If the original birth records were destroyed or the events were never recorded, the
claimant must reconstruct the records. The procedures for establishing birth records
vary from country to country.
When the vital statistics registrar, court, or other authority issues a document,
they may use the same form and format as any other certification. The only indication
that a delayed registration or reconstructed record exists, may be the register number
or marginal note entered for the event.
For example, the last two or four digits of the register number often includes the
year of registration, such as Birth Register NP, VIII-1946/1965 (this may also appear
as 1946/65); 1965 is the registration year. The certificates may also bear a notation
recorded for the event in accordance with a court decree or decision.