To find your birth time, you'll generally need to locate your long-form birth certificate.
Understanding the Long-Form Birth Certificate
The long-form birth certificate is the original document recorded at the hospital where you were born. It usually contains more detailed information than the standard certificate, including:
- Parents' names
- Parents' dates of birth
- Hospital name
- Birth time
Steps to Find Your Birth Time
Here's how you can typically get your birth time:
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Identify the Right Document: The key is to obtain the long-form birth certificate, not the short-form version most people commonly have.
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Contact the Local Government Office: You need to call the local government office that manages birth records. This is usually a vital records office, sometimes part of the health department or county clerk's office.
- Example: In the United States, you might contact the county clerk's office where you were born, or the state vital records office.
- Tip: Search online for "[your birth location] vital records office" to find the correct contact information.
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Request the Long-Form Certificate: When contacting the office, clearly explain you need the long-form birth certificate as it contains additional information, including birth time.
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Provide Necessary Information: Be ready to provide the following:
- Full name at birth
- Date of birth
- Place of birth (city/hospital)
- Parents' names (if known)
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Pay Required Fees: There is often a fee associated with obtaining a copy of your birth certificate. Be prepared to pay the required amount.
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Wait for Processing: Once the request is processed, you'll typically receive your long-form certificate, which will include your birth time if it was recorded at the time.
Other Potential Options
While the long-form birth certificate is the primary source, here are a few other possibilities, although they are less reliable:
- Family Records: Sometimes, a family member might have kept a record of your birth time.
- Hospital Records: You can attempt to contact the hospital where you were born, but they may not retain these records indefinitely.
- Personal Journals/Diaries: Someone present at the birth may have recorded the time in a personal journal.
Summary
The best way to find your birth time is by obtaining a copy of your long-form birth certificate. This document is usually kept at the local government office that handles birth records. Contacting them is the first step in finding out the exact time of your birth.
