California Birth Certificates From California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR) Office

California Birth Certificate Types

Authorized Birth Certificate - Authorized copies of birth certificates that may be used for practically all legal purposes, including proof of citizenship, school enrollment, personal identification, passports, social security, and employment. Birth certificates are available for all births that took place in California from July 1905 to the present.
Informational Birth Certificate - If you aren’t eligible to obtain an authorized copy of a birth certificate under California law, you may get an informational copy instead. Informational copies will have the same information as authorized copies essentially, but they will have a legend printed across their face stating, “Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity.”

Authorized Birth Certificate

Apply to receive this document from the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR) Office.

Informational Birth Certificate

Apply to receive this document from the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR) Office.

Who Can Receive A Copy?

California law specifies that only the following individuals may obtain authorized copies of birth certificates after providing proper identification and paying the appropriate fees:

The registrant (name on the birth certificate)

Registrant's parent, legal guardian, children, sibling, spouse, grandparents, grandchildren, or domestic partner

A party entitled to receive the record through a court order (must present a copy of the court order)

Designated attorney or legal representative of the registrant

Licensed adoption agency

Member of law enforcement or government agency conducting official business

Any agent or employee of a funeral establishment acting within the scope of their employment

Surviving next of kin

California Vital Statistics Agency Information

California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR)

The California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR) keeps records of all vital events, including birth, death, marriage, divorce, fetal deaths/stillbirth, and induced termination of pregnancies that took place in the state of California.

Notice: It is in Instant Vital Records’ best interest to provide you with accurate and up-to-date information on this site, but state agency information and policies may change without notice. Instant Vital Records makes no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding accuracy, adequacy, completeness, reliability, or usefulness of any information, nor do we assume the liability of such information.