Schools from kindergarten up through college require a birth certificate before enrollment. A birth certificate provides the school with accurate records of your birth, age and parents.
If you plan to get a driver's license, you need to prove age and that you are who you claim to be. Depending on the state, you may need two or more documents to prove this. The best proof is your birth certificate. The value of the birth certificate is that it shows not only birth date and age, but also citizenship.
Marriage is an important step. Presenting a valid birth certificates assists you in procuring a marriage license so you can marry in that state. A birth certificate not only lists time, place and date of birth, but also parents, information required for a marriage license in many states.
If you plan to travel out of the country, you need a passport. To obtain a passport you must present legal documentation of who you are, starting with your birth certificate.
