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Obtaining a Copy of a Birth Record

Birth Records Request

Only certain individuals are allowed to receive an authorized certified copy of a birth, death, or marriage record. 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.


Who Can Receive an Authorized Certified Copy

  • The registrant or a parent or legal guardian of the registrant
  • A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of the registrant
  • A party entitled to receive the record as a result of a court order, or an attorney or a licensed adoption agency seeking the birth record in order to comply with the requirements of Section 3140 or 7603 of the Family Code
  • A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business
  • An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant's estate, or any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the registrant or the registrant estate

Informational Certified Copies

Those who are not authorized or do not wish to submit the notarized Certificate of Identity may receive an Informational Certified Copy.

Informational Certified Copies have the words "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY," imprinted across the face of the copy.

Authorized vs. Informational Certified Copies:

Authorized copies are used for legal purposes. Informational copies are used for mostly non-legal purposes and ancestry.


Birth Record Request Options


The REAL ID Act

To obtain a REAL ID some individuals may need a copy of their birth and/or marriage certificate, and possibly amend a record for accuracy. We encourage customers to review the requirements to obtain a REAL ID driver's license.

Check the requirements with your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to help plan and minimize potential delays to obtain the required documentation.

Information on the requirements for California's REAL ID can be found on the DMV's REAL ID Interactive Checklist.


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