If you’re diving into astrology and want to get a full birth chart reading, your exact time of birth makes all the difference. It can reveal your Ascendant, house placements, and key parts of your personality and path. But what if you don’t know your birth time?
Don’t worry – you’re not alone. Many people born in the U.S. aren’t sure of the time or only know it roughly.
The good news?
There are ways to find it. Let’s go through them step-by-step.
1. Start With Family Memories
It might sound simple, but asking your family – especially your mom – can be a goldmine. Even if she doesn’t remember the exact minute, she might say something like:
- “It was just before lunch.”
- “You were born early in the morning.”
- “I remember it was dark outside.”
These clues can help narrow it down. Write everything down – even vague details can come in handy later.
2. Check Your Birth Certificate
In the United States, your official long-form birth certificate usually includes your time of birth. But here’s the catch: there are two types of certificates.
- Short-form (abstract): Often used for ID or passports. This usually doesn’t list the time.
- Long-form (original or certified copy): This version often includes your time of birth, and that’s the one you need.
How to get it:
- Contact the Vital Records Office in the state (and sometimes county) where you were born.
- Every state has its own process. Some let you order online, while others need a mailed form or ID verification.
- Expect to pay $10–30 for a copy, depending on the state.
3. State-by-State Birth Time Records
Not all U.S. states include time of birth on certificates by default. Here’s a general idea:
States that often do include birth time:
- California
- New York
- Texas
- Florida
- Illinois
- Pennsylvania
- Ohio
- Michigan
States that often do not:
- New Jersey (you can still request it)
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Indiana
💡 Tip: Call or check the website of your state’s Department of Health or Vital Statistics. Search “[State Name] birth certificate time of birth” for the most accurate info.
4. Hospital Records (If All Else Fails)
If the state doesn’t have your time or won’t release it, you can try the hospital where you were born.
Here’s how:
- Call the hospital’s medical records department.
- Ask if they still have delivery logs from your birth date.
- Be ready to provide proof of identity.
- Some hospitals keep records for decades – others don’t. It’s worth a shot.
5. Use a Birth Time Rectification
Still stuck? You can work with an astrologer who offers rectification. That’s a fancy word for analyzing your life events (like marriage, career changes, big moves, etc.) and matching them to possible birth charts.
This takes time and costs money, but it can be incredibly accurate – especially if you already know a general time frame (e.g., “sometime in the afternoon”).
6. What If You Can’t Find It At All?
If your birth time is totally unknown, don’t give up on astrology. You can still:
- Get a solar chart (based on noon) – this gives a lot of insight without a rising sign.
- Use a Sun/Moon focused reading.
- Start tracking your life events and later try rectification.
Many people still get powerful readings this way.