Confidential Birth definition
Author: US Birth Certificates Team
A birth is considered confidential when the mother gives her identity to the authorities, but it is not revealed publically.
Confidential births are legal in the United States and are done for various reasons.
In these cases, the mother can prevent the child from knowing her identity until they become an adult. When they reach a certain age, they then have access to the birth certificate.
Other circumstances do exist that allow for the record to become disclosed.
Find out more essential information on confidential births and certificates in the sections below.
Reasons Confidential Births Are Requested
It has been possible for centuries to keep the identity of women private after giving birth.
The legalization of confidential births has led to a safer life for women and a lower number of infant murders.
In the United States, birth records can be undisclosed as it is a matter of the personal privacy of the mother.
A mother might want to keep their identity secret at birth for the following reasons:
- Information asked is too personal and not medical
- They are underage
- They have a child out of wedlock
Confidential adoptions also exist. If the biological parent or parents wish to keep their information private from the adoptive parents, it is possible to do so.
What Is the Difference Between Confidential and Anonymous Births
An anonymous birth is similar to a confidential birth. The main difference is one type of birth is registered to authorities and the other is not.
See the table below to fully understand the differences between confidential and anonymous births.
| Confidential Births | Anonymous Births |
|---|---|
| Mother discloses her information to the authorities | Mother keeps all of her information private or where the birth is registered |
| Child can eventually be given the information of the mother | It’s possible the information of the mother is never known by the child |
The positives of anonymous births include less child abandonment and fewer fatalities of newborn children.
The mother is not registered by any authority in an anonymous birth. This is the major distinction between the 2 documents.
Due to this, it is possible the child never learns who their biological parents are.
How to Apply for Confidential Birth Certificates
Birth certificates are a vital record. If you need to collect one that was kept confidential, you may gain access to it.
An undisclosed birth certificate can be applied for by various people or representatives. The information can be made available to them if the application is successful.
If a birth certificate is private, you might have the right to know the information on the record.
You can gain access to a confidential birth record if you are one of the following:
- Person whose birth is on the document
- Parent who is on the birth certificate
- Legal guardian with a verified copy of the guardianship documents
- Someone with a court order that gives them access to the birth record
In certain states, there is an age limit to request the birth certificate. If you are the subject of the document, you may have to wait until you turn 18 years of age.
However, there is permission for homeless youths who have an application and ID. This gives them access to the contents of the document.