In order to prepare your new baby’s birth certificate, a few forms
need to be completed, depending on your marital status. Please fill out
the forms completely, and notify your nurse when you are finished.
Please be aware that in most cases the birth certificate will usually be
typed and ready to sign while you are still in the hospital–unless
your baby is born around the weekend or a holiday. In that instance, you
will be notified at home when the birth certificate is ready to be signed.
It is very important that you come back to the hospital to sign the birth
certificate within five days of the birth.
If you have any questions about the birth certificate during your hospital
stay, you can call Bonnie at extension 3674 from the phone in your room
(760) 499-3674) and she or another Medical Records staff member can assist you.
Married Parents
Birth Certificate Worksheet (please fill out all spaces, including the
bottom half of the sheet)
2 Social Security Forms (one is a half sheet that is yours to keep, and
the other is the form which allows a Social Security Number to be issued
to the baby)
Race Identification Worksheet (this allows you to state up to three races
on the birth certificate)
Unmarried Parents
Birth Certificate Worksheet (please fill out all spaces, including the
bottom half of the sheet)
2 Social Security Forms (one is a half sheet that is yours to keep, and
the other is the form which allows a Social Security Number to be issued
to the baby)
Race Identification Worksheet (this allows you to state up to three races
on the birth certificate)
Paternity Papers (POP) (These will come in a separate packet and are required
by the state in order for the father’s name to appear on the Birth
Certificate. If you did not receive the Paternity Papers with the other
paperwork, ask your nurse for them.
VERY IMPORTANT: A nurse or Medical Records staff member must witness The
Paternity Papers. The papers require signatures of both the mother and
father. Please fill out all of the required information, but DO NOT SIGN
until a nurse or medical records staff member is present to witness the
signatures.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I order the baby’s birth certificate?
Download a form here to send to the Kern County Department of Public Health along with the
Hospital Birth Certificate (para esta forma en español, haga clic
aquí). Remember, the Hospital Birth Certificate is a Complimentary
Copy, not a legal document. It is not accepted in place of the Certified
Copy from Bakersfield. There are directions on the order form and the
price to pay for your copy.
When will the baby’s Social Security Card arrive?
The baby’s Social Security Card should arrive at your home address
within 8 to 12 weeks.
Who can sign POP papers?
Only an unmarried mother and the real father can sign POP papers. A mother
who is still married to someone else cannot sign POP papers, and the baby’s
father is not allowed to sign either. California law assumes that the
mother’s husband is the baby’s father. For more information on POP,
click on this link.
What last name can the baby have on the Birth Certificate?
The baby can have any last name the mother wishes. She cannot add the father’s
name unless he signs POP papers claiming that he is the father and that
he will support the baby.
How can I add the father’s name to the birth certificate?
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