How California Birth Records Work
California is a closed-record state: birth certificates go only to the person named, close family, and legal representatives, with ID and proof of relationship. For everyone else, the path runs through indexes, archives, and the courts.
California sells two versions: an authorized copy (family and legal uses only) and an informational copy anyone can buy, stamped 'informational, not valid to establish identity' — a two-track system few states use. Content reviewed July 30, 2026 by the SearchSystems editorial team.
Where to Order
California Vital Records Office
Official Free
The official custodian. Application forms, current fees, eligibility rules, and processing times — order direct and skip the third-party markup.
CDC — Where to Write for Vital Records
Official Free
The federal directory of every state's vital records office — the authoritative answer to 'where do I order' for any state and any year.
🌐 cdc.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
Certified copy or informational copy — which do I need?
Certified (with the seal) for passports, IDs, benefits, and court. Informational or research copies, where offered, prove content but not identity.
Who can order a recent California birth certificate?
The person named, parents and close family, and legal representatives with documentation. Expect to show ID and, for some relationships, proof of the family link.
How do I get a certificate for a deceased relative?
Provide the death certificate along with proof of your relationship — estates and genealogy claims do this constantly, and every state has a process for it.
The event predates statewide registration. Now what?
California sells two versions: an authorized copy (family and legal uses only) and an informational copy anyone can buy, stamped 'informational, not valid to establish identity' — a two-track system few states use.
Related California Records
The California vital records page covers death, marriage, and divorce certificates; California court records handle name changes and adoptions; and county pages list the local offices that issue copies.