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Vital Records
Birth Certificates
For birth certificates involving an adoption or legal name change, please contact the State of California Department of Health Services at (916) 445-2684.
How to Obtain a Birth Certificate
When a birth has taken place in Orange County, copies of a birth certificate are available through this office normally 6-8 weeks after the birth occurred. There are several ways to obtain certified copies of a birth certificate, as well as several payment and delivery options. Select one of the items to your right for additional information.
Obtaining a Birth Certificate in Person
Under law, individuals appearing in person, will be permitted to receive an authorized copy, after presenting a valid government form of identification, and signing a statement sworn under penalty of perjury that the requester is an authorized person. Those who are not authorized by law to receive an authorized certified copy will receive a copy with certain information redacted by the state. The redacted copy will be marked INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY
Vital records (birth, marriage and death records) are located in Room 106 of the Hall of Finance and Records (see Hours and Locations). Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:00AM to 4:30PM. Payment can be made by cash, personal check, cashier's check, money order, Discover, American Express, MasterCard Credit and Debit, Visa Debit (with no Interlink logo on the card). We do not accept Visa Credit. An additional $2.50 terminal usage charge will be applied per Debit/Credit card transaction.
Obtaining a Birth Certificate by Mail
A copy of a birth certificate can be obtained by mail if the birth occurred in Orange County, unless there has been an adoption or a legal name change. Certified copies are $17 each and orders are normally processed within 5 to 10 working days.
Applications submitted by mail must also include a statement, sworn under penalty of perjury, that the requester is an authorized person. It must also be notarized. Applications are available at Online Forms. Use a separate application form for each record you are requesting.
PLEASE NOTE: Only one notarized sworn statement is required for multiple certificates requested at the same time; however, the sworn statement must include the name of each individual whose record you wish to obtain and your relationship to that individual. Those who are not authorized by law (click here to see who is authorized ) to receive an authorized certified copy will receive a redacted copy that has certain information redacted by the state. The redacted copy will be marked “INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY.”
Mail requests to:
Orange County Clerk-Recorder
Attn: Vital Records
12 Civic Center Plaza, Room 106
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Make checks payable to: Orange County Clerk-Recorder.
Obtaining a Birth Certificate by Telephone
You may place your request by telephone with VitalChek, a private independent company. Acceptable methods of payment through VitalChek are MasterCard, VISA, American Express or Discover. A $12.95 special handling fee collected by VitalChek will be charged on all credit card orders, in addition to the County of Orange certified copy fee.
Telephone orders will be processed within 5 working days of receipt of the Certificate of Identity Telephone orders will be returned by regular mail unless Express UPS delivery is requested, which costs an additional $19.00. To place a telephone order or for additional information, please call VitalChek toll free at (877) 445-8988.
Obtaining a Birth Certificate by Fax Through VitalChek
For those in need of a quick turnaround time, you may fax your request to VitalChek, a private independent company at (866) 559-9609. Acceptable methods of payment through VitalChek are MasterCard, VISA, American Express or Discover. A $12.95 special handling fee collected by VitalChek will be charged on all credit card orders in addition to the County of Orange certified copy fee. For additional information, please call toll free (877) 445-8988.
Fax credit card orders will be processed within 5 working days of receipt of the Certificate of Identity. Fax orders will be returned by regular mail unless Express UPS delivery is requested, which costs an additional $19.00.
To order expedited services by FAX, please click here for additional information.
If you do not supply the necessary Certificate of Identity within 5 business days, your fax order will be cancelled and must be resubmitted.
For additional information, please call toll free (877) 445-8988.
Obtaining a Birth Certificate Over the Internet
For those in need of fast turnaround time, you may place your request over the Internet with VitalChek, a private independent company. Acceptable methods of payment through VitalChek are MasterCard, VISA, American Express or Discover. A $12.95 special handling fee collected by VitalChek will be charged on all credit card orders, in addition to the County of Orange certified copy fee. Internet credit card orders will be processed within 5 working days of receipt of the Certificate of Identity. Internet orders will be returned by regular mail unless Express UPS delivery is requested, which costs an additional $19.00 For additional information, please call toll free (877) 445-8988.
Click here to Place a Request Over the Internet.
If you do not supply the necessary Certificate of Identity within 5 business days, your fax order will be cancelled and must be resubmitted.
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