Today, many Alabama residents are happily switching to online methods. After filling out the online application form, all you need to do is photocopy your ID (front and back) and send it in the mail along with your completed application.
Your birth certificate is one of the most important documents that you’ll ever need: it’s used to apply for a passport, get government benefits, enroll in school, and practically everything in between.
Given its significance, it’s no surprise that Alabama has strict regulations in place to ensure that only certain individuals can request a birth certificate.
Until recently, obtaining a birth certificate meant showing up in person at a local health department or government office, filling out multiple paper forms, dealing with unhelpful staff, and waiting in line for hours and hours…
While this in-person method had its advantages — such as the ability to confirm an applicant’s identity on the spot — it also had many downsides. The process was time-consuming, inconvenient, and prone to errors.
Nowadays, many of those hassles have been minimized thanks to websites that let you apply for an Alabama birth certificate online. These secure online platforms allow applicants to verify their identities from the comfort of their own homes, and ultimately make sure that sensitive documents end up with their rightful owner.
In this article, we’ll go over how new technologies are streamlining the process, which documents you’ll need to get a birth certificate and go over the process step-by-step.
Why Do You Need an ID to Get a Birth Certificate?
When you really think about it, a birth certificate is more than just proof of your birth — it also lets you access all sorts of official services and procedures.
One of the most important is that this document is essential to apply for a driver’s license, passport, and Social Security card.
Besides those, you’ll also need a birth certificate to enroll in school or college, join the military, apply for government benefits, and even get married!
Because a birth certificate has so many important functions, Alabama authorities (as well as other states) have established strict guidelines to ensure that only eligible individuals can request and obtain a birth certificate. This is extremely important to prevent identity theft and unauthorized access to sensitive personal information.
Only certain people are allowed to get a copy of a birth certificate. This includes yourself (i.e. you are applying for your own birth certificate), parents (the mother and father named on the birth certificate), siblings, and spouse.
Besides first-degree relatives, you can also request a birth certificate if you are the legal guardian or lawyer (legal representative) of the person listed on the birth certificate.
The Traditional Way to Apply for a Birth Certificate
Historically, obtaining a birth certificate in Alabama meant making an in-person visit to a local government office. You’d present your physical ID, fill out the paper forms, and pay a fee.
This in-person approach reduced fraudulent applications to some degree, as you had to physically show up with valid documentation. However, it was also quite cumbersome — on the flip side, you’d also have to wait long hours, deal with bureaucracy, and fill out stacks of paperwork.
Today, many Alabama residents are happily switching to online methods. After filling out the online application form, all you need to do is photocopy your ID (front and back) and send it in the mail along with your completed application. That’s it!
What Forms of Identification Can You Use?
The Alabama Department of Public Health allows people to submit different types of identification when requesting a birth certificate. The state’s goal is to be as inclusive as possible without compromising security.
Some of the most popular forms of ID that you can use to apply for a birth certificate include a state of Alabama driver’s license, an Alabama ID card, a driver’s license issued by another state, a U.S. passport, and a U.S. certificate of naturalization.
Other forms of accepted identification include a U.S. military ID, alien resident card (either temporary or permanent), tribal ID, pilot or boating license, school ID, and Alabama voter card, among others.
How to Apply for an Alabama Birth Certificate
Now that you understand the importance of ID verification and the types of acceptable identification, let’s go through the steps of requesting an Alabama birth certificate on the Internet.
First, visit a reputable website (like US Birth Certificates) and choose the state from which you want to request the birth certificate — in this case, it’s Alabama. This step is extremely important because each state has its own specific rules and requirements for obtaining birth certificates.
Next, you’ll be prompted to fill out the online application. This form asks for detailed information, including the full name of the person whose birth certificate you’re requesting, date and place of birth, full name of both parents, your mailing address, and some security questions.
Once you have completed the application form, the next step is to verify your identity. This involves providing a photocopy of your identification (check the section above for accepted forms of ID). Make sure that both the front and back of your ID are clearly visible to ensure smooth verification.
Finally, you’ll need to pay the necessary fee and mail the application to the designated center listed on the form.
