Eligibility and ID checker
Three questions: your relationship to the person on the record, what you need it for, and whether you have a photo ID. The answer quotes the state’s own rule.
On this page
How it works
Most states treat birth and death records as closed records: only the person on the record, close relatives and people with a legal reason may order a certified copy. A few states let anyone order. The checker looks up the rules the state publishes for the record you choose and shows the exact sentence that applies to you, so you can see the condition attached, for example a grandparent who must have custody of the child, or an adult child who must be 18 or older.
If the state does not name your relationship, the checker lists everyone it does name. That usually means you need a court order, a written authorization from someone who is entitled, or an informational copy instead of a certified one.
ID and its alternatives
For orders by mail, many states ask for a photocopy of a government photo ID, and some ask for a notarized signature. When you have no photo ID, states often accept two other documents, such as a utility bill, a pay stub or a Social Security card, or the ID of a parent named on the record. The checker shows the state's own list when it publishes one.
Limits
The office decides each application. The checker only shows the published rules; it is not legal advice and it does not send anything to the state.