What You Should Know about a Colorado Birth Certificate
Getting a Birth Certificate
Getting a Colorado birth certificate can be done online or in person. You are required to fill out an application and provide basic information, which can include full legal name, mailing address, phone number, and relationship to the birth certificate owner. Birth certificates will only be issued to the person on record, immediate family members, or a legal representative of the person on record. There must be proof of the relationship. A valid form of ID can be a photo driver’s license, passport, or photo identification card. None of these can be expired.
If anything on the birth certificate needs correcting, contact the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for forms and information needed for the specific change, whether its name change or parentage.
Delayed Birth Certificate Registration
If you are registering for the birth of someone who is over a year old, there are certain steps that will need to be followed. First, ask for a search in order to see if there is already a record. If the record was not found, you will then receive a notice of no record. In order to apply, you will need to fill out the application, need a copy of the notification of no record, a valid ID, processing fees, and the required supporting documents that are noted on the application. The application must be filed within one year of the No Record Letter.
Why Do You Need a Birth Certificate?
A birth certificate can serve as a proof of identity for a number of different situations. You will need the birth certificate when registering for school, getting a driver’s license, getting married, international travel, applying for a Social Security card, and when requested as another form of identification.
Replacing a Lost Birth Certificate
Replacing a lost Colorado birth certificate is the same process of getting one for the first time. You may also want to contact the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment if you are concerned that your certificate was stolen and could be used for illegal activity.
Determine if It’s Official
If you are trying to figure out if your birth certificate is official, look for the seal. Official birth certificates will have the government seal. An official birth certificate can be used to prove identity, while an informational birth certificate is just to let someone know the state and city where someone is born. An informational birth certificate can’t be used for legal reasons. It should also have the state, country or city register information on it. You can also look at the different details on it to make sure it is accurate.