Certified Copies in California: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in California
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in California, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $29.00
- Death certificate
- $24.00
- Marriage
- $17.00
- Divorce
- $14.00
Vital records
Issued by: California Department of Public Health, Vital Records
Post to: CDPH Vital Records, MS 5103, P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Verify current fees: (916) 445-2684
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $29.00 |
| Death | $24.00 |
| Marriage | $17.00 |
| Divorce | $14.00 |
What California requires
- A certified copy needs the sworn statement on the application signed under penalty of perjury AND notarised. Without it the request is rejected as incomplete.
- An informational copy needs no notarisation but is not valid for identity or apostille purposes.
- Cheque or money order to CDPH Vital Records. No cash.
- The state holds divorces only for 1962 to June 1984, and issues a Certificate of Record rather than a copy of the decree.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a California entity come from California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, normally online and often the same day.
California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in California goes through California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, at $20.00 per apostille, plus $6.00 special handling for each different public official whose signature is authenticated.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a California birth certificate?
From California Department of Public Health, Vital Records. Post to CDPH Vital Records, MS 5103, P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410. A certified copy is $29.00.
Does the California Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
What will California reject?
A certified copy needs the sworn statement on the application signed under penalty of perjury AND notarised. Without it the request is rejected as incomplete.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
