How to Get a Birth Certificate for Your Newborn Baby

A child’s birth must be duly registered at the Local Civil Registry office within 30 days after it is born.  Whether the baby was born in a hospital or at home, the parents must ensure that the child is properly registered at the LCR so that a PSA birth certificate may be issued for the baby as soon as possible. 

Here are some tips on getting your child’s birth registered smoothly:

1. Long before your child is born, decide on his or her name. Before going into labor, make sure that your family members have copies of your child’s name: your spouse, your parents, your siblings.  Ideally, it is also best that your doctor has a copy of your child’s name because sometimes, doctors fill-out the live birth form at the hospital.
2. When filling out the Certificate of Live Birth Form at the hospital (if you will give birth at a hospital), take your time and do not hurry. Make sure that you spell out your child’s name correctly and write it legibly. You will also be asked to submit the following so make sure you have these with you:
   1. PSA Marriage Certificate
   2. Photocopies of your valid IDs
   3. SSS, PhilHealth, and health insurance/HMO claim forms.
3. If you are an unmarried couple and the child’s father wishes to acknowledge the baby:
   1. Affidavit of Admission of Paternity
      1. This is found at the back of the Certificate of Live Birth.
      2. In the absence of this affidavit, the father may also execute a Private Handwritten instrument, an official document that is handwritten and signed by the father, stating that he acknowledges his paternity of the child.
   2. Affidavit to Use the Surname of the Father
      1. This can be provided by the hospital.

Registering your child’s birth:

1. Fill-out the Certificate of Live Birth form.
   1. Birth information such as gender, weight, doctor’s information, and date of birth will be filled out by the hospital staff (nurse).
   1. Some hospitals ask for the child’s name before the child is born so they can include this when filling out the form. Make sure you give them the correct spelling and double check the baby’s name on the COLB before you submit the document for registration.
2. The hospital or clinic shall forward the accomplished COLB to the LCR. This must be submitted to the LCR within 30 days from the child’s birth, otherwise, the registration will be tagged as “delayed”.
3. You may request the hospital to advise you when the registered copy of the COLB is ready for pickup.  You may also follow-up directly at the LCR.
4. It will take two to four months before your child’s PSA-authenticated birth certificate is made available. If you are in a hurry to get a birth certificate for your child, you may go for an Advance Endorsement.
   1. Claim your child’s COLB at the hospital or clinic where the child was born
   2. Have it authenticated at the municipal hall/city hall or city health office.
   3. Hand-carry the authenticated copy of your child’s COLB to the PSA and request for an electronic endorsement.
   4. Claim your child’s PSA birth certificate after 3 weeks.

If you gave birth at home, aided by a midwife or a hilot, you will have to process your child’s birth registration yourself. 

1. Secure a blank copy of the COLB from the Local Civil Registrar (get this before your give birth).
2. Get a certificate from the Barangay Captain where your baby was born. The barangay captain will validate the facts of your child’s birth.
3. Have the midwife or hilot sign the COLB.
4. Submit the accomplished copy of the COLB to the LCR.

If you have questions about your PSA birth certificate, feel free to drop me an email and I will try my best to find the answers for you.

Reference:

www.psa.gov.ph

www.filipiknow.net

https://psahelpline.ph/