Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Determine the city and state in which you were born. If you don't know where you were born, ask family members or consult genealogy websites to find this information. Knowing where you were born is essential in getting a copy of your birth certificate.
Gather information. When requesting a birth certificate you will need certain information, such as your full name, your gender, your parent's name, your mother's maiden name, the name of the hospital in which you were born and your date of birth. Vital record departments require this information to locate your birth certificate.
Contact the vital records department of the town or city in which you were born. Refer to a telephone directory or the website of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) to locate an office.
Pay the fee to obtain your birth certificate. After your information has been given to the vital records department and they have confirmed your birth record, you will be required to pay a fee to receive a copy (usually through the mail within a few days). Fees differ depending on the area you were born, but expect to pay anywhere from $10 to $25.