A person’s birth certificate is as unique and relevant as the very prints on his fingers. It is his guide to his identity such as the facts of his birth and his parentage. All throughout one’s life, a person’s birth certificate will be required of him to establish his name, age, nationality, and other personal and unique identifying details.
A child’s birth must be registered at the office the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) no later than 30 days from the date of birth. Any day later and the registration is considered delayed. A delayed registration of birth often entails additional requirements, including an explanation why the birth was not registered on time.
You cannot do without your PSA birth certificate, or at least, a copy of your Certificate of Live Birth. That is why birth registration should not be taken for granted as it is the only way a child could have a legal proof of his or her identity. Without it, a person is essentially non-existent; he or she runs the risk of being unprotected by the state and denied of services and benefits especially in his adult and senior years.
In this blog, we are going to share the list of requirements for birth registration under different birth circumstances. Whether your child was born at home or at a hospital, whether the parents are married or not, and if the birth registration is submitted on time or is delayed.
How do I register my child’s birth?
| IF THE CHILD WAS BORN AT: | PARENTS’ MARITAL STATUS/ BIRTH REGISTRATION ON TIME? | DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE LCR: |
| A. Home | Parents are married. Birth registration is ON TIME | · PSA Marriage Certificate of parents. · Signature of attendant at birth. – Barangay Midwife’s Certification of circumstances of birth. |
| B. Home | Parents are married. Birth registration is LATE. | · PSA Negative Certification of Birth · Baptismal certificate of parents. · PSA Marriage Certificate of parents. · Signature of attendant at birth (if still alive). · Affidavit of Two Disinterested Individuals. · Recent Community Tax Certificate (Cedula) of Informant. · At least three documentary evidences bearing the person’s full name, date and place of birth. |
| C. Home | Parents are NOT MARRIED. Birth Registration is ON TIME. | · Signature of attendant at birth. · If the child is acknowledged by the father, he must personally appear at the MCR (LCR) office. – Father’s recent Community Tax Certificate (Cedula). |
| D. Home | Parents are NOT MARRIED. Birth Registration is LATE. | · PSA Negative Certification · Baptismal Certificate · If the child is acknowledged by the father, he must make a personal appearance at the MCR/LCR office with his recent Community Tax Certificate (Cedula). · Sworn statement of the mother or · If the mother is deceased or if her whereabouts is unknown, Sworn Statement of father/grandfather in lieu of mother. · Recent Community Tax Certificate of mother or of father/grandfather (if mother is deceased or whereabouts is unknown). · Affidavit of Two Disinterested Individuals. · At least three documentary evidences bearing the person’s full name, date and place of birth. |
| E. Hospital or Maternity Clinic | Parents are MARRIED. Birth registration is ON TIME. | Four copies of Certificate of Live Birth (duly accomplished), with signature of attendant at birth, the informant and the hospital staff who prepared the Certificate of Live Birth. |
| F. Hospital or Maternity Clinic | Parents are MARRIED. Birth registration is LATE. | · Four copies of Certificate of Live Birth (duly accomplished), with signature of attendant at birth, the informant and the hospital staff who prepared the Certificate of Live Birth. – Recent Community Tax Certificate (Cedula) |
| G. Hospital or Maternity Clinic | Parents are NOT MARRIED. Birth registration is ON TIME. | · Four copies of Certificate of Live Birth (duly accomplished), with signature of attendant at birth, the informant and the hospital staff who prepared the Certificate of Live Birth. · If the child is acknowledged by the father, he must make a personal appearance at the MCR/LCR office with his recent Community Tax Certificate (Cedula). · Sworn statement of the mother/father/guardian with copies of their recent Community Tax Certificate (Cedula). – Affidavit of Two Disinterested Individuals. |
The fees and processing time may vary per location. Do not hesitate to check with the LCR office on their timeline for birth registration. It is also a healthy practice to make follow-ups after the committed timeline is over. What is important is that parents see to it that their child’s birth is properly registered, and a copy of the child’s birth certificate is soon released to them.
Reference:
MasterCitizen's Blog 