California Genealogy Records
State Genealogy Records Accessibility
Birth Records: Informational birth records can be accessed by any member of the general public. Informational birth records will come stamped with the words "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY."
Authorized birth record copies are able to be obtained by only the person on the birth record, the person’s immediate family members, and the representing attorney for the person named on the birth record. Additionally, the following people can also request a copy of a birth certificate: a child, grandparent, grandchild, brother or sister, 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; a member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, who, by requesting a copy of a birth certificate, is conducting official business.
Death Records: Informational death records can be ordered by any member of the U.S. public. Authorized death record copies can only be obtained by the immediate family members of the deceased (a child, grandparent, grandchild, brother or sister, spouse, or domestic partner of the registrant), and the attorney for the estate.
Marriage Records: Informational marriage records can be ordered by any member of the United States public. Authorized marriage records must be obtained by the bride, groom, their attorneys, and specific family members. Law enforcement individuals who can prove that it is for an investigation can also request a marriage record.
Divorce Records: Only the husband or wife may obtain a certified copy of a divorce certificate. Legal counselors can also obtain a divorce record if they are representing the husband or wife. Law enforcement agencies can also request a copy of a divorce record if they can prove it is for an investigation. Informational copies are available to any member of the public.
State Genealogy Records Requests
State Birth Records
California Office of Vital Records - MS 5103
Mailing Address:Post Office Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Physical Address: 1501 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone Number:(916) 445-2684
Fax: N/A
Hours:Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm,
Required Information: Full name of child at birth and any subsequent legal name changes, date of birth, city or county of birth, mother's full name including her maiden surname, father's full name (if this is available). You’ll also need to provide information about yourself: full name, your relationship to person named on the certificate (father, mother, self, etc.), your mailing address (include city, state and zip code), your daytime phone number, a copy of your photo ID, and your signature
Years Available: N/A
Search Fees: Birth records are $16.
Retrieval Timeframe: Birth record requests from 1982 to present can take up to two weeks; birth record requests from 1905 to 1981 can take up to 10 weeks.
Notes: Authorized birth record requests will need to have a sworn, notarized statement included.
State Death Records
California Office of Vital Records - MS 5103
Mailing Address:Post Office Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Physical Address: 1501 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone Number:(916) 445-2684
Hours:Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Required Information: full name of the deceased person, sex of the deceased person, date of death (month, day, year or series of years to be searched), city or county of death, Social Security number; you’ll also need to provide information about yourself: full name, your relationship to person named on the certificate (father, mother, self, etc.), your mailing address (include city, state and zip code), your daytime phone number, a copy of your photo ID, and your signature.
Years Available: N/A
Search Fees: A death record is $12.
Retrieval Timeframe: Death records that were created from 1995 to present can take up to two weeks; death records that were created from 1905 to 1994 can take up to 10 weeks.
Notes: Authorized death record requests will need to have a sworn, notarized statement included.
State Marriage Records
California Office of Vital Records - MS 5103
Mailing Address:Post Office Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Physical Address: 1501 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone Number:(916) 445-2684
Fax: N/A
Hours:Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Required Information: full names of the husband and wife, including wife's maiden name, date of marriage, provide at least the year of the event, and the city or county where marriage license was issued; you’ll also need to provide information about yourself: full name, your relationship to person named on the certificate (father, mother, self, etc.), your mailing address (include city, state and zip code), your daytime phone number, and your signature.
Years Available: N/A
Search Fees: The fee for a marriage record is $14. If you would like to amend a marriage record, it is $20.
Retrieval Timeframe: Requests for a marriage record can exceed 6 months in processing time.
Notes: Authorized marriage record requests will need to have a sworn, notarized statement included.
State Divorce Records
California Office of Vital Records - MS 5103
Mailing Address:Post Office Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Physical Address: 1501 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone Number:(916) 445-2684
Fax: N/A
Hours:Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Required Information: full names of the husband and wife, including wife's maiden name, date of the divorce, and city or county where divorce was granted; you’ll also need to provide information about yourself: full name, your relationship to person named on the certificate (father, mother, self, etc.), your mailing address (include city, state and zip code), your daytime phone number, and your signature.
Search Fees: The fee for a divorce record is $13.
Retrieval Timeframe: A divorce record request can take up to six months to process.
Notes: Authorized divorce record requests will need to have a sworn, notarized statement included.
State Property Records
California State Controller’s Office
Mailing address: Post Office Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-5872
Physical address: 777 South Figueroa Street, Suite 4800, Los Angeles, California 90017 (the office has two locations)
Phone: (916) 445-2636 (Sacramento)/ (213) 833-6010 (L.A.)
Fax: (916) 322-4404 (Sacramento)/ (213) 833-6011 (L.A)
Hours: N/A
Controller: John Chiang
