If you were born in Florida, it is a good idea to have a copy of your Florida birth certificate put away somewhere safe in your home. Birth certificates have a wide range of uses, and you never know when you will need yours or one of your children’s for one reason or another.
Why should you have a copy of your Florida birth certificate?
You will need to have a certified copy of your Florida birth certificate for several reasons, including:
- To get a state-issued identification card or driver’s license.
- To apply for a United States passport.
- To enroll in elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as colleges and universities.
- To enlist in the military armed services.
- To prove U.S. citizenship when traveling on a closed-loop Bahamas or Caribbean cruise that originated in the United States when you do not have a passport.
- To open a bank account.
- To apply for a Social Security card.
- To prove your identity in a court of law.
- To prove your Florida state citizenship status.
- To complete employment verification documents to get a job.
- To receive retirement, pension, and insurance benefits.
- To provide proof of age.
- To provide proof of a relationship with a relative.
- To enroll in intramural sports and sports clubs.
- To join specific organizations, like the Boys and Girls Club, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, etc.
- To apply for a marriage license.
As you can see, there are numerous reasons why it is important to have a certified copy of your Florida birth certificate.
What is required to get a copy of your Florida Birth Certificate?
The State of Florida requires you to provide specific documentation and information to the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics in order to request a copy of your Florida birth certificate. In addition, you are required to provide a clear copy of an official form of photo identification, such as your Florida driver’s license, state ID card, or U.S. passport.
You will also need to complete an official vital record birth certificate request application and pay the required fee. There are other details you need to provide on the application. In addition, you may be required to provide copies of other relevant documents to prove your Florida residency, such as a copy of a lease agreement, bank statements, or utility bills.
Who can request a copy of your Florida birth certificate?
Only those deemed eligible can request a copy of your Florida birth certificate, as follows:
- The birth certificate holder; i.e., you.
- One of your parents or legal guardians.
- Your spouse or domestic partner.
- One of your siblings.
- One of your children.
- A lawyer representing the legal interests of a child under the age of 18.
- An estate lawyer representing the interests of your estate.
- Any person given authority by a court of law to act on your behalf.
- A law enforcement agency or government agency that is conducting official business.
What’s the difference between my hospital-issued birth certificate and the state-issued copy?
When you were born in Florida, the hospital may have issued a birth record that has imprints of your hands or feet. It may look official and even have a gold seal or be embossed in some other manner.
However, hospital-issued birth certificates are for nostalgic purposes and are not considered official records. In addition, they are often signed by the doctor that delivered you. As such, they cannot be used as legal documents to obtain other legal documents or prove your identity or date of birth.
Your state-issued birth certificate is considered a legal document and is essentially your first form of official identification. While the state keeps the original in the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics office, they do issue you a certified copy that is also considered a legal document.
In addition, the state-issued birth certificate will have the Florida State Seal on it and be signed by the state registrar. Furthermore, your state-issued copy will have specific information, such as:
- You State File Number
- Date Issued
- Date Filed
- Name
- Date of Birth
- Sex at Birth
- Place of Birth
- City and County of Birth
- Mother’s Name
- Mother’s Date of Birth
- Mother’s Birthplace
- Father’s Name
- Father’s Date of Birth
- Father’s Birthplace
How can FastFilings help you get a copy of your birth certificate in Florida?
When you need to get a copy of your birth certificate in Florida quickly, FastFilings can help. We have streamlined the process to ensure you can get your Florida birth certificate.
To apply, just follow these simple steps:
- Step 1: Enter in the requestor information on the secure online application.
- Step 2: Provide birth record information, including the city of birth, county of birth, date of birth, sex, and full name, as well as your mother’s and father’s full names.
- Step 3: Enter in the address where you want your birth certificate shipped.
- Step 4: Submit your payment information to cover fees.
- Step 5: Upload a copy of the front and back of your valid photo ID.
- Step 6: Receive your new certified copy of your Florida birth certificate within a few business days.
In cases where you do not have a valid photo ID you can upload, as when you need your birth certificate to get your driver’s license or a state-issued ID card, you can have one of your parents or legal guardians fill out the online application to request a copy of your official birth certificate and use their valid photo ID instead.
Once we receive your online application, we use the information you provide to complete the official Florida birth certificate request form on your behalf. Next, we electronically file the request with the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. Since we file electronically, in some cases, your birth certificate could be mailed out the same day.
The state of Florida has also started issuing official computer copies of birth certificates that are delivered directly to your email. So, you could have an official copy of your birth certificate within 24 hours or less in some situations.
Best of all, you do not have to worry about trying to find the application form or having to mail it yourself to the Vital Statistics office, which could cause more delays in getting a copy of your Florida birth certificate.
Ready to get your official certified copy of your Florida birth certificate? Start your online application at FastFilings today! If you have further questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to use our online contact form to reach out to us.