A formal written statement verifying a person’s name and date of birth, generally based on a report by the doctor attending at the birth and filed in a government office of vital statistics. A child who has been adopted will generally be issued a new birth certificate showing the date of birth, new name, and new parents, though not usually showing the fact of adoption. A hospital form showing a child’s name and date of birth may also be called a birth certificate. A birth certificate is a key personal document required for several purposes, such as to attest to the age of a child entering school, to obtain a passport, during adoption procedures, and to establish information for a pedigree in genetic counseling. Where to Write for Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Divorces (published by the Public Health Service, National Center for Health Statistics) tells where to write for copies of birth certificates, if needed.
The official record of a person’s birth, signed by the attending physician (if the delivery was assisted by a physician) or other authorized person. A record form designated by the state, which specifies the items of information to be included, must be used. The birth certificate is filed with the registrar (vital records) for the local unit of government, who in turn files a copy with the state office of vital statistics.
A legal written record of the birth of a child, as required by U.S. law.