what kind of lawyer do i need to get an id or birth certificate

by Prof. Eino Schulist PhD 6 min read

What information do I need to fill out a birth certificate?

If you are experiencing any issues associated with your birth certificate, you should consult with an experienced and local government lawyer. An experienced and local government attorney will be able to determine your best course of legal action, and can assist with the process of obtaining your birth certificate.

What kind of birth certificate do I need to teach Legal Docs?

She has to prove all name changes from birth to present. Since she was never legally adopted, we can't provide a paper trail from her birth name to her adopted name. Her identification paper …

How do I get a copy of my birth certificate?

Jun 19, 2013 · 1 attorney answer. You likely will need a name change which will take a bit over a month. A lawyer can get it done in the earliest time possible. If you find this answer helpful, …

What should I do if I Can’t find my birth certificate?

When submitting your application to request a certified copy of your birth certificate, you are required to prove your identity. In most cases, you will be required to provide a copy of your …

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What is a birth certificate?

A birth certificate is a document issued by a government that records the birth of a child for vital statistics, tax, military, and census purposes. The birth certificate is among the first legal documents an individual might acquire.

Did people keep birth certificates?

Birth certificates were acceptable documentation of American citizenship, but many people did not maintain copies. During the period 1940–1945, approximately 43 million Americans, nearly one-third of the working population, filed requests with their states to get a state-certified copy of their birth certificate.

Is there a national birth registry?

In the United States, there is no national (federal) birth registry, as you might see in other nations, such as the United Kingdom. Instead, birth certificates are issued by the states, which are obligated under law to report annual vital statistics data to the federal government. (Note that if a baby is born to American parents overseas, the U.S. Department of State collects that data.) Within each state, the management of birth certificates might be further decentralized, with data collected and certificates issued at the county or municipal level. Birth data is submitted to the state, county, or municipality by parents, doctors, midwives, and hospitals, typically via paper or electronic forms. The state and federal governments use this data to understand population changes, childbirth trends, maternal and fetal health and mortality, new parent demographics, and other trends that inform policymakers.

What is the federal government's guidance on birth certificates?

The federal government issues guidance to the states about what information should appear on the certificates. Both the Standard Certificate of Live Birth and the guidelines about state-issued birth certificate documents are updated periodically, per requirements of the Model State Vital Statistics Act (1959).

When did the US start collecting birth certificates?

The documentation of births and other vital statistics (e.g., birth, death, marriage, divorce) has been a long-standing tradition among populations for centuries, typically through individual families or their churches. The idea that a government should also record this vital information is a relatively modern development. The United Kingdom was the first country to mandate collection of birth data at the national level in 1853. The United States began collecting birth data at the national level in 1902, via the U.S. Census. Certain individual states had already been collecting birth data, including Virginia, which began collecting data as a colony in 1632 and Massachusetts in 1639, so it became a matter of getting each state to follow suit. The federal government first developed a standard birth certificate application form in 1907, five years after the Census Bureau began collecting data. The current system of the states collecting data and reporting it to the federal government developed between 1915, when the federal government mandated that states collect and report the data, and 1933, by which time all of the states were participating. In 1946, responsibility for collecting and publishing vital statistics at the national level shifted from the Census Bureau to the national Office of Vital Statistics, which is now the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Today, the NCHS is part of the Centers for Disease Control, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

How many people got a copy of their birth certificate in 1940?

During the period 1940–1945, approximately 43 million Americans, nearly one-third of the working population, filed requests with their states to get a state-certified copy of their birth certificate. In 1942, Good Housekeeping published an article on the importance of getting copies of one’s birth certificate.

Why do soldiers need a birth certificate?

Soldiers needed to show a marriage license and child’s birth certificate in order to secure health coverage for dependents.

What information do you need to get a birth certificate?

You will be required to provide the following data: Parents’ full names (and in some states), their marital status at the time of your birth.

Can you request a copy of a birth certificate?

When ordering a birth certificate, you must also provide your relationship with the person on record. In some states , the records are sealed, and only direct family members may request a certified copy of the birth certificate.

Where are birth certificates maintained?

Birth certificates are maintained at a state and county level. Each state has their form to complete with basic information about the person whose certificate you are requesting. You will be required to provide the following data:

Do I need a copy of my photo ID?

In most cases, you will be required to provide a copy of your photo ID, i.e., passport, driver’s license or state photo ID. Most states offer lists of alternative forms of identification should a valid form of photo ID not be available, like work ID, utility bill, school ID, or property tax bill. Usually, in these cases, you will be required ...

What happens if you lose your birth certificate?

If you have lost your birth certificate, if it’s damaged or destroyed, you will need to replace it.

What documents are needed to get a birth certificate?

Proof of identity: you can bring a certified copy of your birth certificate (issued by a city, county, or state vital statistics office, U.S. passport, employment authorization document, permanent resident card, or foreign passport with an approved form I-94.

How to get a real ID card?

In order to get a REAL ID card you will need to visit a DMV office with the required documents. You can complete your driver’s license application online. A gold or black star in the top right corner will identify your document as a federal compliant REAL ID driver's license and identification card.

When was the real ID law passed?

Requirements to get a Real ID. The Real ID Act was formulated in the wake of September 11 and was passed by Congress in May 2005. It was an Act of Congress that modified the U.S. federal law that is in charge of security, authentication and the issuing of procedures for state driver’s licenses, identity documents and various immigration issues ...

What are the alternatives to a real ID?

The alternative to a REAL ID are a U.S. passport or U.S. passport card. As of May 2021, the states and territories listed below have been certified by the Department of Homeland Security as being in compliance with DHS criteria. Alabama. Alaska*. Arizona*.

What is the real ID act?

It was an Act of Congress that modified the U.S. federal law that is in charge of security, authentication and the issuing of procedures for state driver’s licenses, identity documents and various immigration issues related to terrorism. Furthermore, the Real ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission's recommendation to the federal government.

How to get a copy of a vital record?

State government vital records offices issue these documents. To get a copy of a vital record, contact the vital records office in the state where the event occurred.

What is a marriage certificate?

Marriage Licenses and Marriage Certificates. A marriage license is the piece of paper that authorizes you to get married. A marriage certificate is the document that proves you are married. Typically, after the ceremony, you, your spouse, and witnesses will sign the license.

What is an ID card?

Identification (ID) cards help you prove who you are, where you live or work, and what benefits you’re entitled to. Tip: To get any type of replacement ID card, you may need to show or mail in other official documents (like a birth certificate) to prove who you are.

How to replace a lost license?

2. Replace Your Social Security Card. Contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) to request a replacement card. 3. Replace Your Medicare ID Card. Get in touch with the Medicare program to replace your lost or stolen Medicare card.

Can you get identifying information about your adoption?

You may be able to get identifying or non-identifying information about your adoption. What information you can obtain will depend on state statutes. Some states have age restrictions or require court proceedings to get information about an adoptee’s birth.

Do birth parents have to give consent to release birth records?

Some states may require the consent of both the birth parents and adoptive parents for the release of records. However, the release of information varies by state. If your state does not maintain a mutual consent registry, there are other ways to obtain records through consent.

How is an adoptee's birth certificate kept?

The adoptee’s original birth certificate is then sealed and kept confidential by the state’s vital records department. Half the states in the U.S. require a court order to unseal an original birth certificate. However, many states allow access to original birth certificates through: A request from the adult adoptee.

How to sign an affidavit?

Credible witnesses are required to sign an affidavit which states: 1 The signer of the document is known to the credible witness. 2 The credible witness believes the signer of the document does not possess an acceptable form of identification. 3 The credible witness believes the signer of the document is reasonably unable to obtain an acceptable form of identification. 4 The credible witness has no financial interest or incentive for the document’s execution.

What happens if a client fails to provide an acceptable form of identification?

If the client fails to provide an acceptable form of identification, the notary public is legally obligated to refuse the service.

What is the job of a notary public?

The job of a notary public may seem easy enough, but they are responsible for performing several crucial duties to ensure the document’s execution is performed correctly and according to federal and state laws. These duties include verifying the signer’s identify and ensuring the document is signed without coercion.

When did Clay start Superior Notary Services?

In 2000 Clay started Superior Notary Services and revolutionized the notary public field by pioneering the mobile signing service. By offering Corporate notaries that travel to the location of the client’s choosing, Clay set the industry-standard in convenience.

What is a credible witness?

A credible witness is a person who knows the signer of the document and can vouch for his or her identity. It’s important to note that not all states allow the use of credible witness to verify a signer’s identify. But a signer can’t use a credible witness for the sake of convenience.

What are unaccepted forms of identification?

Unaccepted forms of identification may include the following: Birth certificates. Social security cards. School identification cards. Credit cards. Debit cards. If you are unable to obtain an acceptable form of identification, you may be able to verify your identify to the notary public through a credible witness.

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A Decentralized System

  • In the United States, there is no national (federal) birth registry, as you might see in other nations, such as the United Kingdom. Instead, birth certificates are issued by the states, which are obligated under law to report annual vital statistics data to the federal government. (Note that if a baby is born to American parents overseas, the U.S. ...
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Not A Clear Paper Trail

  • The documentation of births and other vital statistics (e.g., birth, death, marriage, divorce) has been a long-standing tradition among populations for centuries, typically through individual families or their churches. The idea that a government should also record this vital information is a relatively modern development. The United Kingdom was the first country to mandate collectio…
See more on americanbar.org

Proof of Citizenship

  • During World War II and the years after, employers increasingly asked prospective employees to offer proof of their citizenship status. Federal employment laws for certain industries, such as aircraft manufacturing, already mandated that employers hire citizens, and many Americans did not have any proof of their citizenship status. Many Americans trying to get jobs in the wartime …
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Changing A Birth Certificate Document

  • It is rare that a birth certificate requires a change, but each issuing state, county, or municipality has protocols in place to request changes. The laws about what might be changed, and for what reasons, however, vary from state to state. Sometimes birth certificates contain errors, so the requested change could be a simple correction. Other common birth certificate document chang…
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Requesting A Copy of A Birth Certificate Document

  • Requests for copies of a birth certificate are far more common than changes to a birth certificate document. Much like the protocols in place to request changes, each state has protocols in place for requesting copies of birth certificate documents. Typically, requests may be made online, via a state’s website. Conducting a simple Internet search for the state name + “request birth certifica…
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