How can I find out the time of my birth?

Question

My birth certificate is a copy, not an original; so the time's not on there. The hospital I was born in is no longer there, and my mom can't remember. Any suggestions BESIDES these? Public city records, maybe? If it matters, I was born in Norfolk, VA in 1980. I doubt it was announced in a newspaper or anything.

Answer 1

You may have a copy, but the State of Virginia and the Norfolk Dept of Public Health have access to the original. You would have to write them and request a full copy of it. They will send it if you request it, but you have to specifically request a copy that includes the time of birth. If you still live in Norfolk, you can go there in person and show your ID. Then they can give you the time and you won't have to pay for a new birth certificate. Your mom or dad would also be allowed to get the information from you. The three of you are the only ones legally permitted to get the information, unless you give someone a power of attorney.

The downside is that because you're very much alive, there won't be any information from your birth certificate on the internet. That's to keep people from stealing your ID and causing havoc with your credit rating.

Answer 2

Ask your mother.

Answer 3

Did your mother do a baby book for you?  Many times, when mothers do that, the time is recorded in there.  Also, you might want to check with aunts, uncles, or grandparents to see if they might have a birth announcement from around the time your were born.  My grandparents collected all kinds of stuff like that and put together scrapbooks.  Those things are like gold to us genealogists!!

Answer 4

Send to the state of Va vital records.  Usually the fee for a certified copy is somewhere around $15.