Family Tree Circles Locations
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California
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State Offices
California Department of Public Health
Licensing and Certification Division
Office of Vital Records - MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Phone: (916) 445-2684
Email: ovrmail@cdph.ca.gov
California Relay: 711/1-800-735-2929
Website
The Office of Vital Records (OVR) is the State Registrar for the State of California. It is a closed records post, so only a select few individuals are allowed access to authorized copies of vital records including the registrant, immediate family members, spouses and legal representatives.
Earliest Recorded Data:
- Birth Records & Death Records from 1905 up to the present
- Marriage Records from 1905 up to 1986
- Marriage Records from 1987 up to 1995
- Divorce Records from 1962 up to 1984
Remarks: In order to receive the Certified
Copy, you must sign and notarize the Sworn Statement declaring
under penalty of perjury that you are authorized by
law.
Authorized Copy - An "Authorized Certified Copy" of a birth
record is required to obtain a driver's license, passport, social
security card and other services related to an individual's
identity.
Informational Copy - Those who are not authorized may receive
an "Informational Certified Copy" with the words "Informational,
not a valid document to establish identity" imprinted across the
face of the copy. Informational copies will be mailed within 15
working days.
Correcting or Amending Vital Records - Corrections and
amendments to vital records are governed by California statutes and
administrative codes. The Office of Vital Records must abide by
these laws when making amendments and corrections.
Secured online applications to request for vital records,
which accepts all major credit card payments, can be made through
VitalCheck with an additional charge for their
service.
Vital Records
Birth
Location:
California Department of Public Health
Licensing and Certification Division
Office of Vital Records - MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Phone: (916) 445-2684
Email: ovrmail@cdph.ca.gov
California Relay: 711/1-800-735-2929
Website
Birth records are typically only available to the individual
named, the parents or legal guardian, or a legal representative.
Knowing the exact birth date and/or the person's full name will
narrow the search.
Fee: $16.00
Time-frame: Since July 1905
Notes: 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.
Remarks: For earlier records, contact the
County Recorder in the county where the event occurred.
The Court Report of Adoption is the official form used to
report adoptions to vital records office. The State Registrars
prepare a new birth certificate for an adopted child after
receiving the certified Court Report of Adoption.
Registration Fee: $20.00 for out-of-state
adoptions
Certification Fee: $16.00
Notes: The county clerk of the California Superior
Court granting the adoption is required to complete the Court
Report of Adoption and send it to the Office of Vital
Records.
Remarks: The new birth certificate will be
prepared by the Office of Vital Records in the child's state of
birth.
Adjudication of Facts of Paternity/Parentage
The Acknowledgement of Paternity form must be signed by both parents.
Processing Fee: $20.00
Certification Fee: $16.00
Notes: If a parent is unavailable, refuses to sign
the Acknowledgement of Paternity form, or is deceased, you will
need to go to court, and the court will decide (adjudicate) the
existence or nonexistence of the parent and child
relationship.
Remarks: The Office of Vital Records cannot
remove the existing father and add the new father on a registered
certificate without the court order of adjudication. You will have
to petition the Superior Court in your county of residence (which
doesn't have to be in California).
Acknowledgement of Paternity/Parentage
The Declaration of Paternity can only be used by unmarried
couples to establish the paternal relationship with the
child.
Processing Fee: $20.00
Certification Fee: $16.00
Notes: The average processing time to receive a
Certified Copy of birth certificate is 18 weeks. But you can get a
copy much faster from the County Recorder in the county where the
birth took place.
Death
Location:
California Department of Public Health
Licensing and Certification Division
Office of Vital Records - MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Phone: (916) 445-2684
Email: ovrmail@cdph.ca.gov
California Relay: 711/1-800-735-2929
Website
Fee: $12.00
Time-frame: Since July 1905
Notes: For earlier records, contact the County
Recorder in the county where the event occurred.
Certification Fee: $9.00 per copy
Notes: Fetal death records have been maintained in
the Office of the State Registrar of Vital Records since July 01,
1905.
Remarks: Provide all the available information
you have to identify the fetal death record. If the information you
furnish is incomplete or inaccurate, the office may not be able to
locate the record.
Certification Fee: $20.00 per copy
Notes: As of January 1, 2008, only a parent
(mother and/or father can obtain a Certified Copy of a Certificate
of Still Birth.)
Remarks: Provide all the available information
you have to identify the fetal death record. If the information you
furnish is incomplete or inaccurate, the office may not be able to
locate the fetal death record, which is the record from which the
information to complete the Certificate of Still Birth must be
obtained.
Marriage
California Department of Public Health
Licensing and Certification Division
Office of Vital Records - MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Phone: (916) 445-2684
Email: ovrmail@cdph.ca.gov
California Relay: 711/1-800-735-2929
Website
Certification Fee: $14.00 per copy
Time-frame: Since 1949
Notes: The fastest way to obtain a marriage
certificate is through the County Recorder in the county where the
license was issued.
Notes: A confidential marriage is called as
such because it can be performed only for two parties who have been
living together as spouses.
Remarks: Only the two parties involved can get
a copy of the confidential marriage certificate (confidential
marriage records are not open to public inspection except with a
court order).
Divorce
California Department of Public Health
Licensing and Certification Division
Office of Vital Records - MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Phone: (916) 445-2684
Email: ovrmail@cdph.ca.gov
California Relay: 711/1-800-735-2929
Website
Fee: $13.00
Time-frame: Since 1962
Notes: Contact the Clerk of Superior Court in
county where the divorce was granted.
Remarks: For all other years or for a copy of
the decree, contact the Superior Court in the county where the
event occurred.
