Importance of Your Birth Certificate
You may not realize that your birth certificate is much more than just a piece of paper with your name on it. Your birth certificate is quite literally your proof that you are a citizen of your country. If you don't have a birth certificate, it can make it quite difficult to do basic things such as prove citizenship for employment or get a passport for travel.
Read More: How to Amend a Birth Certificate
Hall of Vital Records
The first thing you need to do to replace your birth certificate is contact the vital records office of the state in which you were born. Some vital records offices will offer their services online, but most offices you will have to contact by mail, in person or by phone.
The Process
Once you have found the office where your birth certificate is located, you will have to order a certified copy of the birth certificate. Before you can request the record, you will need to present the name on the birth certificate, the birthplace, birth date, father's name and your mother's maiden name. There will also be a fee for the certificate that varies in cost depending on the state. The office will then either send you the certified birth certificate or you can pick it up in person.