For Organizations
The Birth Certificate Navigator is a free, open-source tool built to help your clients, members, and communities obtain their birth certificates.
What This Tool Does
We help people navigate the complex process of getting a birth certificate — especially those facing barriers like lack of ID, homelessness, or incarceration.
- Personalized step-by-step action plans for all 50 states, DC, and US territories
- Fee waiver identification and application guidance
- Alternative ID pathways for people without government-issued photo ID
- Available in English and Spanish
How Your Organization Can Use This
Link from your website
Add a link to mybirthcert.org from your resource pages. Deep-link directly to a state: mybirthcert.org/quick
Refer clients directly
Walk clients through the guided tool during intake sessions. The personalized plan can be printed or saved.
Use the quick lookup
For staff who process many requests, the quick lookup provides instant access to fees, methods, and office details for any state.
Who Uses This
Homeless Services
Help residents obtain the ID documents they need for housing, employment, and benefits.
Legal Aid
Assist clients with the documentation needed for legal proceedings, immigration, and benefits.
Reentry Programs
Help formerly incarcerated individuals obtain birth certificates as a first step toward rebuilding their identity documents.
Voter Registration
Help voters obtain the birth certificate they need for a state ID and voter registration.
Social Workers
Support clients navigating the document maze — especially those with name changes, adoption, or gender marker updates.
Public Libraries
Provide patrons with a free, trustworthy resource for obtaining vital records.
Help Us Improve
This project is open source and community-driven. We welcome contributions of all kinds.
- Report outdated fees, phone numbers, or office addresses
- Help translate the tool into additional languages
- Share feedback about the user experience from your clients' perspective
Organizations Working on This Issue
These organizations provide direct assistance with birth certificates and ID documents.
Spread the Vote
Free ID assistance in 20 states — helps people experiencing homelessness, poverty, and other barriers.
VoteRiders
Free assistance with voter ID — helps people obtain the documents they need to vote.
Lambda Legal
Legal assistance for LGBTQ+ individuals — including name and gender marker changes on identity documents.
Free, private, and available in English and Spanish.