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How hard is it to forge a birth certificate? I was under the impression it was quite difficult. Maybe with today's technology you could produce some convincing

How hard is it to forge a birth certificate? I was under the impression it was quite difficult. Maybe with today's technology you could produce some convincing frauds, but I'm kind of skeptical this was happening at any kind of scale back then.

Retric 8y ago
This is not about forging a birth certificate. This is about denying birth certificates issued be the US government are actually valid.
- masonic 8y ago
  The US government doesn't issue birth certificates (aside from births under Federal jurisdiction, like military).
  - 5555624 8y ago
    Even then, it's a form, such as an "FS-240." My sister was born in a U.S. Air Force hospital, which issued a "Certificate of Birth" and it was useless. For passport or any other time the government asked for a "birth certificate," the FS-240 was what they wanted. (It's a form with information on both parents.)
  - muzz 8y ago
    I think your point is that they are not issued by the Federal government. They are issued by state governments.
- remarkEon 8y ago
  I think I took the word "fraudulent" a little too all encompassing then. Still ... I think my point remains. How does one go about obtaining a legitimately produced US birth certificate and then assign it to someone not born here? I imagine this would have to be a tightly controlled process at hospitals. So how do midwives get them?
  - masonic 8y ago
    A common vector for identity fraud has been to request a copy of a legitimate birth certificate of a person who died later in another state.
  - Retric 8y ago
    Depends on the state, but it’s fairly common for people to be born outside of hospitals, even just at the side of the road etc. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/CDPH%20Document%20Library/ADA_Out-of-Hospital%20Birth%20Pamphlet%20(01-18).pdf https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/CDPH%20Document%20Libr...
- gergles 8y ago
  .
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - Retric 8y ago
    https://txapps.texas.gov/tolapp/ovra/index.htm https://txapps.texas.gov/tolapp/ovra/index.htm “You can use this application to order Texas Vital Records online including: Birth Certificate or Verification” Note the .gov website, they don’t let random hobos create valid birth certificates. Now, they don’t require a government agent in the room for the birth, and their are cases where certificates may have been gotten under false pretenses. But, nonetheless this is US government issued. PS: The core issue is many births occurs outside of hospitals, and that’s not going to change any time soon. http://healthland.time.com/2012/01/19/baby-born-while-mom-is-stuck-in-an-elevator-just-add-it-to-the-list-of-weird-birthing-locals/ http://healthland.time.com/2012/01/19/baby-born-while-mom-is...
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]

Retric 8y ago

This is not about forging a birth certificate. This is about denying birth certificates issued be the US government are actually valid.

masonic 8y ago
The US government doesn't issue birth certificates (aside from births under Federal jurisdiction, like military).
- 5555624 8y ago
  Even then, it's a form, such as an "FS-240." My sister was born in a U.S. Air Force hospital, which issued a "Certificate of Birth" and it was useless. For passport or any other time the government asked for a "birth certificate," the FS-240 was what they wanted. (It's a form with information on both parents.)
- muzz 8y ago
  I think your point is that they are not issued by the Federal government. They are issued by state governments.
remarkEon 8y ago
I think I took the word "fraudulent" a little too all encompassing then. Still ... I think my point remains. How does one go about obtaining a legitimately produced US birth certificate and then assign it to someone not born here? I imagine this would have to be a tightly controlled process at hospitals. So how do midwives get them?
- masonic 8y ago
  A common vector for identity fraud has been to request a copy of a legitimate birth certificate of a person who died later in another state.
- Retric 8y ago
  Depends on the state, but it’s fairly common for people to be born outside of hospitals, even just at the side of the road etc. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/CDPH%20Document%20Library/ADA_Out-of-Hospital%20Birth%20Pamphlet%20(01-18).pdf https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/CDPH%20Document%20Libr...
gergles 8y ago
.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- Retric 8y ago
  https://txapps.texas.gov/tolapp/ovra/index.htm https://txapps.texas.gov/tolapp/ovra/index.htm “You can use this application to order Texas Vital Records online including: Birth Certificate or Verification” Note the .gov website, they don’t let random hobos create valid birth certificates. Now, they don’t require a government agent in the room for the birth, and their are cases where certificates may have been gotten under false pretenses. But, nonetheless this is US government issued. PS: The core issue is many births occurs outside of hospitals, and that’s not going to change any time soon. http://healthland.time.com/2012/01/19/baby-born-while-mom-is-stuck-in-an-elevator-just-add-it-to-the-list-of-weird-birthing-locals/ http://healthland.time.com/2012/01/19/baby-born-while-mom-is...
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]