But my certificate and most recent familly ones say - "A certificate is not evidence of Identity" in bold at the bottom. Now I know it hasnt been there long because yesterday I looked at my grandaddies (Born 1914) and it doesn't say antthing like that on there. (or my Mums born 1940's) It does still say ''Certified to be a true copy of a register in my custody'' also the ACT grandads applies to is the B&D 1857 ( obviously) Also the new ones are copyrighted, the older one are much more regal looking, more of a BOND look about them.
But the question is when did the certificate's status changed to not being proof of identity?
It's a laugh though because when you want a passport ( which is a definate evidence of supposed 'identity',) you have to produce the Birth Certificate!!, just goes to show doesn't it - smoke and mirrors man smoke and mirrors.
What a look you get when someone asks you to produce ID, you produce the cert, let them ID you, then point out the line at the bottom --- see their face

I'd love to see an early certificate from like 1860 ish, I'll ask around the familly.