where can iget my birth certificate

You can usually get a copy of your birth certificate from the vital records office in the place where you were born.

Below is a clear, step‑by‑step guide you can follow.

First thing to know

• Birth certificates are kept by state or local vital records offices , not by the federal government.

• You must request it from the state, territory, or country where you were born.

Think of it like your school records: you have to go back to the school (or school district) that created them.

If you were born in the U.S.

1. Find your birth state’s vital records office
   • Search online for: "birth certificate [your state] vital records office".
   • You should land on a government (.gov) or official health department page that explains how to order.
2. Choose how you want to order
   • Online : Many states let you order through an official state portal or an approved partner like VitalChek.

 * **By mail** : You fill out a form, include a copy of your ID, and mail it with a money order or check.

 * **In person** : Go to the local or state vital records office (often part of the health department or county clerk).

3. Gather what you’ll need
   • Your full name at birth.
   • Date of birth.
   • City and county of birth.

 * Parents’ full names (often including your mother’s maiden name).
 * A copy of your **photo ID** (driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military ID).

 * Payment for the fee (usually around 10–30 dollars, but it varies by state).

4. Submit the request
   • Follow the instructions on your state’s official site: fill out the form online or on paper, attach your ID, and pay the fee.

 * If you choose mail, send it to the address listed on the state site (for example, New York’s goes to the Department of Health Vital Records Unit in Albany).

5. Wait for processing
   • Online or phone orders are often the fastest , for an extra fee.

 * Mail requests can take longer, depending on how busy the office is.

If someone else has your original (like a parent)

• You do not need the original paper to exist to get a new certified copy.
• As an adult, you can usually request your own certified copy directly from the vital records office, as long as you provide proper ID and details.

• If you lack an ID, some states let you use two alternate documents like a recent utility bill and a government letter instead.

If you were born outside the U.S.

• If you are a U.S. citizen born abroad, you may need a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) , which you can request through the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. embassy/consulate where it was issued.

• If you were born in another country and are not a U.S. citizen, your birth certificate will come from that country’s civil registry or vital records office (often via that country’s embassy or consulate).

Typical places you can go

Here’s a quick overview in HTML table format, as you requested.

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Where you were born	Where to request	Common ways to order	What you usually need
U.S. state or territory	State/territory vital records office (often health department)	Online, by mail, in person, sometimes by phone	Full birth details, your ID, fee payment
U.S. citizen born abroad	U.S. Department of State (CRBA)	Through embassy/consulate or State Department records	Proof of identity, old consular record if available
Non‑U.S. country	That country’s civil registry or vital records office	Through local office or that country’s embassy/consulate	National ID/passport, birth details, fee (varies)

Quick checklist you can follow

1. Figure out which state or country you were born in.
2. Go to that place’s official government site (look for .gov or the official health department).
3. Read the section called something like “Get a copy of a birth certificate”.

4. Decide: online, mail, or in‑person order.
5. Gather your ID , your birth details , and payment.
6. Submit your request and wait for it to be mailed to you.

TL;DR

You get your birth certificate from the vital records office in the state, territory, or country where you were born, usually by ordering online, by mail, or in person through that government office.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.