In most of the countries a birth certificate is a vital record to document the birth of a child. The birth certificate either refers to certified or original documents or it bears original birth record. In most of the legal affairs, birth certificate is presented as a prima facie proof about actually occurrence of birth. More so, the birth certificates are also required as a proof while giving application for things such as passports, DL (Driving License), passports and obtaining qualification related to official work.

The certification of births is a practice which was comprehensively carried out all over human civilization mostly in China, Rome, Persia and Greece. Historically, the main purpose of birth registration was for tax and for making a good estimation about availability of workforces. Initially the church has authorized to get the birth registration done. The assigned churches usually kept the number of recorded births in their registers. This practice of registering birth certificate kept on till 19th century. After that, the essential registration of births conducted by government agencies came into being in 1853 in UK.

Many countries get registration of births regulated by their respective statutory laws. But, in all the countries, birth registration work is done with the authorized government agency. For this, mother's physician, midwife, hospital administrator, or the parents of the child are responsible to facilitate the registration process once the baby is born.

One can find the exact record of birth at any government agency. If requested, the agency will also issue a copy of certified birth record. The copy can be used in various application processes such as in government job, making passport and so on. A registrar commissioned by the government usually sign or seal the certificate of birth records.

There are various types of certified birth certificate forms mentioned in the following lines:

Long Birth Certificate Forms

Long birth certificate forms also known as certified Xerox copies, Photostat copies and book copies are the accurate photocopies of the original birth record made by the medical institute or midwife or physician present at the time of child's birth. The long birth certificate forms usually contain the following information:

. Date & Time of the birth

. Name of the child

. Gender of the child

. The birth place of the child

. The name of legal parents of the child

The long birth certificate forms also bears doctors' signature and one of the parents' as well.

Short forms of birth certificate

Short birth certificate forms are computer generated forms which are cheap and affordable. Information is derived out of the long forms and subsequently stored in a record. The forms can be accessed fast when there is need of obtaining birth certificate.

Long birth certificates forms are copy of the original birth certificates while the short forms certify that such certificates exist, and are mostly titled "Certification of Birth". Information regarding birth of child is included in the same manner as long forms. But, if the parents' names are included it shows that the certificate can be used instead of birth certificate in any situation.

Other Birth Certificate Forms

Apart from long and short forms of birth certificates, one can find wallet sized short birth certificate forms in many registration authorities. In the US these birth certificates are unacceptable while presenting age proof and citizenship proof.

 Have you read the recent newspaper story of a south American boy trying to find out his biological parents? He was brought up by a couple that are not his biological parents. It has happened because of mistake/mix-up of a hospital staff. He though ultimately has found his biological parents. One of the remedies so that this does not happen is to take the photographs of mother and child together just at birth and attach the photograph to the child's birth certificate. Birth Certificate forms are used to record the date, place, state, country, and parental information of a child at birth. This is the right of a child to have his/her birth certificate. It is the vital information of a child during a child's education, job, travel to other countries, and to get a passport/visa etc. 

            In ancient China, Egypt, Rome, Persia, and Greece used to keep birth records to count the number of military personals available. In 1853 United Kingdom government started recording the birth certificates of its citizens. In the United States of America recording of birth certificate of a child is a state function. State cooperates with federal government in activities like census taking, passport issuance etc. United States center of health statistics has designed a birth certificate form to be used by the states. But in practice a state generally does use its own designed forms. The attendant at birth or a hospital administrator fills the form and sends to local/state for recording the birth certificate. There are three types of birth certificate forms that are in use.

            . The long form: This is a photo- copy of original birth certificate containing all the information at the time of a child's birth. This also includes doctor's signature. Nowadays electronic birth certificates containing all information at birth like long forms are used. The birth certificate is then archived in a computer database.

            . Short Form: It is a filled out computerized birth certificate containing some of information of original birth certificate. It is called certification of birth or some other name identifying a birth certificate. All the states of USA maintain computerized short form birth certificate. It is easily available online.

            . Other forms: Wallet sized birth certificates signed by registrar are issued. This is to be used in foreign countries. This is done as per instructions decided in 1961 Hague convention.

            . Adoption birth certificate: In United States and Canada an adoption birth certificate to the child' name including names of his/her adoptive parents is maintained.