West of Mpls MN about 50 miles on Hwy 12 | If she has never seen her birth certificate, my thoughts are that a birth certificate was never filed...which is more common than people think.
My wife and her co-workers have helped several people obtain a birth certificate because a birth certificate was never filed. Your best bet is to physically go to the courthouse located in the County where she was born and ask if there is a birth certificate for your mother.
If there is no birth certificate, there is a process to get one, but unless there is at least one or more person alive who can attest to the where/when of your mother's birth (parent, sibling, doctor, midwife)...the process gets a lot more complicated.
AI does a good job of describing the process.
AI Overview
To obtain a birth certificate when one was never filed, you must file a "Delayed Certificate of Birth" through the vital records office in your mother's birth state. This process involves providing alternative documentation—such as baptismal records, school records, or census data—and potentially a court order to establish proof of birth.
Steps to Take:
Request a "Letter of No Record": Contact the vital records office in the state or county where your mother was born to request a search. If they cannot find a file, they will issue this letter, which is required to start the delayed filing process.
Gather Alternative Evidence: Collect documents that prove her name, date of birth, place of birth, and parents' names. Examples include early school records, baptismal certificates, hospital records, family Bible records, or insurance policies.
Obtain Affidavits: You may need affidavits (sworn statements) from relatives or witnesses who were alive at the time of her birth, as noted on JustAnswer.
File for a Delayed Birth Certificate: Submit these documents to the state vital records office to create a official record.
Consult Legal Counsel: If a state cannot locate enough evidence to create a record, you may need a court order, which may require legal advice, as mentioned on Avvo |