Many people regularly obtain birth certificates online, which is understandable when you consider that birth certificates are one of the primary ways of establishing identity and are necessary for obtaining passports, driver's licenses, and much more. These documents are known as vital records and include information such as the birth name, the date and time of birth, the sex of the child, the place and or location of birth, the names and occupations of the parents of the child, the birth weight and length of the child, the date of birth registration, the name of the informant registering the birth, and a birth registration number.

There are many services that can help you locate a birth certificate online, provided that you meet certain criteria, which varies by state. I n California, for example, applicants must be an immediate family member or have a demonstrated legal right to obtain a copy of the birth certificate in question. If you, or the person whose records you are requesting, were adopted or had a legal name change other than a marriage, you may only obtain a birth certificate through the State of California Birth Records office. Regulations also vary by city and county.

In Virginia, in order to obtain birth certificates online, you must meet the same requirements as California applicants, but you must also include a faxed copy of your state issued driver's license or photo ID. New York applicants must also fax in a copy of their photo ID, and must also be sure to use their own credit card with the same billing address as the address found on their ID. These examples illustrate just how important it is to familiarize yourself with the specific rules and regulations of the state that you are requesting records from.

There are many companies that specialize in locating birth certificates for a small fee, but again, there are still rules and regulations in effect as to who has the authority to access and obtain them. For genealogy purposes, some states allow anyone to obtain the birth records of individuals who have been deceased for seventy five years or more. The good news is that with a little research and information, birth certificates can be obtained for almost anyone. Finding birth certificates online can provide definitive proof of parentage, place of birth, clues to family history, and in many cases, can provide applicants with peace of mind as well.