Articles

Learn about US birth certificates, death certificates, and other vital records. Understand the different terms related to vital records in the United States, what purposes they serve, and more.

  • Illegal Baby Names in the U.S. and Around The World

    Illegal Baby Names in the U.S. and Around The World

    Choosing a baby name is personal, but it’s not always unlimited. In the United States, there’s no federal list of banned baby names, but states can reject names that include numbers, symbols, obscenity, or formatting that their vital records systems cannot process. Other countries are often str...

  • Birth Certificate Requirements for US Passports

    Birth Certificate Requirements for US Passports

    Getting a U.S. passport is not as complicated as some might think. However, it is important that applicants have the necessary requirements. One of the most important requirements to apply for a United States passport for the first time is a birth certificate. Obtaining a certified copy of a b...

  • How to Find Your Time of Birth

    How to Find Your Time of Birth

    Wondering what time you were born? Whether it's for medical purposes, astrology, or simply out of curiosity, finding the exact time of your birth can be a challenge. In this article, we'll walk you through the 3 most common ways to find out what time you were born, including asking your parent...

  • US Naming Laws by State

    US Naming Laws by State

    Baby name trends change from year to year, usually influenced by celebrities, fictional characters, and cultural or religious factors. In some states, guidelines on naming children are in place, which must be followed in order to correctly register a birth and get an official birth certificate...

  • Where Can I Get a Photo ID Besides the DMV?

    Where Can I Get a Photo ID Besides the DMV?

    A driver’s license is one of the most common forms of photo ID in the United States, but it’s not the only option. If you don’t drive or can’t apply for a license, you can often use other types of government-issued ID when you need to verify your identity, age, or residency, like a State ID...

  • Birth Certificates: Long Form vs. Short Form

    Birth Certificates: Long Form vs. Short Form

    A birth certificate is an essential legal document, and in the U.S., there are two primary types: the long form and the short form. Both serve different purposes, and choosing the right one can be important for applications like passport applications, legal matters, REAL ID compliance, and more....

  • How to Access Public Records for Free

    How to Access Public Records for Free

    You can find some US birth records for free, but access depends on the age of the record and the state where the birth was registered. Recent birth certificates are generally restricted, but older records may be available through state archives, genealogy databases, or local record offices. To...

  • How Is Race Determined on Birth Certificates?

    How Is Race Determined on Birth Certificates?

    Race information on a US birth certificate is usually added during birth registration. In most cases, parents report their own race on the Certificate of Live Birth. However, this doesn’t always appear on the standard birth certificate you use for ID purposes. Any racial information declared...

  • How to Get a Birth Certificate From Another State

    How to Get a Birth Certificate From Another State

    It’s possible to get a copy of your birth certificate from another US state without traveling there in person. To do so, you need to file a request with the vital records office in the state where you were born, not the state where you currently live. There’s no national standard for birth certi...