Birth Registration FAQ

After your baby’s birth, El Camino Health’s birth recorder collects information and helps you begin the process of obtaining your baby’s birth certificate and social security number.

To register each birth, the hospital birth recorder must complete and submit paperwork to the California Department of Public Health within 21 days of the delivery. At El Camino Health, our goal is to finalize your baby’s birth certificate before you leave the hospital, which allows for processing time.

What if I don’t have a name for my child?

If you don’t have a name for your child, a birth certificate will still be prepared and registered. A dash will be entered for each name that isn’t provided (first, middle, last). Once the registrar receives the registration, the Santa Clara County registrar will send you a supplemental name report form to complete.

You’re not required to name your child in order to complete the birth certificate paperwork. However, if you decide to wait, the amended certificate will become a two-page document with the name listed on the second page.

What if I notice an error on the birth certificate?

It’s important to let the birth recorder know of any errors before you sign the certificate so it can be corrected right away. If you notice an error after you’ve signed, please call the birth recorder:

  • Mountain View birth recorder: 650-988-7537
  • Los Gatos birth recorder: 408-866-4094

What if I want to change my baby’s name after I sign the birth certificate?

Once the birth certificate is signed, it becomes a legal document. Changing anything — such as the baby’s name, mother’s name, or changing the informant or certifier — requires a court order through the Superior Court.

Is the birth certificate process different for unmarried parents?

Unmarried parents must establish paternity, or the legal father of the child. The easiest way to do so is by signing a special form, provided by the birth recorder. Both parents must sign the form. Once completed, the birth recorder will submit it to the state for processing. Please note: If you don’t complete the paternity form, the father’s name can’t be added to the birth certificate.

Will the birth certificate be mailed to me automatically?

No. Once you’ve completed the birth certificate, the birth recorder will give you an application to obtain a certified copy of the birth record. You’ll need to complete and submit the application to the County of Santa Clara to have a copy mailed to you. Note, the application will only need to be notarized if you intend to mail the application rather than going in person to the County Office.

How do I get a social security number for my child?

Along with the birth certificate paperwork, the birth recorder will provide you with a social security number application for your child, which is optional. By completing this step in the hospital, you won’t have to go to the Social Security Administration office to obtain a number. However, you must have a name for your child to apply for a social security number.

If you choose to participate, the California Department of Public Health will transmit your request to the Social Security Administration and a social security card will be mailed to you within eight weeks.

The birth recorder is available to answer your questions and assist with completing the forms.

Birth Recorder FAQs

For each birth, information is collected and completed by the birth recorder at each birthing hospital in Santa Clara County (i.e. El Camino Health). The birth recorder has 21 days to send the information to the California Department of Public Health for registration.

How long do I have to complete the birth certificate process?

To allow for processing time, El Camino Health’s goal is to finalize your birth certificate before the day of discharge. The processing time for the birth certificate can take up to 45 minutes. If we are unable to finalize the process before discharge, the birth recorders will contact you via phone to verify and submit the data post discharge.

What happens if I do not have a name 
for my child?

If you do not have a name for your child, a birth certificate will still be prepared and registered. A dash will be entered for each name not provided (first, middle and last).

Upon registration, the Santa Clara County registrar will send a Supplemental Name Report (VS 107) to the parents to add the name(s).

Although you are not required to name your child, if you decide to wait, the amended certificate will become a two-page document with the name listed on the second page.

How do I get a Social Security Number (SSN) for my child?

Each parent is given the option to request a social security number for their newborn through the Newborn Automatic Number Assignment (NANA).

This application is attached to the birth certificate worksheet filled out in the hospital. If you choose to participate, the California Department of Public Health will transmit your request to the Social Security Administration and a social security card will be mailed to you within 8 weeks.

This will eliminate the need for you to visit the Social Security Administration office with evidence of your child’s identity, birth date, and citizenship.

Please note: If you don’t have a name for your child, the Social Security Number cannot be requested.

Do I need to fill out the entire birth recorder
worksheet?

Please fill out as much as possible. The birth recorder can assist with any clinical data that is missing.

What if I want to change my baby’s name 
after I sign the birth certificate?

Once the birth certificate is signed, it becomes a legal document. Changing information on the birth certificate (i.e. changing baby’s name, changing mother’s name, or removing an informant or certifier) requires a court order.

Court orders can be obtained through the Superior Court or by calling 408-882-2100 for more information. Once a court order is obtained, you must complete an application for Amendment 
of Birth Record to Reflect Court Order Change 
of Name.

What if I notice an error on my child’s birth certificate?

It is important to let the birth recorder know of any errors before submission of the birth certificate so that corrections can be made. If errors are found after submission, please contact the El Camino Hospital birth recorder.

Will the birth certificate be mailed 
automatically to me?

No. Once you have completed the birth certificate, the birth recorder will give you an application to obtain a certified copy of the birth record. The application must be completed and submitted to 
the County of Santa Clara in order to receive a certified copy. Note, the application will only need to be notarized if you intend to mail the application rather than going in person to the County Office. A list of available notaries have been included.

Important notice to unmarried parents: How to establish paternity.

Paternity is a term meaning the legal father of the child. The easiest way for unmarried parents to establish paternity is by signing the Paternity Opportunity Program (POP) Declaration of Paternity form, provided by the birth recorder. Both parents must sign the form for it to be valid. Upon completion, the form will be filed with the state of California for processing.

Please note: If unmarried parents do not complete/sign the POP form, the father’s name cannot be added to the birth certificate at the time of hospital submission. Parents can complete this step at Vital Records, Santa Clara County which will result in an amended two-page birth certificate.

 

Mountain View Birth Recorder: 650-988-7537

Los Gatos Birth Recorder: 408-866-4094

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