How can I find a birth record if I only know the mother's name?

Question:I need to find out when a woman had her child to determine if who the father really is. The mother refuses to submit the baby to a DNA test and didn't publish the birth in the newspaper, but there is a very real possibility that it's my bff's husband's (baby was born prior to them being together) so we're trying to figure out how else to find out the baby's birth date. The online searches for birth records that I've found seem to require that you have the baby's name and not just the parent's name... any ideas?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I need to find out when a woman had her child to determine if who the father really is. The mother refuses to submit the baby to a DNA test and didn't publish the birth in the newspaper, but there is a very real possibility that it's my bff's husband's (baby was born prior to them being together) so we're trying to figure out how else to find out the baby's birth date. The online searches for birth records that I've found seem to require that you have the baby's name and not just the parent's name... any ideas?

Barring possible exceptions that I am not aware of.. the general standard is that birth records, PARTICULARLY recent ones, are not public record, and not normally accessible online. One issue, of course, is the frequent misuse of info for identity theft/ fraud. And mom has clearly gone to lengths to protect her rights to privacy. Your friends hubby may SUSPECT he is the dad.. without proof, he has no LEGAL authority to the record.
IF courts have valid reason (ie baby is getting welfare payments), they will attempt to id the father, and a judge can order dna testing for support reasons, especially if mom makes a claim as to who dad may be. I don't know if a court will order testing because a man thinks he is the dad... that issue probably should shift to the law/ethics area, or better yet, he might ask for a free consult with a local lawyer.
I don't know of any valid way to access the birth record, against mom's wishes. A private detective might know something I don't.

Don't go there. The mom could very well cause some painful legal trouble for you. The records are not anyone's to touch except the mother and the court. If she didn't sue for paternity, you can't get anymore information.

The first rule in handling records is to stay away from minor children. Cops and courts frown on DIY private investigators who snoop into the private lives of children. Unless the man wants to sue for his paternity rights and a lawyer gets involved, everyone needs to back away very carefully and respect the rights of the child.

It will be near impossible. The previous answerer is correct. Also, the birthmother does not have to list the father or even the real father on the records. So, there may not be any paper trail at all to prove such a possibility. Sorry, but I think you are totally out of luck and should stop trying a fruitless search officially. You are stuck with whatever the mother says (short of dna).