Q. What is an Heirloom Birth Certificate?
A. A specially designed birth certificate issued by the Washington State Department of Health’s Center for Health Statistics in partnership with the Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.
Q. How much does it cost?
A. The Heirloom Birth Certificate costs $40.
Q. What does the Heirloom Birth Certificate support? Is my purchase tax deductible?
A. More than half of the proceeds from the sale of each Heirloom Birth Certificate ($25) go toward prevention of child abuse and neglect in Washington State. $25 is tax deductible (your check is your receipt).
Q. What are the dimensions?
A. The birth certificates are 8-1/2” x 11” which makes them suitable for a standard size frame. The certificates are produced on light blue security paper and printed in full color.
Q. Is the Heirloom Birth Certificate a legal birth document?
A. Yes, an heirloom certificate carries the same legal status as the baby’s original birth certificate. Each certificate carries the state seal and is personally signed by both the Governor and State Registrar.
Q. How do I order?
A. Heirloom Birth Certificates can be ordered from the Washington State Department of Health at: http://www.doh.wa.gov/EHSPHL/CHS/Ordering_Heirloom.htm
Q. How long will it take to process my order?
A. Please allow 4 – 6 weeks to receive your birth certificates.
Q. Can Heirloom Birth Certificates be ordered as gifts?
A. Absolutely. To process your gift order, you will need to provide the following information:
- Full name of child
- Date of birth
- Place of birth (city/county)
- Father's full name
- Mother's full maiden name
- Name of person ordering record
- Your day time telephone number
- To download an order form, click here.
Battle Ground Representative David Cooper sponsored the bill on the Heirloom Birth Certificate in 1987. The bill was overwhelmingly passed by the legislature. A committee comprised of representatives from the Washington State Medical Association and Auxiliary, the Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect (WCPCAN) and the Department of Health’s Center for Health Statistics was formed to oversee the project. The first Heirloom Birth Certificate was sold in 1989.
What is the Children’s Trust Fund of Washington?
The Children’s Trust Fund of Washington (http://www.wcpcan.wa.gov/temp_who_we_are.asp#ctf) was created in 1982, making Washington the 2nd state in the nation to form a Children’s Trust Fund (CTF). The mission of the Children’s Trust Funds is to build and maintain a national system of services, laws, practices and attitudes that prevent child abuse and neglect. Today, all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have passed legislation to create a Children’s Trust or Prevention Fund. For more information, visit the National Alliance of Children’s Trust & Prevention Funds at: http://www.ctfalliance.org/
A First for Washington
Washington was the first state in the nation to create a state agency solely dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. That agency, established in 1982, became the Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect – WCPCAN. For more information, visit: http://www.wcpcan.wa.gov.
Heirloom Birth Certificate Trivia
Q: What makes the Heirloom Birth Certificate uniquely Washington?
A: Aside from being designed by an award-winning Washington State artist, (Jennifer Bowman) of Anacortes, the HBC features several details unique to Washington:
- the Western Hemlock, our official state tree
- the Green Darner dragonfly, our state insect
- a Washington State ferry, the largest passenger ferry system in the United States
- Mount Rainier, the highest point in Washington State
Chris Jamieson, WCPCAN Communications Director
Tel: 206.389.2412
E-mail: jamiecd@dshs.wa.gov