October 4, 2006
ID Now Required to Get Copy of Birth, Death Certificates
Beginning this month, citizens will need to provide identification in order to get a copy of a Montana birth or death certificate, according to state officials. The new requirement is intended to help protect people from identity theft.
According to a recent federal report, between 85 and 90 percent of birth certificate fraud encountered by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services and Passport Services is the result of genuine birth certificates held by imposters.
“With a copy of a birth certificate, someone can assume another person's identity,” said Jim Edgar, supervisor of the Office of Vital Statistics, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). “They can get a driver’s license, passport, bank account, loan, and credit card in another name. They can also ruin someone’s credit rating, leaving a difficult mess to clean up.”
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America, he added.
Vital records, including birth and death certificates, are important legal documents issued by the State of Montana. They can be used for many purposes, including:
- Establishing proof of age
- Establishing citizenship
- Applying for a driver’s license, passport, or other government-issued identification
- Qualifying for government benefits
- Qualifying for insurance benefits
Most requests for vital records are legitimate, Edgar said, but some are attempts by criminals to assume new identities.
According to state law, the only people authorized to request a copy of a birth certificate are the person whose birth was registered; that person’s spouse, children, parents, or guardian; or someone authorized by the person for that reason. Anyone who completes an application may get a copy of a death certificate.
As of Oct. 1, a citizen must present one of the following forms of signed picture ID in order to get a copy of a birth or death certificate:
- Driver’s license
- State ID card
- Passport
- Military ID card
- Tribal ID card
If a requester does not have a picture ID with a signature, then two of the following will be acceptable. At least one must include the requestor’s signature:
- Social Security card
- Work ID card
- Car registration/insurance
- Doctor/medical record
- Fishing license
- U.S. Military DD214
- Voter registration card
- Utility bill with a current address
- Credit/debit/ATM card
- School ID card
- Library card
- Insurance record
- Pay stub
- Traffic/pawn ticket
- School yearbook
- Court record
Citizens who don’t have acceptable identification can have an authorized family member who does have acceptable ID order a birth or death certificate for them. Proof of the relationship, such as a birth, death, or marriage certificate, may be required.
For more information, contact the Office of Vital Statistics at (406) 444-4228 or visit the DPHHS website at www.dphhs.mt.gov and click on “Get a Birth/Death Record.” For more information on identity theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission website at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
