What are the requirements to obtain a birth certificate in Queens, New York, where Donald Trump was born?
Executive summary
Obtaining a certified birth certificate for someone born in Queens requires applying to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Vital Records), not the New York State Vital Records office; NYC issues certified copies for births in the five boroughs from 1910 to present [1] [2]. Only a narrow set of people—typically the person named on the certificate, a parent named on it, or others with a court order—may receive an authorized copy; requests must include proof of identity and relationship and follow NYC ordering procedures [3] [4].
1. Who controls Queens birth records — New York City, not the State
Records for births that occurred in Queens (one of NYC’s five boroughs) are maintained and issued by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, not the New York State Vital Records office; VitalChek and multiple government guides make that jurisdictional split explicit [1] [5]. Federal guidance and the CDC’s “Where to Write for Vital Records” page lists the NYC Office of Vital Records address and confirms that NYC issues birth certificates for the five boroughs [2].
2. Who is eligible to get a certified copy
Birth certificates for people born in the five boroughs are not public records. The NYC Department of Health generally issues certified copies only to the person named on the record, the parents named on the certificate, or other authorized parties—others (spouses, children, third parties) need a New York State court order to obtain a copy [3] [6]. Several sources stress this restricted access: New York law and NYC guidance limit issuance to named individuals or those who can prove legal entitlement [3] [6].
3. How to apply — methods, ID, and documentation required
For NYC births you must order through the NYC Vital Records process (online, by mail or in person) and supply identifying information and proof of identity; accepted methods and specific ID lists are published by NYC and state portals [4] [7]. The NYC site warns that certificate corrections require mail or in-person requests and that in-person service requires an appointment; emergency exceptions (travel, military, health care, housing, employment) are handled through 311 or dedicated email addresses [4]. The state portal describes the general steps for ordering (gather information, complete application, pay fees) for events outside NYC, but directs NYC-born requestors to the city office [7] [1].
4. Types of copies — informational vs. certified (authorized) copies
NYC issues both informational copies and certified (authorized/long-form) copies; an authorized copy carries the registrar’s embossed seal and signature and is acceptable for legal purposes (passports, Social Security, driver’s licenses) while informational copies lack the official seal and are for reference only [8] [9]. Private expedited services advertise faster delivery but they are third-party vendors and NYC cautions against unauthorized vendors charging excessive fees [4] [10].
5. Corrections and “not found” situations
If a birth certificate needs correction, NYC requires mail or in-person submission and supporting documents; certificate corrections cannot be done online [4]. If no record exists for the requested birth, agencies issue a “Not Found Statement” or “No Record Certification” after searching archives—different forms and fees apply depending on whether the event was inside NYC or in New York State [11] [1].
6. Context about high-profile uses and authenticity debates
High-profile figures have drawn attention to differences between “hospital” or facility-issued birth statements and official vital records: news outlets noted that hospital birth forms are not official birth certificates and that only the Department of Health can issue an official document bearing the registrar’s seal [12] [13]. Reporting from 2011 documented that an unofficial hospital certificate differs from an authorized certified copy and that an official record must come from the relevant health department [12] [13].
7. Limitations in current reporting and what’s not covered
Available sources do not mention the exact current fees for a NYC certified birth certificate or the full, up-to-the-minute list of acceptable identity documents and notarization requirements for mail orders; interested applicants should consult the NYC Department of Health site or call 311 for the latest fee schedule and ID list [4] [7]. Sources here also do not provide step‑by‑step application forms or processing times; those operational details are on the NYC Vital Records pages and vendor sites referenced above [4] [9].
Summary: If you or someone born in Queens needs a certified birth certificate, order from NYC Vital Records, prove you are authorized (named person or parent, or possess a court order), supply required ID and documentation, and expect to follow the city’s specific procedures for in-person, mail, or online requests [1] [3] [4].