Birth Certificate/job

Updated on August 30, 2011
A.R. asks from Milwaukee, WI
15 answers

Does my child need his actual birth certificate for a job or can I trust him with a copy so it doesn't get lost?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

I didn't think he needed it either. He may be trying to get it for other reasons. He does not live with me. I'm thinking I shouldn't give him his actual one.

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

L.M.

answers from Dover on

Employers are now required to take a copy of birth certificates AND social security cards OR passports (there are other requirements for non-citizens but I'm assuming he's a US citizen). The original or a certified copy is required so if you aren't sending him with your "original" then you woudl need to get a copy from the Bureau of Vital Statistics.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.M.

answers from New York on

He needs the original.

If he is enrollling in a health insurance program, many employers will require a birth certificate. However, some will accept another type of id with a birthdate. He should inquire if another document will suffice.

All employers should require employees to complete an I-9. He will be required to show a passport, or 2 other forms of id, one which must have a photo. If he has other documents, then a birth cert. will not be needed. It must be an original document, they cannot use a photo copy. The employer will return the original.

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Um, you do know you don't have the actual birth certificate either, right? Yours is an official copy. He can get one too, depending on the state it is 5 to 15 dollars and the application is online. The original is kept at the bureau of vital statistics.

He will need a copy, an official copy like what you have, to get a driver's license. The driver's license or state ID (both need the birth certificate) are what employers require. Well that and their social security number or card.

I am starting to get the feeling I am like the only person on earth who has four copies per child. :( Then again my ex's family owns funeral homes so it was nothing to have them pick up copies when they were running death certificates.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

I'm not sure about WI, but Kansas gave me a super cute little laminated birth certificate I could keep in my wallet. (well, I say gave, I had to pay like, 10 bucks)

R.B.

answers from La Crosse on

I have never had to give my birth certificate for a job. I have had to have it for my drivers license and marriage license. That's it.

K.L.

answers from Medford on

Over the course of a lifetime you will be asked to supply a certified copy of your birth certificate. You have to go to or call or email the county court house where you were born to get the ceritfied copy. I just had to do this for my grand daughter for her school registration. It cost me $20 each and I asked for 2 so we would have another the next time. So I paid $40. It is on file in the legal records. I had to fill out papers, and prove who I am, and what right I have to obtain it. The list included parent,grand parent, legal guardian, and the person themself. Not just anyone can get a copy of another persons birth certificate. They looked it up in their records and printed out 2 copies for me, and then stamped them with a seal of the county that supposedly proves its all the real thing and legal to use for school registration. Over the next few years she may need it to show her legal right to join sports teams and schools, and get a passport. Certain things with some kids where you might need a certified copy could be a paternity test, custody issues, adoptions, changing names, going to other schools, college, some jobs, the military, marriage, and who knows what else. I had to call another county where my husband was born to get his birth certificate years ago for him to get a passport. I also had to get one from the county where our son was born so he could go on a trip with his high school band to Canada. Canada didnt mind him coming in so much, but America wanted proof he was American to let him back in. So it can be a pain in the neck, but its a wise idea to have some "real" copies on hand just in case. You may be surprised what organization asks for it. Most will give them back, but some dont. Get copies before the price goes up more, because it used to cost $5 and this year it was $20. Its a smart thing to do before you move too far from where the person was born too so you dont get caught needing to do this long distance in a hurry.

G.T.

answers from Redding on

I'd send copies. My sons never needed their actual one until they joined the Army.... and they still gave them back to me afterwards.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.H.

answers from Austin on

I BELIEVE that (and anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) but I think that a copy SHOULD be just fine. It seems I only remember only needing an original for the DMV when I moved here from another state & needed to get a Texas DL. I don't recall ever having to have it, much less the 'original' for a job. Either way, you hafta send off for another original if it does get lost or destroyed somehow so it'd be best to make at least a color copy if you can but I'm pretty sure a B/W copy will work. Good luck!

B.K.

answers from Chicago on

We don't require the actual birth certificate where I work. Just a copy is fine for our records.

We also can accept a driver's license (or state ID) and social security card. If you want to see what employers (and the government) require, check this link.
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.B.

answers from Redding on

A copy will more than suffice.
Few employers require birth certificates. In my office, we will accept a birth certificate if someone has lost their Social Security card or something like that. We also accept passports as forms of identification. However, we don't take copies of them. We don't copy social security numbers either.
We just have to look at it, verify the information and fill out a form in their HR file as to what documents were presented to us.
It depends on the nature of the job I guess. How old is your son? Is he a teenager trying to get a work permit and he needs the birth certificate to verify his age?
Just curious.
Maybe things are different in WI, but the only thing we keep copies of is the employee's driver's license or State Identification card. There is too much liability with regards to identity theft to keep copies of the other things on hand.

Best wishes.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.L.

answers from Chicago on

The I-9 (verification form for employment) requires either a passport or 2 other forms of identification one of which can be a birth certificate. If you provide the birth certificate it should be the original if the office is actually following the rules, as they view it to verify it is an original and true document. That being said everywhere I have worked has accepted copies even though you are not supposed to.

There are many other forms they can use rather than a birth certificate though.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I would say give him a copy from the vital statistics. If he wants one there isn't a valid reason I can think of for him to not have one. He can't really do anything with it other than lose it. They only cost about $10. He can get it for himself by sending off for it or visiting the vital statistics offices in the state where he was born. I think that if he is old enough to have a job he is old enough to have one and get it for himself.

A.A.

answers from Las Vegas on

He will need a Social security card and a valid ID. I do not think they require a birth cert.
HTH

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.B.

answers from Dallas on

It depends on the requirements of the employer. But now would be a good time for him to request an "official" birth certificate from the state where he was born. I think most states have an on-line process to request an "official" copy which will have some time of markings to indicate that it is a copy of the original.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions