When a baby is born in a hospital, the administrative staff provides the new parents with the forms they need to register the baby's birth. If a child was not born in a hospital, however, the parents or midwife are responsible for obtaining documentation regarding the child's birth and submitting it to the state vital records agency. To get a birth certificate for a child not born in a hospital, you will need to fill out a request for a birth certificate and provide written information to back up the information you supply.
Step 1
Contact the vital records department in the jurisdiction where the child was born. Your county or state vital records office will provide you with an official form that asks for information on the child, parents and the birth.
Step 2
List information about the child. Generally, you will need to supply the child's full name, sex, date and time of birth and address where the birth took place. Additionally, you must list the mother and father's full names, the mother's maiden name, and both parents' dates and places of birth. Some states may also require you to list the child's race.
Step 3
Obtain documents that provide details about the child's birth. Along with the form from the vital records department, you will need to submit documentation that details the child's birth. If the child was born at home, the parents and any other attending parties, such as a midwife, should prepare an affidavit attesting that information provided in the vital records application is accurate. Each party should execute this affidavit in front of a notary public.
Step 4
Compile evidence documenting your pregnancy. In addition to the affidavits, you will need to provide evidence of the mother's pregnancy. This documentation may include records from the mother's prenatal visits, printed pregnancy test results or paperwork from consultations with midwifes or doulas.
