The weeks after giving birth can feel like a whirlwind of emotions — joy, exhaustion, love, and everything in between! However, amidst the sleepless nights and magical moments with your newborn, it’s easy to overlook one crucial detail: your baby’s essential documents!
While bureaucracy isn’t the most enjoyable thing in the world (been there, done that!), it is important to start gathering the necessary documents for your child. Besides serving as vital records, documents like a birth certificate, social security number, and medical records ensure that your child’s future opportunities are protected and accessible.
Each of the five documents in this article have a significant role in your child’s life, from establishing an identity with their birth certificate to safeguarding their health with medical records, starting a pension with a social security number, and much more.
This guide will walk you through these essential documents and help you navigate this important (yet often overlooked!) part of parenthood.
Birth Certificate
Let’s start with the most essential document anyone can own — their birth certificate! It’s the first official record of your baby’s existence, and naturally should be the first priority on your list.
This document not only proves your baby’s identity and citizenship, but is typically required for a host of future activities, such as enrolling in school, applying for a passport, or even obtaining a driver’s licence when they come of age.
In most cases, the hospital will provide the necessary form(s) to complete the birth certificate application. It’s vital to fill out these forms accurately — be sure to double-check everything! — and submit them within the required timeframe.
To give you an example, a child’s birth must be registered within 21 days of the birth in Scotland, or 42 days in England, Wales, and Northern Scotland.
Across the pond in the United States, the required timeframe to submit a birth certificate varies by state. If you give birth in a hospital, a nurse or midwife will typically help you fill out and file your baby’s birth certificate form. Hospitals are usually required to register a birth within 5 to 10 days after the baby’s birth, but again, this can vary depending on the hospital and state.
After it’s processed, you’ll receive an official copy of the birth certificate. It’s a good idea to order several certified copies, as you will likely need them for different purposes throughout your child’s life!
Social Security Number
After getting the birth certificate, the next step is to obtain a social security number for your child. This number is a vital step that lays the groundwork for your baby to establish their financial, legal, and medical records.
In the United States, for example, you can apply for a social security number when you file for the birth certificate, making the process seamless.
Besides record-keeping, your child’s social security number has a number of other benefits — you can use it to claim child-relaxed tax breaks, add your child to your health insurance, and even set up a bank account for your child. It’s never too early to start saving, right?
Health & Medical Records
We all want our babies to be happy and healthy — and the best way to ensure their well-being is to start collecting their medical records… and keeping them up-to-date as they grow older.
“Health records” is an all-encompassing term that includes vaccination records, documentation of any allergies, and details of medical treatments your child receives.
These records are essential not only for tracking your baby’s health but also for future things like school enrollment or emergency medical care. Of course, having an up-to-date health record will also make things like virtual paediatrician visits quicker and easier!
Passport
Even if you don’t have any upcoming travel plans, securing a passport for your child should be a top priority. Life is often unpredictable, and things like a family emergency or spontaneous holiday trip can come up at a moment’s notice!
In order to apply for your baby’s passport, you’ll typically need to show evidence of citizenship (this is where your baby’s birth certificate comes in handy!), fill out an application form, provide a biometric photo, and pay the fee.
Will and/or Trust
While nobody wants to think about the possibility of their own passing, drafting a will and trust is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your baby’s future.
There’s usually some confusion between wills and trusts, so let’s take a moment to look at each one. A will is a legal document that outlines how your assets and property will be distributed after your death.
Meanwhile, a trust is a legal arrangement where you appoint a “trustee” to manage and hold title to your assets. The trustee is responsible for distributing income and assets to the beneficiaries you designate and according to the terms you’ve set. The main difference is that wills don’t go into effect until you pass away, whereas a trust is effective immediately.
Conclusion
While applying for all of these documents might seem overwhelming at first, it’s best to take it one step at a time. Likewise, it’s a good idea to make digital copies and, where possible, order multiple certified copies (such as your baby’s birth certificate).
Step by step, you’ll get there!
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