Birth Certificates from other countries
TLarson	Hello I am wondering if it is possible to obtain birth certificates from other countries. Norway specifically and if so how do you go about getting them? Tim Larson
Hopkins	It would depend upon the time period of the birth and the specific area. Birth certificates did not exist in Norway until about the 1920's or so. For most of us and the earlier generations of our Norwegian emigrant ancestors - the best documentation available will be to copy the parish church register entry for the birth/baptism. Those records are excellent and as valid as any modern 'certificate' generated by a governmental agency! For other countries and even for many parts of the US in last century and earlier - first check to see if birth certificates were done at all! or if records that old still survive somewhere. I refer you again to a study source - The LDS Family History Library system has written excellent Research Guides for various countries and areas in the world. http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/RG/frameset_rhelps.asp