ave, in your possession, a certified copy of birth certificates for every family member? Many parents will answer yes, so far as their children’s available records. However, plenty of adults may have a copy of their own birth certificates in some dusty drawer. The problem is that nowadays, with the current security requirements, only certified copies of birth certificates are now acceptable by law. So, what’s the difference between a copy and a certified copy?A certified birth certificate is notarized by the vital statistics office which issues you the certificate, whereas an uncertified copy is not. True, certified copies of birth certificates do cost more, but having the certified document will, sooner or later, save you from scrambling at the last minute to obtain one, delaying such processes as renewing or obtaining a driver’s license or passport. Many states have recently enacted legislation which requires that everyone produce certified copies of birth certificates before you may get your driver’s license. If you don’t have yours, this can be a giant hassle, costing you time spent obtaining it and may also involve penalties if you cannot provide it within a short time frame.
Let’s say you’ve moved from one state to another. You may not be able to simply go to your new state’s DMV office and expect to turn in your old license and get a new one. Because these laws are fairly new, your old home state probably didn’t have such stringent requirements when you last applied for your license. Depending on the legislation of your new home state, you may well have to provide certified copies of birth certificates for every driver in your family. Currently, most states do have the new rules in place.
If getting a driver’s license can be a hassle, can you imagine trying to get a passport? If you’re a business traveler and need to renew your passport to take a business trip, you could end up in a pickle! You’d be surprised at the number of occasions and applications for which you’ll be required to produce certified copies of birth certificates. We know that governmental security is not likely to loosen up, so it’s best to prepare ahead of time and avoid some headaches.
If you don’t now have certified copies for everyone, put this task on your to-do list and get it going and out of the way. To obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate, get online and search for your birth state’s vital statistics center. Follow the instructions, and get it in the works. When you receive these vital documents, store them in your permanent important documents file. You never know when you might need them.
