expired passport renewal with ripped birth certificate

[daisyx3]

My DH and I need to renew our expired passports for our cruise that sails in 90 days. I dug our materials out of my little safe only to find out my birth certificate (from the 60s)is ripped in half--on the seam where it was folded. Everything can still be read but it is in two pieces. The websites say you need a BC but nothing about it being in one piece.
We have planned on the morning to go get our pics at AAA and then to the post office. Any ideas on whether or not it will be accepted? I don't want to have to delay to drive to the county seat and get another copy.
Daisyx3

 

[bumbershoot]

I personally would just get the new certified copy. Especially since you're in driving distance.

 

[Capt_BJ]

if your passport is less than 15 years old - even if expired

it can be renewed by mail and no additional documentation is required other than a new picture

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports.html

Submit a U.S. Passport Application by Mail (from within the United States):
Read and understand Steps 1 - 6 before leaving this page.

1. Fill Out Form DS-82: Application For A U.S. Passport by Mail
2. Submit your most recent U.S. passport book and/or card
3. Submit a certified copy of your marriage certificate or court order if your name has changed
4. Pay the Applicable Fee
5. Provide One Passport Photo
6. Mail application

 

[malibuconlee]

Hmmm, I would definitely get a new certified copy of your birth certificate. Never know when you will need it. However, not sure you can get it from the county seat. The states I have dealt with you need to contact your state's Office of Vital Statistics. That is where you obtain a copy of your birth certificate.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Hmmm, I would definitely get a new certified copy of your birth certificate. Never know when you will need it. However, not sure you can get it from the county seat. The states I have dealt with you need to contact your state's Office of Vital Statistics. That is where you obtain a copy of your birth certificate.

It just depends on where you live. Where I live (MD), if you are born here, you can get a copy of your BC at the county courthouse.

 

[DaretoDis]

We just had to renew our expired passports last week, and they just took our old passports in place of birth certificates.

 

[CarolynFH]

We renewed our passports a couple of years ago. Mine had expired quite a few years ago, but as DaretoDis said it was sufficient - I didn't need to present my BC.

 

[Sadie22]

It just depends on where you live. Where I live (MD), if you are born here, you can get a copy of your BC at the county courthouse.

Perhaps the health department has an office in the county courthouse in your county. Otherwise I do not believe the above is accurate information.

 

[BelleBee]

Perhaps the health department has an office in the county courthouse in your county. Otherwise I do not believe the above is accurate information.

In my state, the health department has nothing to do with Vital Records. It is the Register of Deeds office for each county that handles birth certificate requests.

 

[Sadie22]

in the State of Maryland the Vital Statistics Administration is under the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

 

[KrazeeK120]

In my state, the health department has nothing to do with Vital Records. It is the Register of Deeds office for each county that handles birth certificate requests.

Where I live, birth certificates are obtained through the Health Department. I have a 2 month old son and I had to send the request form there to get his.

 

[bumbershoot]

So it's important that we all look up where, exactly, certified birth certificates can be gotten from depending on our own situation. We should never rely on general info from someone who was not born in our city/county/state (or country for that matter) on where to go. Google the county of the birth of the person you need a BC for, plus "certified birth certificate" and that will lead us to the correct place.