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Birth Records - Tearing Cobwebs Off ‘Em
The privacy
laws surrounding birth records are understandable. Birth records can reveal
illegitimacy or adoption history and can be used for fraudulent or criminal acts
against the person on record.
In the past, birth
records were
one of the most difficult documents
to find. A
child’s birth record can
only be found in churches,
where christening and baptism records
were kept. It
was
not until later that state authorities and health departments
also began keeping
birth records.
And even today, birth records
are kept confidential in most places and are usually made available only to the
person concerned, or his relatives and/or descendants. Some authorities even
require proof of kinship before releasing vital records.
Some authorities impose time
restriction periods after the date of birth or death of a person before allowing
access to his or her birth records. The restriction period can take a minimum
of 10 years to as much as 120 years.
If you’re looking to gain
access to a deceased relative’s birth certificate sooner, a copy of his
or her death certificate
can do the trick for some states. For some, though, a signed declaration of
kinship and/or a photo ID should are
required.
Often, the
basic information contained in birth records includes the name, gender, and
nationality of the child. The name of parents as well as the date and place of
birth are also included.
Some birth
records are detailed enough to contain info on your mother’s maiden name and
your parents’ ages at the time of your birth. Your birth certificate can also be
a great way to find out your exact time of birth.
Building Your Family Tree
with Birth Records
Birth
records are especially helpful if you’ve set out to build your family tree.
Birth records can guide you in determining your ancestors’ names, birthplaces,
and years of birth. They can also lead you to other primary and secondary
sources by providing info on their church and hospital birth records. In cases
of multiple marriages, birth records can verify which children belong to which
parent.
With people
becoming more and more interested in their genealogy however, some vital records
offices may not have enough staff support to perform extensive researches.
Having some basic information at hand will help you get a good start. Among
these, you should at least know the name of your ancestor as well as the date
and location of the event you’re investigating.
Since death
and marriage records are easier to obtain, you might want to begin your research
in these departments before hitting the birth records section. Records of deaths
and marriages can also ascertain whether the person you’re investigating is the
right one. And when they finally lead you to birth records, there’s a greater
chance that you’ll be getting the correct birth certificate.
Begin your
investigation with your most recent ancestors and work your way back to the
older ones. Don’t forget to log in your notebook the name of the ancestor, the
types of record you requested, as well as the date and location you requested
them from.
Another
Hint: Never underestimate the value of online database research when it
comes to completing your family tree. Check out
RecordsSiteReviews’
Birth Records section now.
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