New Baby related Paperwork

[Anonymous]

Expecting my first, ladies. I think that I have pretty much all the bases covered (yeah, right!). Except, my husband and I haven't figured out a name for the tyke yet. Hopefully we will, soon. Related to that is my question re birth certificates and associate paperwork that goes with having a baby. We live in NoVa but our kid will be born in the District.
How does the paperwork machine work? Does getting an SSN, registering the birth etc. etc. all have to happen within a matter of days? Hours? I am so clueless!!

[Anonymous]

I both live in and gave birth in Maryland, but I can't imagine it is much different in DC/Virginia. In my case, they gave us the birth certificate and SSN application in the hospital. As I recall it was actually the same form, but you just had to check a box if you also wanted the SSN to go through as part of the same application. There wasn't any real rush to fill it out, but we completed the forms and gave them back to the nurse in the hospital before we were discharged, and then everything arrived in the mail a few weeks later.

Also, in the event that you need your birth certificate faster--we did because we had to get two different passports processed pretty quickly-- you can appear in person at the vital records office and get a certified copy within a half hour (at least in Maryland) at about 10 days after birth.

Hope this helps! Good luck.

[Anonymous]

The birth certificate lady comes by your post partem room the next day...at least she did for me. You fill out the form, verify spelling, parents' name, etc. and sign it. They send that to the Commonwealth (we live/gave birth in VA).

Then YOU have to pay (I think it was $12) for a copy.

Also, YOU have to apply for an SSN.

That is what we did and it worked for us.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

I've heard that it can be a pain to do anything with names after you leave the hospital in DC--the same way most dealings with DC govt work. Be sure to double check all the forms you fill out.

We were in VA and they kept telling us we needed to have a name and the papers filled out before leaving the hospital but we didn't--I think it was almost a week after my son was born before we agreed to one and turned in our paperwork.

[Anonymous]

I gave birth in DC (at GU). We got the paperwork for the birth certificate and the SSN at the hospital and filled it out before we left. The SSN card arrived in the mail a few weeks later. For the birth certificate, they don't automatically send it out, we had to fill out a request form and pay about $20 to get a copy.

[Anonymous]

I gave birth in DC at Georgetown, where they never gave us the paperwork, even though I was in the hospitals 5 days (C Section.)
They called me at home after the birth. We filled out the forms, and as the previous poster noted, the SSN number arrives a few weeks later. for the DC birth certificate you have to take an extra step and order the birth certificate online or go in person to get a copy.

[Anonymous]

OP here. This is all great info, thanks. I will be delivering at GU Hospital as well. Now I know to ask for the paperwork!!

[Anonymous]

You should have until you leave the hospital to fill it out - we were stuck on names, too, and actually asked for new paperwork since we changed our mind about the baby's name after we'd filled it in!

[Anonymous]

I delivered at GWU and they came by our room and gave us the paperwork we needed the next dayand explained the process - we did ont find anything difficult about it.