birth certificates - how many?

shell_girl

We paid for two extra copies as it was cheaper to pay for extras at the time than if you needed them later. We then gave the extra copies as presents to each grandmother, each of whom are much more reliable and organised than I am.

In x many years time when I've lost my copy and my son needs it for something, his grandma will have it safe for him!

pigpen

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

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).

Our trust funds were all opened online and nothing was signed or required in terms of Id.

NHS card? Are they not sent out automatically when you register with the GP using the form you get when you register the birth? That is how I've always done it for all of mine.

Obviously registering with a foreign embassy isn't needed by many families.. well.. I suppose it is required by a lot, but few I know

I do love how everyone has different experiences.

ZsaZsa

We only had 1 copy of the long one for ours,as thats the one you need for a passport. I've never had a problem getting it returned (although I think I've only sent for child benefit and passport). I've got 4 copies of our marriage certificate, which was a complete waste so I didnt want to make the same mistake again.

neverdespairgirl

pigpen wrote: »

Our trust funds were all opened online and nothing was signed or required in terms of Id.

NHS card? Are they not sent out automatically when you register with the GP using the form you get when you register the birth? That is how I've always done it for all of mine.

Obviously registering with a foreign embassy isn't needed by many families.. well.. I suppose it is required by a lot, but few I know

I do love how everyone has different experiences.

I'm pretty sure I did need to send it somewhere for child trust fund. I think I did for the NHS card too, but you have me doubting that now!

I hope OH never needs his again, because it's lost - he couldn't find it when we cleared his parents' house after they died. And he was born in a hospital in Tel Aviv that's now closed down, so that could be a major PITA.

Savvy_Sue

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 is correct, and was still the case in the 80s and 90s. I told DH we'd get the short for free, and asked if I should pay for a long one, and he insisted I should, I don't think he wanted any doubt as to their paternity. :rotfl:

But I've only ever had one short and one long for each of them. I've sent off the short whenever that's been acceptable, but the long ones are still in the filing cabinet. At least, if they're not there, I hope the boys have got them themselves, because I have no idea where they'll have got to!