Your Baby's Birth Certificate & Social Security Number

Here are answers to frequently asked questions about obtaining your baby's legal birth certificate and Social Security number.

How do I get my baby's legal birth certificate?

You'll need to submit a request to King County's Department of Vital Statistics, along with a fee for each copy you'd like.

We will send you home with the appropriate paperwork—titled "Order for Certified Copy of Birth Certificate"—but you can also find this document along with detailed instructions online.

Visit the King County records website to see the options for ordering.

There is an error on my baby's birth certificate. What should I do?

Please leave us a detailed message at (425) 899-3510 or send a detailed email to birthcertificates@evergreenhealth.com describing the error. We will pull the original birth filing form to compare information.

• If the mistake is a hospital error, we will submit an affidavit of correction to the state.
• If it's not a hospital error, you will need to fill out the reverse side of the birth certificate to correct the information before mailing all copies to the address listed.

In either case, as long as you spot the error within a few months of birth, Vital Statistics will replace all copies you've purchased as long as you return your original copies.

How do I apply for my baby's Social Security card?

EvergreenHealth can apply for your baby's Social Security card on your behalf. All you need to do is check off the appropriate box on the birth filing form we have you fill out before leaving the hospital.

In very rare instances, we are unable to request a Social Security card; rest assured that we will contact you if we have any questions or concerns.

How long does it take to get my baby's Social Security card?

You should receive your baby's Social Security card within eight weeks following birth.

If you do not receive the card in this time, please email us at birthcertificates@evergreenhealth.com or call us at (425) 899-3510 so that we may verify the request before following up with the Social Security Administration.

Commemorative Birth Certificate

We are happy to provide you with a commemorative certificate celebrating your child's birth.

This certificate is a lovely addition to your baby book, but it is not a legal birth certificate and cannot be used for identification purposes, such as registering your child for school or youth sports, or for travel identification.

For more information on ordering a commemorative certificate, email birthcertificates@evergreenhealth.com