# Any reason I'd be screwed by not having my own birth certificate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 23, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171 "2012-07-23T21:37:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/41 "2012-07-25T04:41:40Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Wouldn’t the correct term be _official copy_ or _certified copy_? You are probably right. I was just trying to make a point that what anyone has in their possession will ALWAYS be a copy, not the original. At least for those born in the U.S. of A. Seems these days a lot of people are confused about that. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/42 "2012-07-25T05:11:56Z")
> [@Chef\_Troy](#): > > E-mail your mother and tell her to meet you at such-and-such a Starbucks or something to hand over the papers. Then send a confederate instead. Wouldn’t a confederate be pretty old by now? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/43 "2012-07-25T09:04:43Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > No. My parents were citizens of the country of my birth when I was born, and we continued to live there for a couple of years. After moving to the U.S. my parents were naturalized and thus conferred citizenship to me as well. (I renounced the previous one.) > > Izzat clearer? 🙂 > > \*\* _Note to self:_ get that damn passport renewed. In that case you probably don’t need the birth certificate but some other form of ID. Things such as your naturalization documents (you _do_ have those, right?), which has the advantage of having been issued by the US Government. The BC, being from a foreign government, would be more complicated to use as a form of US-valid ID than any document issued by the US Government will be; this doubles if the BC would be in a language other than English. And yes, get that damn passport renewed. ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/44 "2012-07-25T09:19:36Z")
I understand there may be reasons why you’re cagey about which country you were born in, but if we knew there might be someone here who can be more specific about copies. E.g. I could inform you of exactly how to get hold of a UK birth certificate, and how much it costs (not much), having just had to get a copy of someone else’s for my own nefarious purposes (bwahaha etc.). ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/45 "2012-07-25T15:46:45Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > In that case you probably don’t need the birth certificate but some other form of ID. Things such as your naturalization documents (you _do_ have those, right?)… Well, crap. That would probably be the “other documents” she mentioned. The only thing I could think of was the BC, but you’re right … assuming the US. gov’t issues those things to children. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/46 "2012-07-25T18:42:09Z")
Yes they do. My naturalized cousin had those of her whole family framed and on display on the wall. There have to be ways to get duplicates, of course; you may want to ask about it and then decide whether it sounds like more or less of a pain than grabbing the ones your mother has. If she’s anything like mine, she won’t hand all of them over and will then “find” additional documents as time goes on… ---
**Author:** ![colonial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@colonial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colonial)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/47 "2012-07-25T19:00:30Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Is it significant in any way that I was born in a different country? I was also born in another country. The only time I might ever have needed my birth certificate was when replacing a lost Social Security card, and then a long-expired passport was just as good to prove identity. There was some kind of issue when I applied for my 1st passport at age 12, but I do not recall the details. I did not need my birth certificate to get a new passport in ~1996 after my previous one expired ~20 years prior. I did not need any ID to enroll in Social Security. ---
**Author:** ![colonial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@colonial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colonial)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/48 "2012-07-25T19:04:14Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > You need a birth cert to apply for Social Security (start getting benefits) or to get a passport, I think. If you have a passport, that suffices for a Social Security app. I did not need my birth cert or any other ID for SS, or for about three passports obtained after my initial passsport was issued. ---
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/49 "2012-07-25T19:08:49Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > You need a birth cert to apply for Social Security (start getting benefits) or to get a passport, I think. If you have a passport, that suffices for a Social Security app. I applied for SS online and didn’t have to submit any documents at all. Apparently, they can access birth certificates directly in lots of states. ---
**Author:** ![colonial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@colonial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colonial)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/50 "2012-07-25T19:09:26Z")
As for naturalization papers, naturalization is not required for anyone with an American parent, regardless of place of birth. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/51 "2012-07-26T00:20:16Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I’m not planning to run for president. 😃 > > My estranted parents are moving, and my mother emailed me that she has “some important papers” that she didn’t want to either mail to me or leave at my home. I know she’s doing this to force my hand about not wanting to see them. I can’t think what else she has besides by birth certificate. I have my own passport - expired, because I’m a dingus - and my own Social Security card. Think I’m forgetting anything? > > And the most important question: what would be the ramifications if I never got my mitts on my own birth certificate? Is it significant in any way that I was born in a different country? KENYAN SPY! HHHiiiIIIisssssS! \ What? _Some one_ **had** to do it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/52 "2012-07-26T01:01:33Z")
> [@colonial](#): > > As for naturalization papers, naturalization is not required for anyone with an American parent, > regardless of place of birth. Yes it is, if the American parent has not lived a certain number of years in the US prior to the birth, and the birth occurs outside of the US. ---
**Author:** ![DarkSnowyNight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c77e96/32.png) [@DarkSnowyNight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkSnowyNight)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/53 "2012-07-26T06:09:24Z")
To the OP, As you can see, it’s one of those things you probably don’t need a lot, but when you do, there is no substitute. I know for me, it’s required for my job, as the Airport will not renew my SIDA clearance and badge without one. So, every year, out it comes… ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/54 "2012-07-26T13:51:54Z")
I’ve noticed several people having to provide ID or a SSN to get a copy of their birth certificates. I was under the impression that births were public records at county courthouses and that I could walk in and browse the birth records for anyone and everyone. Is this not correct? ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/55 "2012-07-26T14:55:14Z")
Maybe “browsing” is different from “obtaining a certified copy?” ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/56 "2012-07-26T15:31:09Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Maybe “browsing” is different from “obtaining a certified copy?” All a certified copy is is a copy which is embossed with the seal of the clerk, and means nothing more that “Yep, this is the real deal!” In researching genealogy, I’ve copied land, birth, death, and will records, and have had copies made of all of the documents. They used to be $.50/page for regular copies and $1/page for certified copies. Since I was using them for my own purposes, I got regular. But there wouldn’t have been anything stopping me from getting my neighbor’s birth certificate with the clerk’s seal on it. As I think of it, wasn’t this a type of scam that worked a few years ago? You go to the courthouse and find someone born around the same time as you, but died in infancy. Get a certified copy of that child’s birth certificate, and then use it to apply for a SSN and cause all sorts of mischief. Now, you would have some explaining to do as to why you are 40 years old and never had an SSN, but I guess you could say that your parents were anti-government nuts and you’ve never held a job. I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/57 "2012-07-26T17:41:37Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > All a certified copy is is a copy which is embossed with the seal of the clerk, and means nothing more that “Yep, this is the real deal!” > > In researching genealogy, I’ve copied land, birth, death, and will records, and have had copies made of all of the documents. They used to be $.50/page for regular copies and $1/page for certified copies. Since I was using them for my own purposes, I got regular. > > But there wouldn’t have been anything stopping me from getting my neighbor’s birth certificate with the clerk’s seal on it. > > As I think of it, wasn’t this a type of scam that worked a few years ago? You go to the courthouse and find someone born around the same time as you, but died in infancy. Get a certified copy of that child’s birth certificate, and then use it to apply for a SSN and cause all sorts of mischief. Now, you would have some explaining to do as to why you are 40 years old and never had an SSN, but I guess you could say that your parents were anti-government nuts and you’ve never held a job. I dunno. At least in California, you can’t get a certified copy of a birth certificate unless you can show that you have some connection with the person. That is, you are that person, or you’re the parent, or the child of the person, etc. When I got a certified copy of my son’t birth certificate I had to submit a notarized form asserting I was his parent. I’m not sure it’s true that there wouldn’t have been anything stopping you from getting a certified copy of your neighbor’s birth certificate. Did you try? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/58 "2012-07-26T18:12:33Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > I’m not sure it’s true that there wouldn’t have been anything stopping you from getting a certified copy of your neighbor’s birth certificate. Did you try? No. I didn’t. But as I say, they were all there in the public records, and copies were offered. I can’t imagine why I could browse them, make copies, and be offered certified copies if the clerk would start asking why. I do know that I got a (non-certified) copy of my grandfather’s birth certificate (and he was alive at the time). For some reason, he believed that he was one of twins, the other whom died in infancy. I found his birth certificate which verified that he was a single birth. I was offered the same deal for copies (regular or certified). Now, he was born in 1921, and there wouldn’t be (I can’t see any) reason for a scammer to copy it. But would the clerk have a cutoff date? 1970 and later, gimme a reason. Before 1970, copy away? ---
**Author:** ![colonial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@colonial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colonial)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/59 "2012-07-26T19:16:05Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Yes it is, if the American parent has not lived a certain number of years in the US prior to the birth, and the birth occurs outside of the US. Oh? Cite? And exactly how long is the residency requirement? That could be a hell of a tough one to document! ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171/60 "2012-07-26T19:33:54Z")
> [@colonial](#): > > Oh? Cite? And exactly how long is the residency requirement? > > That could be a hell of a tough one to document! [U.S. Department of State - Acquisition of U.S. Citizenship by a Child Born Abroad](http://travel.state.gov/law/citizenship/citizenship_5199.html) [8 USC § 1401 - Nationals and citizens of United States at birth](http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1401) The intention is to prevent colonies of US Citizens from forming abroad whose ancestors had not lived in the United States for generations. If it were true that anyone born anywhere in the world who had one US Citizen parent automatically became a citizen, then if someone could trace their family tree back to even one ancestor, no matter how distant, who was a US Citizen, then they would become a US Citizen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-id-be-screwed-by-not-having-my-own-birth-certificate/629171.md?page=4)