Birth certificate: everything you need to know

The birth certificate is a document that collects and accredits all the data of a person at birth. This document is very important, since you will need it to be able to do anything that needs accreditation, for example, the National Identity Document (DNI), or get married , among many others.

WHAT IS THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND WHAT INFORMATION DOES IT CONTAIN

When a birth occurs, it is mandatory to go to the corresponding Civil Registry to proceed with the registration of the newborn in the territorial archives . This is the state’s way of controlling births and deaths in our country. In addition to having many other uses, both for the state itself and for the interested party.

The birth certificate contains important data such as :

• • The exact date and time of birth

• • The place where the birth occurred , name of the hospital, city, etc.

• • The sex of the newborn

• Name and surname of the newborn and parents

In addition to other data that refer to the place where the registration is made or the person in charge of doing it. That is, the name and surname of the person making the certificate, his signature, the office seal, and annotations that refer to the registration number.

WHAT IS THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE NEEDED FOR?

The birth certificate is necessary to carry out different procedures throughout the life of any person. Perhaps the main, best known and most basic, is the National Identity Document (DNI), the official document that proves your identity and that you have to carry at all times. The DNI can be done at any time since the birth occurs, but if it is not necessary you can postpone it, since it has a cost and is not mandatory until the age of 14.

The birth certificate or birth certificate is essential for many procedures, so it is very important that you indicate what you need it for when you request a copy. This is because, depending on the procedure you need to carry out, it can be sealed in one way or another and if it does not have the correct seal, it will be invalid . Once you get it, this document is valid for 3 months. So you should take this time into account when planning to carry out any procedure that does not require.

In addition to obtaining the National Identity Document for the first time, the birth certificate is necessary for the following procedures :

• • Apply for the passport : Which is the document you need to travel abroad, either to apply for the passport for the first time or for its renewal , you need the birth certificate with its relevant stamp.

• • To get married : If you are going to organize your wedding, you will need to request the birth certificate of both parties to be able to request the marriage in the official registry. Remember the validity of 3 months that we mentioned in previous points.

• • If you want to work abroad : People who want to try their luck abroad have to complete various administrative procedures before even looking for work in the specific country. One of the first documents you need is the birth certificate.

• • Inheritances : You will also have to request a copy of your birth certificate in order to access an inheritance .

• • Aid and benefits : Social Security offers various benefits, including those that refer to new births, single-parent families, mothers with disabilities, etc.

• • Paternity leave : To request paternity leave , you will have to provide your child’s birth certificate. In this case, it will be a copy of the first registration in the civil registry after the birth of the baby.

• Application for admission to schools : You will first need a copy of the relevant birth certificate to apply for a place in a municipal early childhood education center. Later you will have to do the same when you have to apply for admission to the school where you want your child to study.

WHAT TO DO IF THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE HAS ERRORS

The birth certificate can present different errors, since the person who makes the registration is a person and can make mistakes like anyone else. The problem is that, in the event of any error, you may have problems when requesting any of the procedures that we mentioned in the previous point.

For example, when requesting the right to an inheritance , receiving a pension, applying for a place in a school or university and even to be able to get married. Any failure, can suppose a serious damage that you will have to correct to be able to carry out the procedure that you need.

If this happens, you should know that you can request the rectification of the failure of the birth certificate through several ways.

• • By administrative rectification : When the error can be verified through documents filed in the Civil Registry , such as the live birth certificate that is drawn up manually at the moment of birth.

• • By judicial rectification : If there is no document that proves the error, you will have to request the rectification by judicial means in the justice of the peace.

• Through a notary : When the failure is easily verifiable through other documents.