Introduction to California Birth Certificates

This article is designed to help you get a California birth certificate.  Counter to common belief, not everything is on the Internet.  Personal birth certificates are one of the items that are not readily available online, and that is probably a good thing.  You do not want your birth certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your birth certificate.  

California birth certificates have been maintained by the California Department of Public Health, Office of Vital Records for individuals born in the state of California since 1905.

Online Databases that have California Birth Information  

Database	Description
California Birth Index, 1905-1995	This database is an index to over 24.5 million births occurring in California between 1905 and 1995. Information contained in this index includes:     *     Child's name (names may be truncated at 8 letters)     *     Gender     *     Birth date     *     Birth county     *     Mother's maiden name (names may be truncated at 8 letters) If possible, it is important that you use the information found in this index to order a copy of the birth certificate, as the certificate may provide additional information about the child or the parents. For information on how to order a copy of a birth certificate, visit the California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics website.
American Vital Records from the Gentleman's Magazine	The Gentleman's Magazine was founded in London in 1731. The first publication of its type, it featured a broad mix of news, essays, poetry, parliamentary debates, book reviews, and antiquarian notes. For the genealogist it is an absolute treasure-house of useful data. From the day of its inception until 1868 it published columns listing births, marriages, and deaths, enabling people throughout the English-speaking world to keep abreast of friends and relatives at home and abroad. These columns contain thousands of entries relating to North American which have now been extracted to form a unique source of genealogical reference material for the period from 1731 to 1868.
Scots in the USA and Canada, 1825-1875	This is the fourth book in David Dobson's Scots in the USA and Canada, 1825-1875, a series designed to compensate for the lack of official Scottish passenger lists to North America during the nineteenth century. Containing about 1,300 sketches not found in the prior books, Part Four brings the total number of descriptions of the Scottish men and women and their families who were part of this great exodus to about 6,000. In addition to skilled craftsmen, a number of the immigrants found in Part Four were dispossessed Highland farmers who had suffered as a result of the Highland Clearances, a kind of enclosure movement, or by periods of famine at mid-century.
National Huguenot Society Bible Records	The National Huguenot Society is one of our most esteemed lineage organizations. Its members, of course, are the descendants of the French Protestants who fled their homeland during the religious wars of the 17th century and, especially, following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV in 1685. Many of those Huguenots who ultimately fled to the American colonies would settle in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia, later arrivals dispersing to Pennsylvania and other states.
U.S. County History Catalog	Thousands of county histories organized by state and county
U.S: Papers of Rabbi Samuel Langer, 1929-1969 - Free Index	This database contains a total of 5,650 entries, extracted from the published newspaper clippings in Rabbi Samuel Langer's personal scrapbook, as well as the names mentioned in the various papers, both printed and handwritten, in his files, compiled by his daughter, Judith Shulamith Langer. Information listed in this database includes: name, event or title, synagogue or organization, date, place, source, and comments.
Mayflower Births & Deaths, Vol. I	This work is a compilation of birth and death records from the Bowman files, the largest manuscript resource on Mayflower genealogy in existence.  With references to 50,000 Mayflower relations, this two-volume work contains, besides records of births, baptisms, deaths and burials, references to burial location, cause of death, and address at death gleaned from land and will records, court and church records, transcripts of personal letters, and more. Volume I
Mayflower Births & Deaths, Vol. II	This work is a compilation of birth and death records from the Bowman files, the largest manuscript resource on Mayflower genealogy in existence.  With references to 50,000 Mayflower relations, this two-volume work contains, besides records of births, baptisms, deaths and burials, references to burial location, cause of death, and address at death gleaned from land and will records, court and church records, transcripts of personal letters, and more. Volume II

California Birth Certificate Authorized Persons

By California state law, California birth certificates are confidential records and can only be obtained by the following authorized individuals:

• Person Named on the California Birth Certificate
• Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian) of Person Named on the California Birth Certificate
• Husband/Wife of Person Named on the California Birth Certificate
• Domestic Partner of the Person Named on the California Birth Certificate  
• Son/Daughter of Person Named on the California Birth Certificate 
• Sister/Brother of Person Named on the California Birth Certificate
• Grandparent of Person Named on the California Birth Certificate
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the California Birth Certificate

California Birth Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

If you cannot obtain an authorized copy under California law, you can obtain an informational copy.  An informational copy contains the same information as an authorized copy, but will have a legend across the face with the statement "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY."  Authorized and informational copies are both “certified copies.” This is the most utilized California birth certificate for genealogy.

California Birth Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order California Birth Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your California Birth Certificate.  Order online and you will get your California Birth Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – Order California Birth Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your California birth certificate online.  It usually takes 12 weeks upon receipt of request to be sent to you:

Step 1 - Determine whether you can obtain an authorized copy or an informational copy
In the State of California, authorized copies of vital records can only be obtained by the above mentioned authorized individuals.  All other requestors can only obtain informational copies.  All copies issued are “certified copies.”

Step 2- Download pamphlet for obtaining certified copies of birth and death records
<<Pamphlet for Certified Copies of Birth and Death Records (PDF)>>

Step 3 – Download and complete the application form (and sworn statement if appropriate – see “Note” in Step 3)
 << Application for Certified Copy of Birth Certificate (PDF) >>
<< Application for Certified Copy of Death Certificate (PDF)>>

Step 4 – Have your sworn statement notarized
You must have your sworn statement notarized if ordering an authorized copy.  
Note:  A notarized sworn statement is not needed if ordering an informational copy.  However, unless an informational copy is indicated on the application form, applications received without a notarized sworn statement will be returned to the sender.  

Step 5 – Determine certified copy fee  
A certified copy fee must accompany all requests for copies of vital records.  Requests received without the appropriate fee will be returned to the sender.  Make your check or money order payable to the Office of Vital Records.  Checks must be drawn on a United States bank.  Money orders must be drawn on a United States bank or issued by the United States Postal Service. Do not send cash.  If no record is found, we will issue a Certificate of No Public Record and retain the fee for the search according to State law.  

Step 6 – Mail your request to the Office of Vital Records
Include completed application form, notarized sworn statement if requesting an authorized copy, and check or money order for the certified copy fee.*  Do not send cash.  Mail to:

 

California Office of Vital Records

MS 5103

P.O. Box 997410

Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

Option 3 – In Person

In Person in California: You may go to any county health department in the State of California to obtain a certified copy of a California birth certificate. Most California birth certificates can be issued while you wait.

California Birth Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a California birth certificate is $14.00, which includes one certified copy of the California birth certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." The fee to search for a California still birth certificate is $20.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to " California Office of Vital Records." Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.