Although birth certificates are considered a document certifying nationality, many countries including the United States leave official birth recordkeeping up to local jurisdictions. Each state in the U.S. has its own laws regarding legal birth certificates. In some states there is a single bureau of vital statistics that handles all documentation. In other states a local government may have its own vital statistics bureau. Hospitals are often given the responsibility for creating the original document. Obtaining a copy of one's birth certificate usually does not involve a search, as the place and date of birth is known to the individual. Exceptions would include those who were never told their place of birth and individuals who have been legally adopted.Obtaining A Certified CopyThe most common reason for having a certified copy of a birth certificate is to obtain a U.S. Passport. Birth certificates can be requested by providing the full name, date and place of birth to the vital statistics bureau in the state where the birth took place. Most states have an birth records office located in the capital city. Requests may be made in writing or via the internet. Public records of this type are considered free, however states will charge a processing fee to produce a certified copy. This copy will have a raised, embossed, multi-colored or impressed seal affixed by the registrar. The copy will be as valid as the original. The original document is the property of the state government and cannot be forwarded to the individual.Hospital Certificates And The LawMany hospitals and birthing centers issue a standard certificate when a child is born. These are not legal documents and are usually rejected by the U.S. Passport Office. Many parents keep these certificates and eventually pass them to their child, but the information contained on them is of no legal value.Certificates For Adopted ChildrenPersons who were legally adopted may wish to conduct a search for their birth parents. An original birth certificate would contain the names of the biological mother and father, but most states seal the original certificate at the time the child is placed for adoption. Searching for the original may be a fruitless project. Each state has its own regulations concerning original birth certificates of adopted children. In most cases a revised certificate is issued, showing the correct date of birth but also listing only the adoptive parents. Unless the birth parent gives permission to unseal the document when the child reaches legal age, access to the original certificate may be permanently denied.