- A certified copy of a birth certificate is a document that has an official state registrar’s raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, the registrar’s signature as well as the date the certificate was filed with the registrar’s office, which has to be within one year of the person’s birth.
What is the difference between an original birth certificate and a certified copy?
A certified copy of your birth certificate is a copy made by the state agency charged with storing the documents. Agency registrars stamp, emboss or sign the copy to indicate that it is a true and correct copy of the original document in their records. Certified copies are generally required for passport applications.
What does a photocopy birth certificate look like?
A certified copy of a birth certificate has an official state registrar’s raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar’s signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar’s office, which must be within one year of the person’s date of birth.
Is a copy of your birth certificate just as good as the original?
All copies must be obtained directly from the agency that issued the original document (hence the seal), so a photocopy is not a valid copy. Depending on the state where you were born, the seal might be raised or embossed, multicolored, or impressed into the paper.
What happens when you photocopy a birth certificate?
A: A photocopy of the birth certificate is not an acceptable form of proof of the event (the birth), including those so-called “ endorsed by a recognised body. You should send an original certificate The Passport Office will return this to you once they have seen it, and you can keep it for future use.
What if my birth certificate does not have a raised seal?
If the white and black copy of your birth certificate does not include a multi-colored or raised seal, it is not a certified copy and probably will not be accepted as a legal document. Even if your white and black copy does contain a seal, it may not be accepted as a legal copy due to the age of the document.
What is a certified copy of birth certificate?
A certified copy of a birth certificate issued by the Local Vital Records Office will have a raised seal, will show the signature of the Local Registrar, and will be printed on security paper. State law restricts who may obtain a certified copy of a birth certificate.
Can I get a copy of my birth certificate online?
You can get a certified copy of your birth certificate online or by visiting the birth certificate office where the person on record was born. Ordering your birth certificate online is the easiest way to order birth records.
What is an original birth certificate?
An original birth certificate is the certificate issued by the Registry of Births, Death and Marriages at the time of a baby’s birth. Under adoption legislation, a person who is adopted receives a new birth certificate that carries the names of the adoptive parent(s).
Is it illegal to copy your birth certificate?
Can I Photocopy My Own Birth Certificate? In most states, it’s _not _illegal to obtain a birth certificate photocopy of your _own _records for personal use —unless, of course, your purpose is to commit fraud. However, it is illegal to photocopy a third person’s vital records with out their consent.
Can I use a scanned copy of birth certificate?
Some may see the list above and say, “But a scan or copy of a birth certificate or passport isn’t valid as a legal document!” That’s true. They’re meant to provide some proof of what was on the original documents as a hedge against the time it will take to get new documents created.
Why is there a barcode on my birth certificate?
The new Birth Certificate contains a 2D bar code which contains the same information about the certificate holder that is printed on the front of the document. The new Birth Certificate contains a 1D bar code which contains the number of the Birth Certificate.