| Birth certificates are very important for | | | | but, before you do, you may want to call them |
| identification purposes. Anyone born in the US is | | | | to check on things, such as fees involved and |
| issued one at birth. They are useful for getting a | | | | time it will take to obtain your copy. They can be |
| job, getting a driver's license and several other | | | | reached at (916) 445-2684. You will want to have |
| things requiring identification. However, they can | | | | a notebook and pen handy, because you are likely |
| sometimes become lost or damaged. If you need | | | | to get a recorded message with such information. |
| to obtain a copy of a California birth certificate, | | | | Once you are aware of the fees required to |
| there are a few things you should know first. | | | | obtain a certified copy, you can make a check |
| All states, including California allow access to birth | | | | payable to the Vital Records Office. |
| certificates, as well as other vital records, | | | | Although that method is cheapest, it does take |
| including, marriage, divorce and death records. | | | | quite a while. It can take several weeks to obtain |
| However, the exact process for obtaining a | | | | your certified birth certificate that way. Also, |
| certified copy of a birth certificate varies from | | | | keep in mind that, as of 2003, you are required |
| state to state. | | | | to sign a sworn statement, in order to obtain a |
| If you are trying to obtain a copy of a birth | | | | copy. You must have the statement notarized |
| certificate in the state of California, you should | | | | and then mail it in, or it will be returned to you |
| keep in mind that birth certificate and other similar | | | | and you will not receive your copy. |
| records, prior to July of 1905, are kept in the | | | | If you are more interested in convenience or |
| county where that event took place. All records | | | | speed, you may prefer to order your certified |
| since that time are kept in the office of the State | | | | birth certificate copy online instead. It is quick and |
| Registrar, instead. So, it is important to know | | | | easy. Simply log on to dhs.ca.gov/hisp/chs/ovr |
| what year and what county you are looking for. | | | | ordercert.htm and follow the simple instructions |
| That way, you will know whether you need to | | | | there. By that method, you can have your |
| contact the county clerk to obtain the copy, or | | | | certified copy in as little as a few days, depending |
| the State Registrar's office. | | | | on where you live. |
| If you are looking for a certified copy of your | | | | If you follow all of the regulations that the State |
| own birth certificate or that of an immediate | | | | of California requires, obtaining a copy of your |
| family member, chances are that you will want | | | | California birth record should be fairly simple. Once |
| records from after 1905. If that's the case, you | | | | you have it, store it in a safe place, so have to |
| should contact the Vital Records Office in | | | | worry about ordering one again. |
| Sacramento, California. You can do so in writing, | | | | |