New state legislation meant to help thwart the growing problem
of identity theft will mean stricter requirements for those seeking
certified copies of birth and death certificates.
New state legislation meant to help thwart the growing problem of identity theft will mean stricter requirements for those seeking certified copies of birth and death certificates.
“The new legislation helps protect birth and death records from misuse by allowing only specific authorized individuals to receive a certified copy of a birth or death record,” said Brenda Davis, Santa Clara County’s clerk-recorder.
An authorized copy of a birth record is required to obtain a driver’s license, passport, Social Security card, while an authorized death record may be required for death benefits, claim insurance proceeds and other services.
Under the new legislation, only specific categories of authorized individuals may request a certificate. For the general public, this includes:
• The registrant and his or her parent or legal guardian, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or domestic partner
• An attorney or other person empowered by statute or a court to represent the registrant or their estate
• A party entitled to receive the record as a result of a court order.
Citizens requesting the certificates in person will have to include a sworn statement attesting to their identity.
