California

Event: Birth

Cost of copy: $14.00

Address:
Office of Vital Records
CA Department of Public Health
MS: 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

Remarks: The State office has records since July 1905. For earlier records, contact the County Recorder in the county where the event occurred.

A personal check or money order should be made payable to  Office of Vital Records. To verify current fees, the telephone number is (916) 445-2684. This will be a recorded message. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the Internet at http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/birthdeathmar/.

In order to obtain a Certified Copy you MUST complete the sworn statement included with the birth certificate application form, sign the statement under penalty of perjury and, your sworn statement must be notarized. If your request indicates that you want a Certified Copy but does not include a notarized statement sworn under penalty of perjury, the request will be rejected as incomplete and returned to you without being processed.

Event: Death

Cost of copy: $12.00

Address:
Office of Vital Records
CA Department of Public Health
MS: 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

Remarks: The State office has records since July 1905. For earlier records, contact the County Recorder in the county where the event occurred.

Personal check or money order should be made payable to Office of Vital Records. To verify current fees, the telephone number is (916) 445-2684. This is a recorded message. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the Internet at http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/birthdeathmar/.

In order to obtain a Certified Copy you MUST complete the sworn statement included with the death certificate application form, sign the statement under penalty of perjury, and your sworn statement must be notarized. If your request indicates that you want a Certified Copy but does not include a notarized statement sworn under penalty of perjury, the request will be rejected as incomplete and returned to you without being processed.

Event: Marriage (State)

Cost of copy: $13.00

Address:
Office of Vital Records
CA Department of Public Health+
MS: 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

Remarks: State office only has indexes for public marriage certificates that occurred from 1949-1986 and 1998-1999, and the processing times can take up to 2-3 years. For any other  years or for confidential marriages, contact the County Recorder in the county where the event occurred. Information on how to obtain a marriage certificate is also available via the Internet at http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/birthdeathmar/Pages/ CertificedCopiesofMarriageand DivorceRecords.aspx.

Event: Marriage (County)

Cost of copy: Varies

Address: See remarks.

Remarks: Contact the County Recorder in the county where the license was issued. Contact information is available via the Internet at http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/birthdeathmar/Pages/ CountyRecorderOffice.aspx

Event: Divorce (State) - Certificates of Record only.

Cost of copy: $13.00

Address:
Office of Vital Records
CA Department of Public Health
MS: 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

Remarks: A Certificate of Record includes only the names of the parties to the divorce, the county where the divorce was filed, and the court case number - It is not a certified copy of the divorce decree and does not indicate whether the divorce was ever finalized in court. The Office of Vital Records only has information for divorces that were filed with the court between 1962 and June, 1984, and the processing times can take up to 2-3 years. For all other years or for a copy of the decree, contact the Superior Court in the county where the event occurred. Information on how to obtain a divorce record is also available via the Internet at http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/birthdeathmar/Pages/ CertifiedCopiesofMarriageandDivorceRecords.aspx.

Event: Divorce (County) - Decrees

Cost of copy: Varies

Address: See remarks

Remarks: Contact the Clerk of Superior Court in county where the divorce was granted. Contact information is available via the Internet at http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/birthdeathmar/Pages/ CountyRecorderOffice.aspx.

This page last reviewed November 13, 2007