A birth certificate is a certified copy of a birth record and provides legal proof of a birth registered with the State of Texas. A birth-verification letter is a letter that states whether or not a birth was registered with the State of Texas. If the record is found, the verification letter will include the name, date of birth, county of birth, and state file number. Because a birth-verification letter might not be accepted in place of a certified copy, we strongly recommend that you make sure that the verification letter will meet your intended use before you order it.