Newborn Birth Certificate Information

Newborn Birth Certificate Information

Why Is a Birth Certificate Important?

The birth certificate is an individual’s claim and proof of citizenship, identification and relationship to his or her parents. This document serves as the primary document for each of us to enter school, play little league sports, obtain a social security number and account, a driver’s license, a passport and lastly to prove we are citizens and are qualified to work in the USA.

Get Started

At the hospital, you will be asked to complete the Mother’s Worksheet for Child’s Birth Certificate. You may begin the form at home or complete it during your stay. The form will be completed and signed in the hospital after your baby is born. Please visit the Texas Department of State Health Services to download the worksheet in English or Spanish.

Timing

It is important to register the birth of your newborn with the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics as soon as possible. Failure to complete the registry will delay the documents, including your baby’s Social Security card.

Obtaining a Certified Copy of a Birth Certificate

Parents should be informed that Memorial Hermann does not aid in issuing certified copies of birth certificates. The information collected by the Birth Certificate department at Memorial Hermann is used solely to register the newborn baby with the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics.

Visit the Bureau of Vital Statistics website at https://www.dshs.texas.gov/ to learn how to get a certified copy of your newborn’s birth certificate.

Birth Certificate and Birth Registrar Information by County & Hospital

Get specific requirements and information about birth certificates by county and hospital:

• Harris County (Children’s Memorial Hermann, Cypress, Greater Heights, Memorial City, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest)
• Montgomery County (The Woodlands)
• Fort Bend County (Katy, Sugar Land)

Information for Unmarried Parents or Questions Related to Paternity

If you are not married, the father's name may be completed on the certificate only if both parents sign the Acknowledgement of Paternity. If you are not married to the biological father of your child but you want to establish paternity on the baby, the Acknowledgement of Paternity (AOP) form must be completed. Please note that Form 1608 Acknowledgment of Paternity is voluntary.

What Does Paternity Establishment Mean?

• Paternity establishment is the process of determining the legal father of a child born to parents who are not married.
• Every child has a biological father, but if a child’s parents are not married, the law does not accept or recognize the biological father as the legal father. Until the father is determined to be the legal father, he has no rights to or responsibilities for the child.
• Establishing paternity for a child born to unmarried parents gives the child the same rights and benefits as a child born to parents who are married.

How Can Paternity be Established?

Unmarried parents can establish paternity in one of two ways:

• Signing a voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity (AOP) form or
• Having a court determine paternity

What Is Acknowledgement of Paternity (AOP)?

• The AOP is a form for parents to voluntarily establish legal paternity for their child.
• It is used when the biological parents of a child are not married to each other when their baby is born. All parties to the AOP sign voluntarily, and then the form is filed with the Vital Statistics Unit (VSU) by the hospital’s Birth Registrar. After the AOP is filed, it becomes a legal finding of paternity.

Who Benefits From Establishing Paternity?

The child benefits from establishing from paternity. A child benefits from establishing paternity by having:

• A legal record of the identity of his or her parents
• The father’s name on the birth certificate
• Access to family medical history and genetic information
• The emotional benefits of knowing the identity of both parents
• Financial support from both parents
• Medical support or health insurance from either parents
• Other financial benefits, such as Social Security benefits, veteran benefits, military allowances, worker’s compensation benefits and inheritance

Learn More

Learn more about establishing paternity, get answers to frequently asked questions, and get contact information at the Attorney General of Texas Website. Go now »

Family-Focused Parent Education

Memorial Hermann’s Fatherhood Initiative offers a 12-week course with separate education classes for mothers and fathers to learn co-parenting fundamentals. The fathers’ classes are designed to help fathers share experiences and learn skills to help each father be the best parent he can be. The mothers’ classes are designed for mothers to learn more about the benefits of co-parenting, share experiences, and gather tools to foster a good co-parenting relationship.

Find out more information and register for one of these classes online or call (713) 222-CARE to register by phone.