How to get a certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate
If you were born in the U.S.:
Contact VitalChek or your birth state or territory’s vital records office to request your birth record. You will need to know the name on the birth record and the city and county where you were born.
You or an authorized party (usually a family member) can request a certified copy of your birth record. Many states partner with VitalCheck to process online requests. Check your requirements, some requesting agencies will only accept a certified copy signed by the state and not a copy signed by a county official.
If you are a U.S. citizen born abroad:
The U.S. embassy or consulate in your birth country issued a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) if your parents reported your birth to them. The CRBA serves the same purpose as a U.S. birth certificate. See how to replace a consular report of birth abroad.
How to get a copy of your birth certificate if you lost all your IDs:
Most states will have guidelines for obtaining a record if you have lost all your IDs. Contact your state’s vital records office for information. Usually they will ask for the following:
- Your sworn statement of identity
- A notarized letter and a copy of the photo ID from the mother or father listed on your birth certificate
In many cases it might be easier if you replace your driver’s license or state ID card first. Contact your state’s DMV or Department of licensing to replace your driver’s license.
How to get a certified copy of a marriage certificate
If you were married in the U.S., contact the vital records office in the state where you were married.
If you were married abroad, Contact the embassy or consulate of the country where the marriage took place.
How to get a certified copy of a death certificate:
Usually only an immediate family member can request a copy of a person’s death certificate. You will need to know the place of death, the name on the death record. The state will usually ask you to provide information on your relationship to the deceased and why you need the death record.
If the person died in the US: Contact the vital records office in the state where the death occurred. Many state’s partner with VitalChek for death records. Contact VitalChek or your birth state or territory’s vital records office to request your a death record.
If the person died abroad: The US embassy or consulate will issue a Consular Report of Death of a US Citizen Abroad. Request additional copies from the US Department of State if you saved the electronic copy (PDF) you received US embassy or consulate, you can print out as many copies as you need. The local foreign authority or civil registry where the death occurred may issue a foreign death certificate.