalchek.com.

Look at the tag the Tag Fairy gave me and then take anlashokna's advice and get an official certificate through Vital Check. I did for my SECOND cruise. It will save you the aggravation, fear of being denied boarding and misery I went through.


Marie