Certificate of Live Birth definition

When a baby is born, both a certificate of live birth and a baby's birth certificate are issued. The certificate of live birth is an unofficial document issued by the hospital for data entry purposes.

The US Standard Certificate of Live Birth is a form used to register babies born medically alive in the US.

It is submitted via paper or electronically to the state, county, or municipality by the newborn’s parents, doctors or midwives attending the child’s birth, or the hospital or maternity center where the birth took place.

After the Certificate of Live Birth has been submitted, the state, county, or municipality where the birth occurred will issue a US birth certificate for the baby.

Birth Certificate vs Certificate of Live Birth

Due to the similarity of their names, some people wonder: “Is a certificate of live birth the same as a birth certificate?”

Simply put: No, a birth certificate and a certificate of live birth are not the same document, nor do they serve the same purpose.

A US birth certificate is the vital record issued after the certificate of live birth is submitted to the vital records office.

The Certificate of Live Birth is filled out when a baby is born medically alive in the United States and contains the following information:

• The date of birth
• The baby’s name
• The parents’ names
• The attending doctors’ names
• The hospital where the baby was born
• The name of the person completing the birth record
• The baby’s gender, race, weight, and other health conditions

A birth is officially recorded when the Certificate of Live Birth is presented to the corresponding authorities. The Original US Birth Certificate is a legal document that officially certifies a live birth in the United States, and must always remain on file, at the local vital records office where the birth took place.

Then, the vital records office will issue a Certified Copy of a Birth Certificate for parents to keep on record. This is a legally-valid government-issued copy of the original that remains on file.

A certified copy of a birth certificate contains information such as:

• The baby’s full name
• The date of birth
• The sex/gender of the baby
• The place of birth
• The names of both parents
• The official City, County or State Seal

A certified birth certificate must always carry a raised, multicolored and embossed seal of the city, county or state where the birth was registered as well as the signature of the registrar and the date the certificate was filed.

The live birth hospital form is used primarily for data entry purposes, whereas a Birth Certificate is used as proof of identity, age, and citizenship.

Where to get a Certificate of Live Birth

The US Standard Certificate of Live Birth is usually provided by the hospital or birthing center where the birth occurs.

When birth happens outside a hospital, clinic or maternity center, the form can be prepared, filed, and signed by the physician in attendance within 72 hours after the birth.

If no doctors nor midwives were present when the baby was born, any other person attending the birth can fill the form within 72 hours after the birth.

In the absence of such a person, the mother or father of the child, or the person in charge of the premises where the birth took place can fill the form. In this scenario, a medical practitioner who gives care to the mother or child must file a statement form to present alongside the birth record.

Is a Certificate of Live Birth Sufficient to get a Passport?

A Certificate of Live Birth cannot be used as proof of identity, citizenship, nor to request the issuance of identification documents. It is the registration form that doctors, midwives, or hospital representatives fill out when a child is born.

This form certifies that a child was born medically alive and is submitted to the vital records office. The birth certificate is then issued to the parents by the department of health and vital statistics.

In order to have a passport, social security card, or driver’s license issued, you will be asked to provide a Certified Copy of a Birth Certificate.

If your birth certificate was lost, misplaced or stolen, you can request an official, government-issued copy with full legal validity online.