California Vital Records

Where to request California vital records

Statewide vital records for California are held by the California Department of Public Health, Vital Records, which is the central registration agency for births and deaths that occurred anywhere in the state. Statewide registration in California began in 1905; events before that year are usually only available through county or town clerks, the State Archives, or church registers.

Fees

• Birth records: $29
• Death records: $24
• Marriage records: $17
• Divorce records: $16

Fees are subject to change without notice; always confirm the current amount on the office's official page before mailing payment. Most offices accept money orders and cashier's checks; personal checks may be accepted from in-state residents but are sometimes returned.

Choose a record type

How California handles each record type

Birth and death records. Both are held centrally by the California Department of Public Health, Vital Records. You may order by mail using the office's standard application form, in person at the central office during business hours, or through the state-approved online vendor (typically VitalChek). Orders for older records (generally more than 75 years for births, 50 years for deaths) may be referred to the State Archives or to the county where the event occurred.

Marriage records. Many states delegate marriage record-keeping to the county clerk of the county that issued the license. The state-level entry above tells you whether California centralizes these or refers requesters to county clerks. If county-level, you will need to identify the county where the license was applied for.

Divorce records. A certified divorce decree must be obtained from the court that entered the judgment — typically the superior court, district court, or circuit court of the county where the case was filed. The state office can usually confirm that a divorce occurred but will refer you to the relevant court for a certified copy.

Counties in California

Marriage licenses and divorce decrees in California are typically obtained at the county level. Below are the most populous counties; pick a county to see record-by-record guidance for its courthouse.

• Los Angeles County
• San Diego County
• Orange County
• Riverside County
• San Bernardino County
• Santa Clara County
• Alameda County
• Sacramento County
• Contra Costa County
• Fresno County
• Kern County
• Ventura County

Travelers preparing apostille or international-use copies should also consult an authoritative US apostille primer before mailing the certificate to the Secretary of State.

Frequently asked questions about California vital records

Can someone in another state order a California birth certificate for me?

Generally, no. California restricts full certified copies of birth and death records to the registrant, immediate family, and legal representatives. A friend, distant relative, or attorney without a court appointment will usually be turned away. The fastest path for an out-of-state requester is to mail a notarized application themselves (with the fee and ID copy) directly to the office at the address above.

Are California vital records public?

No. Like every US state, California treats recent vital records as confidential and restricts who may order certified copies. Older records — typically births older than 75-100 years and deaths older than 25-50 years — may transition to "public" or "informational" status and become available to genealogists.

What if the office cannot find my record?

If the central office returns a "no record found" letter, the most common explanations are (a) the event occurred before statewide registration began in 1905, (b) the event was registered under a slightly different name or date, or (c) the record was filed only with a county or town clerk. The next steps are to broaden the search by date, contact the county or town where the event occurred, and — for very old records — check the State Archives.