Resources > Glossary > Birth Certificates

Glossary of Notary Public, Mortgage, Signing Agent, and Loan Signing Terms.

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Common Terms 1   Common Terms 2

Birth Certificates

Phonetics: birth cer·tif·i·cates

Function: noun

A Notary generally can not certify a copy of or notarize a birth certificate or any other type of vital record including marriage and death certificates. This would be subject to state laws. However, it is common for a signer to swear an oath that a copy of a birth certificate is a true, correct, and complete copy. To perform such a notary act, you would need a form called a certified copy by document custodian where the signer can swear to the correctness and completeness of the copy of their birth certificate or other vital record. This type of notary act for vital records is legal, but not recommended.

Please visit our blog where there is a discussion about vital records called, "Your old vital records are often useless."

Definition 1:
A certificate authenticating the place, date and time of birth of an individual person, including the names of the parents.

Definition 2:
An official record stating the date and place of a person's birth that includes the names of the parents.

Definition 3:
A Birth Certificate is not acceptable as primary or secondary identification for a signer when being identified by a notary public.