# New baby: getting the birth certificate and Social Security number > At the hospital, fill out the birth registration form carefully; it registers the birth with your state. Check the box to request a Social Security number, and the card usually arrives by mail in a few weeks. Order certified birth certificates from your state or county vital records office. Unmarried parents can usually sign a voluntary parentage form at the hospital. Then add your baby to insurance, claim tax credits and update your W-4. - URL: https://explained.page/baby-birth-certificate-ssn - Language: en - Last checked: 2026-10-29 - Watch the 1-minute animated guide: https://explained.page/watch?start=baby-birth-certificate-ssn ## Step by step 1. **Congratulations on your new baby!** Two pieces of paperwork matter right away: the birth certificate and a Social Security number. Most of it starts at the hospital. 2. **Fill out the hospital’s birth form.** The hospital sends it to your state to register the birth. Check every spelling, and check the box to request a Social Security number. 3. **The Social Security card comes by mail.** If you requested it at the hospital, the card usually arrives in a few weeks. Your baby needs it for tax credits, insurance and more. 4. **Order certified birth certificates.** Order copies from your state or county vital records office. There’s usually a fee. You’ll need one for a passport, school and benefits. 5. **Not married? Ask about a parentage form.** Unmarried parents can usually sign a voluntary form at the hospital to legally establish the father or second parent. Ask before you leave. 6. **Put the paperwork to work.** Add your baby to health insurance, claim tax credits, update your W-4 and work benefits, and get a passport if you’ll travel. 7. **Look it up the right way.** Search with your town or state in the words. Pick the official site: it usually ends in .gov. Skip ads and sites that charge for free forms. ## Checklist - Fill out the hospital birth form carefully - Check the box for a Social Security number - Watch for the card in the mail - Order certified birth certificates - Ask about the parentage form if unmarried - Use them for insurance and taxes ## At the hospital Staff will give you a birth registration form (sometimes called a birth certificate worksheet). The hospital sends it to your state to register the birth. Double-check spelling and dates. ## Social Security number The easiest way is to check the box on the hospital form requesting a Social Security number. The card usually arrives by mail within a few weeks. If you didn’t request it, apply at Social Security later with the birth certificate and your ID. ## Certified birth certificates Order certified copies from your state or county vital records office, usually for a fee. You’ll need them for a passport, school enrollment and benefits. Use official sites to avoid extra fees. ## Unmarried parents Many hospitals offer a voluntary acknowledgment of parentage form to legally establish the father or second parent. It can affect custody, support and benefits, so read it carefully. ## Home births Contact your local registrar or vital records office to register the birth. ## Next steps Add your baby to health insurance (deadlines are short), claim the child on your taxes, update your W-4 and work benefits, and apply for a passport if you’ll travel. ## Common questions ### How long does a baby’s Social Security card take? Often a few weeks after the birth is registered, if requested at the hospital. Contact Social Security if it hasn’t arrived after several weeks. Source page: https://explained.page/baby-birth-certificate-ssn/questions/how-long-does-a-babys-social-security-card-take ### Can I fix a mistake on the birth certificate? Yes. Contact your state vital records office about an amendment; it’s easier to fix soon after the birth. Source page: https://explained.page/baby-birth-certificate-ssn/questions/can-i-fix-a-mistake-on-the-birth-certificate ### How do I get a Social Security number for my baby? Request it on the hospital birth registration form. The card is mailed to you. If you didn’t, apply at Social Security with the birth certificate and your ID. Source page: https://explained.page/baby-birth-certificate-ssn/questions/how-do-i-get-a-social-security-number-for-my-baby ### How do I get a copy of my baby’s birth certificate? Order a certified copy from your state or county vital records office, online, by mail or in person, usually for a fee. Source page: https://explained.page/baby-birth-certificate-ssn/questions/how-do-i-get-a-copy-of-my-babys-birth-certificate ### How long does it take to get a birth certificate? It varies by state, from days to several weeks. Ordering directly from the official office avoids extra service fees. Source page: https://explained.page/baby-birth-certificate-ssn/questions/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-birth-certificate ### What is an acknowledgment of paternity? A voluntary legal form unmarried parents can sign to establish the father. It affects custody, child support and inheritance, so read it carefully. Source page: https://explained.page/baby-birth-certificate-ssn/questions/what-is-an-acknowledgment-of-paternity ### Does my baby need a Social Security number? Yes, to claim tax credits, add them to some insurance and open accounts. Request it right away. Source page: https://explained.page/baby-birth-certificate-ssn/questions/does-my-baby-need-a-social-security-number ### Can I change my baby’s name after the birth certificate is issued? Usually yes, through your state vital records office, sometimes with a court order. It’s easiest to get it right on the hospital form. Source page: https://explained.page/baby-birth-certificate-ssn/questions/can-i-change-my-babys-name-after-the-birth-certificate-is-issued ## Official sources - [Social Security: numbers for newborns](https://www.ssa.gov/) - [CDC: where to write for vital records](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm) To find your local office, search for: - "[your state] vital records birth certificate" - "[your state] acknowledgment of paternity" --- General information, not legal or professional advice. Rules differ by state. From explained.page (www.explained.page). Life’s stuff, explained simply.