I was born in California. How do I get an authorized copy of my birth certificate?

You must go through one of two sources to get your California birth certificate: (1) the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), or (2) the County Recorder’s Office of the county where you were born. Generally, it is easier to go through the County Recorder’s Office, but there are pros and cons to each. See the chart on PG. 33 to learn details about the pros and cons.

THIS CHART EXPLAINS THE PROS & CONS OF REQUESTING YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH (CDPH) VS. THE COUNTY RECORDER’S OFFICE.

WHERE TO GET YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE:CDPH or County Recorder’s Office?

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH (CDPH)

COUNTY RECORDER’S OFFICE

TIME: Takes longer to process (4-6 weeks).

TIME: Takes less time to process (same day, in person).

REQUEST METHOD: Must be done by mail.

REQUEST METHOD: May be done by mail OR in person.

FEE: Standard fee (currently $25, but subject to change).

FEE: Fees vary by county. It may be more or less than what the CDPH charges.

STATEWIDE REACH:

CDPH is a good option if you don’t know what county you were born in. It covers all counties in California, and the CDPH can help you locate your birth county.

COUNTY REACH ONLY:

The County Recorder’s Officer can issue birth certificates only for births within that county, not statewide. So it’s good if you know exactly which county you were born in.

APPLICATION FORMS: Accepts standard state form only (see the next question which explains how to get a copy)

APPLICATION FORMS: Accepts state and county forms (see the question on PG. 34 which explains how to get a copy)

California Department of Public Health (CDPH):