Birth Certificate

You will need to complete the Washington State Birth Certificate Form to obtain a birth certificate for your child. Please print it out, read it carefully, complete the Mother and Father information, and bring it with you when you come to the hospital.  The information for your child will be completed after your delivery.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to fill this out?

It is important that the information you provide be complete and accurate. The birth certificate is a LEGAL document needed for obtaining identification, applying for passports, verifying age and citizenship, enrolling in school, applying for a social-security number and for public assistance.

Do I have to provide all the information on the worksheet?

Yes. Leaving blank spaces on the worksheet could result in an inaccurate birth certificate. The birth certificate worksheet asks for a lot of information. Some of this information is needed to identify the record, so that a copy of the birth certificate can be issued, for example, when your child enters school or needs a passport. The rest of the information (some of which you may consider quite personal) is combined with everyone else’s information. This data is studied to help identify things that may endanger you or your baby’s health. It is also used to make sure that everyone gets the proper prenatal care. You may think that you do not have to provide some of this information; however, all of the items on the worksheet are considered part of the birth certificate as defined by state law and the law requires that all the information be supplied if it can be obtained. Your personal information is confidential, which means that it is not given out with your name and address attached. Also, none of this information appears on any copy of the birth certificate. Confidentiality of birth data is guaranteed by state law, and the law spells out how data and records may and may not be released. The information you provide is very important for improving health of mothers and babies. Thank you for your cooperation.

How should I fill in the mother’s name section?

The birth certificate will show mother’s name before her first marriage. DO NOT use your maiden name as your middle name; use your full name given to you at birth (birth name).

What if I’m an unmarried parent?

If you are not married and wish the father’s information to print on the birth certificate, you will need to complete a Paternity Acknowledgment. The Paternity Acknowledgment will be provided to you upon request. If you choose not to complete the Acknowledgment, the father’s information will print on the birth certificate as None Named. Read the instructions prior to completing the document. In order to avoid a $15 charge, you must complete the Paternity Acknowledgment within 10 days of your delivery date.

How do I get a Social-Security number (SSN) for my child?

If you indicate on the Birth Certificate Worksheet that you want Swedish to apply for your child's SSN, you will receive the SSN card in the mail approximately four to six weeks from date of birth. If you wish to obtain the SSN yourself, mark "yes" that you need a Letter of Verification. You will need to take the Letter of Verification and the Certified Birth Certificate to your local Social Security office in order to apply. If you do not receive the SSN card in six weeks, follow up directly with your local Social Security office.

How do I get a certified birth certificate?

The hospital CANNOT provide you with a birth certificate. You can request one from the Seattle-King County Department of Health Vital Statistics by completing the order form. Complete and mail to the address on that form along with the required fee. If you did not receive the order form, call 206-296-4768 to request one.

Is the footprint sheet proof of birth?

No. You will receive a footprint sheet from the nursing staff as a memento only. The footprint sheet will have your baby’s feet stamped on the upper portion and the bottom portion purposely left blank. This is for you to complete at home. It’s not required that the provider or nursing staff sign this sheet. However, if asked, they would be happy to do so for you.