Home Birth and Midwifery Service Affidavit

What a good one includes

• Full legal names, contact information, and roles of the birthing parent, the partner, and the attending midwife or witnesses.
• The exact date, time, and physical address of the birth to establish local jurisdiction for registration.
• A detailed statement of the baby's gender, physical characteristics observed at birth, and immediate postpartum health assessments.
• A summary of the prenatal care received, including the dates of visits and the credentials of the supervising midwife.
• A formal declaration of truth made under penalty of perjury, signed by the affiant.
• A designated notary public block with standard statutory language to facilitate immediate notarization.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Omitting the exact physical address or county of birth, which can cause local registrars to reject the document.
• Failing to leave adequate, properly formatted space for a notary public's stamp and signature.
• Using vague language regarding who was present, rather than explicitly naming and identifying every witness.
• Waiting too long after the birth to draft and sign the document, which can raise flags with state vital records departments.

Frequently asked questions