birth certificates - how many?

Janepig

Make-it-3 wrote: »

We did get the long one for our LO, I remember being told the passport office require the long one (that might not be true) so we have long and short.

It is true - you need the long one for a passport. Back in about 1984 my parents had to get a copy of my brother's long birth certificate to go with his passport application. I already had one but for some reason he only had the short version.

I've never had a problem with anyone sending them back. Or death certificates or marriage certificates for that matter.

Jx

Goldiegirl

You can apply for a copy of your birth certificate at any time, so a person doesn't really need multiple copies

fluffnutter

When I registered my son, one copy was free and subsequent ones were charged at about £8 I think. We've got two.

Lou67

I didn't realise you could elect to get more than one! I'd get 3 or so. Congrats on new baby BTW!

neverdespairgirl

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

This thread has got me thinking, so I've just got a quick question....We recently had to send off our both certificates as we are getting married shortly, the OH's looked like this http://www.edp24.co.uk/lifestyle/family-history/searching-public-records/birth-certificates-and-notices and mine looked like this http://familyfolklore.wordpress.com/2011/11/04/101-today-–-mabel-coulson-birth-certificate-and-photographic-evidence/ Why the difference? I was expecting mine to be like his with my parents professions on and everything. No biggy really, just puzzled as to why?

One is a short certificate, one is a long one. The short one is cheaper.

neverdespairgirl

I was a late 1970s child, too, and my mother registered my birth when she and I were still in hospital, the registrar came to the maternity wards then! She only got the free short one, because she didn't have any money on her to buy the long one.

I do have a long one, but that must have been issued for something else, maybe when I started school, as it is dated 1982, when I'd have been 4 years old.

When my DS was born, almost 8 years ago, we got 4 copies, because we had to keep sending them off or presenting them to people. You seem to need copies more often now than you used to.

As for needing my own - the only times I've needed it are when starting a new school, starting university, and being Called to the Bar.

Spendless

ilikewatch wrote: »

According to my mum, back in the dark ages (1970's) when I was born, you got given the short version for free, but could pay several shillings to get a long version too - my parents decided not to waste their money and opted for the short version.

This was still the case when I had eldest in 2000 the short version was free but if you wanted the long version too, there was a charge. The long one has more details on it (though what I can't remember and can't currently get to them). Can't remember if it was still the case in 2003 when I had youngest. I can't remember ever sending their certificates off, not sure I have.:cool:

Tupperware_Queen

I have only ever had a short one, managed perfectly well until earlier this year, I applied for a new job, and the HR dept (NHS) insisted on seeing the long certificate as proof of my eligibility to work in the UK.

The fact that I am moving from one NHS job to another seemed irrelevant. Cost me £12 for a new certificate, plus the hassle of having to go back to the HR dept!!

pigpen

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

You seem to need copies more often now than you used to.

I have only ever needed the childrens birth certificates for opening a bank account and applying for child benefit.. When they were older they wanted one for starting school and nursery and when applying for a passport for DD1 (18) (none of the others have one) My children range from 21years to 21 months!.

neverdespairgirl

pigpen wrote: »

I have only ever needed the childrens birth certificates for opening a bank account and applying for child benefit.. When they were older they wanted one for starting school and nursery and when applying for a passport for DD1 (18) (none of the others have one) My children range from 21years to 21 months!.

I've needed DS' for child benefit, child trust fund, opening a bank account, passport, NHS card, and nursery and school. We also needed it to register his birth with the Israeli embassy (OH is Israeli as well as British).