California Vital Records
Order official vital records from the State of California
Select the certificate you need
Explore California Counties
Click a countie to view local vital records information and cities
Order California Vital Records
Select a certificate type to begin your order
Birth Certificate
Standard: 4 to 6 weeks
Processing Time
Standard: 4 to 6 weeks
Filing Level: State or County
Requirements
- • Completed application for a certified copy of the birth record
- • Sworn statement of identity (notarized when an authorized copy is requested)
- • Government-issued photo ID for the requester
- • Full name on the record and date of birth
- • City and county of birth
- • Parents' full names, including mother's name before marriage
Death Certificate
Standard: 4 to 6 weeks
Processing Time
Standard: 4 to 6 weeks
Filing Level: State or County
Requirements
- • Completed application for a certified copy of the death record
- • Sworn statement of identity (notarized when an authorized copy is requested)
- • Government-issued photo ID for the requester
- • Full name of the decedent and date of death
- • City and county where the death occurred
- • Your relationship to the decedent and the reason for the request
Marriage Certificate
Standard: 4 to 6 weeks
Processing Time
Standard: 4 to 6 weeks
Filing Level: State or County
Requirements
- • Completed application for a certified copy of the marriage record
- • Sworn statement of identity (notarized when an authorized copy is requested)
- • Government-issued photo ID for the requester
- • Full names of both spouses, including last names before marriage
- • Date of the marriage and the county where the license was issued
- • Your relationship to the couple and the reason for the request
Divorce Certificate
Processing Time
Varies by court — we confirm the current timeline on your order
Filing Level: Court or State
Requirements
- • Case or docket number, when known, or the court that granted the divorce
- • Full names of both parties at the time of the divorce
- • Approximate date the divorce was finalized
- • County or district where the case was filed
- • Government-issued photo ID for the requester
- • Your relationship to the parties and the reason for the request
Divorce records are not available to order online for California at this time. The information on this page is provided so you can apply directly with the issuing agency.
California vital records: what's available and where
California vital records are birth, death and marriage certificates registered by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and by the county recorder in each of the state's 58 counties. Divorce decrees are held by the superior court that granted the divorce, not by CDPH.
California birth certificates
Registered in the county of birth and statewide with CDPH. Authorized certified copies establish identity for passports, REAL ID and school enrolment.
California death certificates
Registered in the county of death and with CDPH. Needed to settle estates, claim insurance and close financial accounts.
California marriage certificates
Public marriages are held by both the licensing county recorder and CDPH. Confidential marriages are held only by the county recorder.
California divorce records
Divorce decrees are issued by the superior court in the county where the case was filed. We do not currently accept California divorce orders online.
CDPH vs the county recorder — which office holds your record
Both offices hold the same California record, and both issue the same certified copy. CDPH keeps a statewide index; each county recorder keeps the records for events that happened in that county. Which you use is a question of speed and certainty, not validity.
- County recorder — holds births, deaths and marriages for that county only. Typically 1 to 2 weeks to process, so it is the faster route when you know exactly where the event occurred.
- CDPH Vital Records — holds births, deaths and public marriages for all of California. Typically 4 to 6 weeks to process, and the right choice when the county is uncertain or the event is old.
- Superior court — holds divorce decrees and judgments. CDPH can confirm that a divorce was filed but does not issue the decree.
When you order through us, we choose the office for you: county-direct when you can name the county with certainty, CDPH otherwise. You never have to work out which office to write to.
Authorized vs informational copies
California issues authorized certified copies only to the person named on the record and their close family or legal representatives, who must sign a notarized sworn statement. Anyone may order an informational copy, but it is stamped so it cannot be used to establish identity. If you need the record for a passport, REAL ID, an estate or an insurance claim, you need the authorized copy.
California vital records fees and processing times
A certified California record costs the agency fee per copy, plus our $140.00 processing fee per order when you use us. These are the current figures we hold for California.
| Record type | CDPH fee (per copy) | County fee range | CDPH time | County time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | $31.00 | $31.00 – $40.00 | 4 to 6 weeks | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Death certificate | $26.00 | $26.00 – $33.00 | 4 to 6 weeks | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Marriage certificate | $19.00 | $19.00 – $24.00 | 4 to 6 weeks | 1 to 2 weeks |
Agency fees are charged per certified copy; our processing fee is charged once per order, so ordering multiple copies together costs less than placing separate orders.
California vital records — frequently asked questions
What are vital records in California?
In California, vital records are the official birth, death and marriage records registered with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the county recorders. Divorce decrees are court records held by the superior court that granted the divorce.
How much do California vital records cost?
CDPH charges $31.00 per certified birth copy, $26.00 per death copy and $19.00 per public marriage copy. County recorder fees vary by county. Ordered through US Records, your total is the agency fee per copy plus a $140.00 processing fee per order, charged once.
How long do California vital records take?
CDPH currently reports 4 to 6 weeks for certified copies, and California county recorders typically take 1 to 2 weeks. Mail delivery is additional.
Can anyone order a California vital record?
Anyone may order an informational copy, but only the person named on the record and their close family or legal representatives may order an authorized certified copy, and they must sign a notarized sworn statement.
Should I order from CDPH or my county recorder?
Use the county recorder when you know the county where the event happened — it is normally faster. Use CDPH when the county is uncertain, because CDPH holds records statewide. Both issue the same certified document.
Where do I get a California divorce record?
From the superior court in the county where the divorce was filed. CDPH does not issue divorce decrees, and California divorce records cannot currently be ordered through this site.
About US Records
US Records is a private service that assists individuals with ordering vital records from government agencies. We are not a government agency. Official vital records may be obtained directly from the issuing government office for free or at a lower cost. Our fees cover the convenience of online ordering, guided assistance, document review, and document filing, to help ensure your order meets agency requirements.