Birth records can be completely handwritten records, or on forms filled out with handwritten or typed text depending on the time period when they were created. Before the invention of photocopies, when people requested a copy of a birth record, the civil registration officials could provide a literal and complete transcription of the record or an extract of the same as a certificate of the record. The French terms used to refer to these are usually: acte, déclaration, certificat, and extrait de naissance. 

Each original civil birth entry may contain the following information:

• given names and surname(s) of the newborn
• the hour, day, month, and year of birth
• the town (distinguishable from the municipality or judicial district of the birth)
• the street address of the house, or the hospital, in which the birth took place
• declarant's marital status, age and/or place of birth and/or residence, and relationship to the new born child
• given names and surnames, birthplaces, age, domicile, professions, race and marital status of the parents, including their places of birth, marital status, professions, and in some cases, dates of birth
• given names and surnames, birthplaces, professions, race and marital status of the maternal and paternal grandparents, and/or if they have died.
• names of the witnesses who were present for the act of recording the birth