Connie, Delayed Records often contain as much or more info as if they were recorded within three days. Sometimes someone forgot to record, or the record is lost or destroyed. Or it might have been filed in the wrong location, in the case of no "professional" doctor or midwife. Sometimes an unwed mother doesn't put the real name of the father, but later decides to add it. (or, I suppose she could try to have his name taken off, if she marries somone else.) In 1973, my midwife said she'd take care of the birth certificate, and I had a copy at the time, or maybe the original, but when I went to enroll my daughter in school, there was no record. I filed a delayed birth certificate five years after her birth. The only caviat would be how accurate the data - date change, name change, etc. Langdon