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1. What do I need to get a birth certificate for my child?

• Photocopy of the requestor's valid identification
• Completed birth certificate application 
• Payment 
  1. Checks
  2. Cash
  3. All major credit cards
  4. Money orders

2. Who can obtain a birth certificate?

• The person named on the birth record, with approved forms of identification.
• Members of the immediate family (parents, grandparents, siblings, or children), with required proof of relationship
  To prove your relationship, we accept:
  • Birth certificates
  • Marriage certificates
  • Court-approved guardianship paperwork
  • Legal guardian of those named above
  • Others demonstrating a Direct and Tangible interest for the record.

3. What are birth certificates used for?

• School registration
• Obtaining a driver’s license
• Travel
• Social Security card
• Employment
• Genealogy and/or family history
• Marriage (domestic and international)
• Signing up for youth sports programs
• Domestic or international adoption
• Access to other personal records

4. How long does it take to get the birth certificate in person, by email/mail, or by online?

• In-person requests normally take from 10-15 minutes.
• Emailed/mail requests will take 2-3 business days once we have received all the necessary documents as outlined above.
• Online requests will receive a confirmation email with all the details of how the order is being handled.

Please note that if there is missing or incorrect information provided, a follow-up email will be sent to confirm the information or documentation that is needed for processing.

5. Do we have to go to the county that the birth occurred in? Or can I go to ANY Vital Records office?

If the person was born in Colorado, you may obtain the birth certificate at ANY Vital Records office in the state of Colorado. Clerk and Recorder offices do not produce certificates.

6. Why does the birth certificate print with mother’s maiden name?

The State of Colorado records it this way for security purposes, and because mother’s name may change due to marriage. The maiden name will always stay the same even if mother re-marries. 

7. I don’t have an ID or documents. How can I apply for my birth certificate?

• You may apply online through a third-party website www.vitalchek.com 
• You may go directly to the State Vital Records office and go through an appeal process.
• You may contact us for additional information at 303-734-4300.

8. I was not born in Colorado. Can I get a birth certificate from your office?

No. You must contact the State Vital Records Office in the state you were born in, or you can also apply through a secure third-party website www.vitalchek.com.

9. When will I receive my child’s Social Security Card?

On average, it takes approximately 6-8 weeks from the time baby was registered at the hospital. However, it can vary depending on the state where you live. If you have not received your child’s social security card within six to eight weeks, please visit or contact your local Social Security office.

10. What do I need to make a correction on my child’s birth certificate?

If the child is younger than 1 year

To request a correction or make a change to a birth certificate, you must submit the following through the State Vital Records Office:

• Completed Birth Certificate Correctiom Form. 
• Copy of your identification.
• Documentary evidence of the change or correction as outlined on page 2 of the correction form. 
• Non-refundable processing fees of $20.

The State Vital Records Office is by appointment only and for any in-person birth corrections/changes you will need to schedule an appointment.

If the child is older than 1 year

To change the given name on a birth certificate of a person older than 1 year, contact your local county court to obtain a certified copy of a legal name change order before submitting the birth certificate correction form. The legal name change form can be downloaded from the Colorado State Judicial Branch, and submit the following: 

• Completed birth certificate correction form.   
• Copy of your identification.
• Documentary evidence of the change or correction as outlined on page 2 of the correction form. 
• Non-refundable processing fees of $20.

Acknowledgement of Parentage information

To add a father/second parent to a birth certificate where a father/second parent is not currently listed, complete and submit the Voluntary Acknowledgement of Parentage form to the state office. 

Download the acknowledgement of parentage form and submit it to the State Vital Records Office whether that is in-person, by mail, or by email (State requires all original court documents and will not accept emailed court documents).