Safe Places To Store Birth Certificate & Other Important Documents

A birth certificate and other vital records like death certificates, passports, etc – are essential documents used to show proof of identity, and it's crucial to find a safe, dry place to keep them secure.

To help protect your records being lost or stolen, State Vital Records is sharing our list of safe places to store your birth certificate and other important documents.

Keep reading to find out more.

1. What Vital Documents Should I Secure?

Critical documents such as your birth certificate, marriage license, social security card, and tax returns should be tucked away in a safe place.

It should be somewhere you can always access them for maximum safety.

It might be wise to store all vital records in one shared location, like a:

Safe deposit box

. . . for better record-keeping.

Critical Documents

Original and certified copies of birth certificate
Medical and vaccination records
Passports
Social Security Cards
Vaccination Reports
Checkbook
Military ID
Citizenship papers
Marriage and divorce papers
Car Title
Insurance Cards

2. Places to Store Important Vital Records

You'll need your birth certificate and other vital records throughout your life in order to prove your identity.

What's more – is that you'll need your birth certificate to:

enroll in school
enroll in the military
get a passport

Because of this, you must keep these records in a highly-secure location inaccessible to visitors or guests that traffic your home.

Home Safe

A home safe is a convenient place to store your birth certificate, important documents, and other vital records.

Depending on the safe, you'll likely spend anywhere from $100 to upwards of $1,000 and can find a wide range of safes at your local hardware store.

Most home safes are fire and water-resistant and can protect your documents in case of an emergency.

Cloud Storage

More tech-savvy may want to consider digitally backing up their birth certificates as well as keeping physical copies of the original government-issued documents at home.

Cloud storage offers a quick and easy way to access any of your vital records if something were to ever happen to your hard copies.

Accordion Folder

Accordion folders can organize all essential documents.

This is a quick and easy way to find your files.

Try placing your folder in your home office in a file cabinet or closet.

These folders are great in case of emergencies, which lets you quickly grab and go. Despite their ease of use, accordion folders aren't as secure as home safes since they don't require a lock code or key.

To prevent your vital records from being stolen, it's best to find a hidden, secure location to keep your accordion folder out of plain sight.

3. Why Keep Your Vital Records Safe?

Vital records are government-issued documents that provide critical information about who you are and prove your identity.

Travelling outside the country to register for government benefits and services requires you to show a certified copy of your birth certificate.

You can reduce the chances of having your vital records lost or stolen by making up several copies of your birth certificate or passports, which you can order online.

Once you submit your completed application, you'll receive a certified copy of your birth certificate in several days, delivered right to your front door.

HOW STATEVITALRECORDS WORKS

Order online – Submit the form on State Vital Records through our online order form.
Notarization Through NotaryLive - In terms of notarization, some states require notarization of an application or a sworn statement – because of State Vital Records' partnership with NotaryLive, a remote online notarization platform that provides fast, secure and convenient notarization 24/7. ((Note: Keep in mind there are added fees when using NotaryLive for convenient, remote online notarization.)
- Upload Your Document
- VerifyYour Identity
- Connect Online With An Online Notary
- NotaryLive Routes Your Documents to State Vital Records Automatically

State Vital Records – After notarization through NotaryLive, State Vital Records will send the application to the jurisdiction. This is where the jurisdiction is responsible for the rest of the application process.
Jurisdiction – Will complete order and mail copy of the requested vital records to you

If you require assistance in notarizing your document, please contact [email protected]. Interested in the notarization process? Click here to learn more.

Looking to order your state vital records? Click here to make a request. Have any questions, contact us!

Frequently Asked Questions

What documents do I need to order a birth certificate online?
- Generally, you’ll need the following:
  - Proof of identity: A valid government-issued ID (e.g., driver’s license, passport)
  - Information about the individual: Full name, date of birth, and parent’s names.
  - Payment method: A credit card or debit card for the processing fee.
What’s the fastest way to get a copy of my birth certificate?
- StateVitalRecords.org offers a convenient process to order your vital records and will send your application to the jurisdiction where it is processed.

Is it safe to order a birth certificate online?

Ordering a birth certificate online from an official government website is generally safe and secure. To protect your personal information, make sure the website uses encryption (check for “https” in the URL like https://statevitalrecords.org/ ). Avoid third-party websites or services that may need additional costs and are not linked with the government