Birth Certificates

You will be asked some questions by the attendant so a Certificate of Live birth can be completed for your baby. A birth certificate establishes your child’s legal identity and will be used by her or him throughout their life. Correctly completing the birth certificate is, therefore, very important, so the information you provide needs to be accurate and all names correctly spelled. Certified copies of birth certificates are asked for by state and federal agencies as proof of the child’s birth, such as the Social Security Administration and Division of Family and Children’s Services. Later on you will be asked for proof of birth so your child can enroll in school, plan school-sponsored sports, and get a driver’s license. And, as an adult, you will need to show proof of birth to get a jog, marriage license, open a bank account, enter the military, obtain a passport, and for retirement benefits.

When you arrive on the Mother/ Baby Unit after the birth of your baby, your nurse will give you a birth certificate worksheet that must be filled out prior to your discharge. It is VERY important that you make sure and turn in your Birth Certificate Worksheet before you go home! Below are a few pointers that may allow you to be more prepared when filling out the worksheet during your hospital stay.

Be sure your child’s complete name is correctly spelled.
After the birth certificate is filed, some minor correction may be made to your child’s first name in the first year of life, however the last name and other major changes will require a court order. Please note that Georgia law does not allow the use of obscene words, numbers, symbols, or other misidentifying information to be used as a child’s name. Accent marks and generation, such as junior or II may be shown.

Note: Georgia Department of Human Resources Rule 290-1-3-27 allow parents to amend a child’s first and middle (given) names (not the last name) during the first year of life without charge by an affidavit signed by both parents. However, if a paternity acknowledgement was previously completed, no further amendment to the child’s name can be made except by a court order from a Superior or Probate Court.

1. Be sure the parent’s complete names are correctly spelled.
   The parent names need to be the same as they are entered on hospital charts, a paternity acknowledgement and other hospital records. Your maiden name should also be shown on the worksheet. If you are not married, see number 4 below.
   
2. Be sure you mailing address is correctly entered.
   With your permission, the State Office of Vital Records will provide birth certificate information to the Social Security Administration so your child can receive a social security number. The SSA will not process the SSN request for your child if either the child’s name or your mail address is incomplete. A wrong or incomplete mail address will delay the receipt of your child’s social security number. Allow 4 – 6 weeks to process SSN information.. If you need to get your child’s SSN more quickly, contact your local SSA office.
   
3. If you are not married (either at conception, birth or anytime in between), ask about completing a paternity acknowledgement.
   If you were not married at conception, birth or anytime in between the conception and the birth of this baby, receiving child support from the natural father of this child could be a problem for you. Having the natural father of this child complete a paternity acknowledgement (PA) allows the father to legally accept his responsibilities for the support of this child. (If you are married and your husband is not he natural father of this child, you can not complete a paternity acknowledgement. See number 5 below.
   
   If you were not married at conception, birth or anytime in between, the law requires that the last name of this child must be shown on the birth certificate as the same as your legal last name (surname), unless a paternity acknowledgement is completed. When the PA is completed, both the mother and father may determine the child’s last name, then this same last name is shown on both the PA and the birth certificate.
   
   If you complete the paternity acknowledgement be sue all the names and other information are correctly spelled and are accurate before you sign the PA. Once the paternity acknowledgement is signed by both parents and notarized by a notary public, a superior court order will be required to change any entry or cancel the paternity acknowledgement.
   
4. Be sure your marital status is correctly entered.
   If you state you are married, Georgia law requires that your husband’s name must be entered on the birth certificate. Marital status must agree on the hospital record and the birth certificate. If hospital records show your marital status as single, the birth certificate will show your marital status as not married. Please not that Georgia law does not allow for common law marriage after January 1, 1997. If you husband is not the father of this child, paternity must be determined by the superior court.
   Georgia and federal law require the social security numbers of both parents be entered on the birth certificate.
   
   Birth certificate information is used to establish an immunization record for your child and also may be used to offer other Public Health or Department of Human Resources to you.