Los Angeles County Birth Certificate: Copies, Applications and Record Changes
The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) provides certified copies of county birth records. This guide explains how to choose a copy type, apply online, in person, or by mail, locate recently registered records, and find the appropriate office for corrections or other requests.
Independent information guide: This website is not affiliated with the RR/CC, a public health department, or the California Secretary of State. Record searches, applications, payments, eligibility decisions, amendments, and authentication services are handled by the responsible agency.
Start here: Review the official RR/CC birth record request options. For a recently registered birth, check the Department of Public Health instructions, including the separate arrangements for Pasadena and Long Beach.
Before paying, confirm where the birth occurred, whether the record is available from the selected office, and which copy type the receiving agency requires.
Choose Your Next Step
Ordering a certified copy, registering a birth, correcting a record, and obtaining an apostille are separate procedures. Choose the service that matches your task.
| Your task | Where to start | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Order a copy of an existing county birth record | RR/CC request options. | Birth details, requested copy type, requester information, and payment. |
| Obtain a recently registered birth certificate | Public Health birth certificate instructions, or the applicable Pasadena or Long Beach service. | Birth location, registration information, and the documents requested by the responsible office. |
| Register a home birth | The local health department responsible for the birth location. | The evidence and forms required for out-of-hospital birth registration. |
| Correct a birth record or add a parent | CDPH birth record amendment instructions. | The existing record, requested change, and supporting documents required for that process. |
| Order a record affected by adoption or amendment | RR/CC adoption and record-change guidance. | Current recorded details and information about the adoption or amendment when requested. |
| Obtain an apostille | Obtain the appropriate certificate, then review California Secretary of State instructions. | The certified document, destination country, and required state submission materials. |
| Find a record from another county or state | Out-of-county birth records directory. | The actual place of birth and the relevant jurisdiction's application requirements. |
Authorized and Informational Copies
The RR/CC offers authorized certified copies and informational certified copies. Choose the version appropriate for the intended use and your eligibility.
Authorized Certified Copies
An authorized certified copy may be required to document birth details, age, parentage, or citizenship in certain applications. Ask the receiving agency which documents it accepts and whether additional identification is required.
A birth certificate does not automatically satisfy every identity-verification requirement. For example, Social Security applications distinguish evidence of birth or citizenship from evidence of identity.
The county's eligible requester categories include:
- The person named on the record, or that person's parent or legal guardian.
- A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of the person named on the record.
- A party entitled to the record under a court order.
- An attorney or licensed adoption agency seeking the record under the specified Family Code provisions.
- A law enforcement or government representative conducting qualifying official business.
- An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant's estate.
- A person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act for the registrant or the estate.
Review the official eligibility requirements before selecting an authorized copy. Follow the declaration, identification, and supporting-document requirements for your requester category and ordering method.
Informational Certified Copies
An informational certified copy is available to requesters who do not qualify for an authorized copy or who choose not to submit the notarized Certificate of Identity. It bears a notice stating that it is informational and is not valid to establish identity.
This copy may be useful for ancestry or personal research. Do not choose it as a substitute when the receiving agency requires an authorized certified copy.
Confirm the copy type before submitting payment. Avoid assuming that a less demanding application process produces a document suitable for the same purpose.
Choosing the Correct Record Office
The RR/CC maintains Los Angeles County birth records, with its request pages describing coverage dating back to 1866. Availability through a particular service depends on registration, record year, and other circumstances.
Use the actual place of birth when choosing an office. A person's current residence does not determine where the birth record is held.
Recently Registered Births
A certified birth certificate is not automatically mailed to parents after a birth. Registration creates the record; obtaining a certified copy requires a separate request and fee.
The RR/CC FAQ states that most certificates are available through the appropriate public health office about 10 days after registration and through the RR/CC after approximately two months. These are availability estimates, not guaranteed delivery dates.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health provides birth record services for events in its jurisdiction during the current or previous year. Its jurisdiction excludes Pasadena and Long Beach, which have separate city health department arrangements.
Review the appropriate official service:
- Los Angeles County Public Health birth certificates.
- Pasadena Public Health birth and death records.
- Long Beach Vital Records.
Confirm the record-year coverage and application arrangements stated by the selected office. The separate city arrangements do not mean that Pasadena or Long Beach birth records are permanently excluded from RR/CC services.
Home Births
An out-of-hospital birth must be registered before a certificate can be issued. Contact the local health department responsible for the location of the birth and follow its evidence and registration requirements.
Do not submit a routine certified-copy application expecting it to register an unregistered birth. For births in Pasadena or Long Beach, use the relevant city health department's instructions.
Births Outside Los Angeles County
For a birth elsewhere, request the record from the appropriate jurisdiction. The RR/CC out-of-county directory provides links for other California counties and listed states or territories.
Online Birth Certificate Requests
Begin through the official RR/CC online request page. The county identifies VitalChek Network, Inc. as its authorized third-party processor for online orders.
- Open the processor using the official county link.
- Select the appropriate record and copy type.
- Enter the birth and requester information accurately.
- Complete the required identity or eligibility steps.
- Review certificate, handling, and delivery charges before paying.
- Keep the order number and any submission confirmation.
A notarized Certificate of Identity may be requested for an authorized-copy order. Follow the instructions provided for your order and supply any required form promptly.
The county permits applicants notarizing outside California to have the notary replace the state name on the Certificate of Identity as instructed. Follow the current form instructions rather than altering other parts of the document yourself.
An online order is not complete merely because payment was submitted if identity documents or other requirements remain outstanding.
In-Person Birth Certificate Requests
Review the official in-person request page and confirm that the selected office provides birth record services.
Appointments and Walk-In Service
The appointment process begins with an application. Save the confirmation number, use it to book the appointment, complete any required scheduling steps, and bring valid photo identification.
The county also describes walk-in service in its birth records guidance. Available services differ by branch, so check the branch office directory before traveling.
Completing an application does not itself reserve an appointment. Keep the separate appointment confirmation when booking is required.
Record Years and Delivery
The published in-person arrangements distinguish among these records:
- 1962 to the present, except 1972–1977: Qualifying copies may be issued at the appointment or participating service counter.
- 1972–1977: Copies are mailed after processing.
- 1866–1961: Copies are mailed after processing.
- Informational certified copies: Copies are mailed rather than issued immediately.
Confirm that the record is available and that the branch can provide the service needed. A recent birth may not yet be available through the RR/CC even though its year falls within the modern-record range.
Payment
The RR/CC lists cash, qualifying checks, money orders, supported debit or credit cards, and specified mobile-payment options for in-person requests. Electronic-payment service charges may apply.
Follow the current payment instructions. Identification is required for the person signing a check, and the county excludes certain check types.
Birth Certificate Requests by Mail
Use the application and instructions linked from the official RR/CC mail request page.
Preparing the Request
- Complete the current Application for Birth Record.
- Select the appropriate copy type and number of copies.
- Sign the application as instructed.
- For an authorized copy, complete the Certificate of Identity and have it notarized as required.
- Include any supporting documents requested for your eligibility category.
- Include an accepted check or money order for the required amount.
- Mail the complete request to the designated records section.
An informational-copy request follows different identity-declaration requirements. Use the instructions for the copy type selected.
Mailing Address
Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
Birth, Death and Marriage Records Section
P.O. Box 489
Norwalk, CA 90651-0489
This is the mailing address for ordinary birth record copy requests. It is different from the Norwalk headquarters' street address and from the address used for certain special requests.
Do not mail ordinary applications to a branch office. Confirm the current address on the official mail request page before sending.
Mail Payment Requirements
Make checks or money orders payable to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Do not send cash.
The published instructions exclude e-checks, temporary checks, and foreign checks other than checks from Canada and Mexico. An unacceptable payment may cause the application to be returned.
Keep a copy of the application and any mailing or payment record. The RR/CC does not accept birth certificate orders by telephone.
Fees, Processing and No-Record Results
The RR/CC publishes a $34 fee for an authorized certified birth record copy. Confirm current fees before applying. Fees and processing arrangements at public health departments or the state office may differ.
| Request method | Fees | Processing and delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Online | $34 authorized-copy fee, plus applicable processor and delivery charges. | The county lists processing within 20 business days after receipt. Delivery time and outstanding documentation requirements are separate. |
| In person | $34 authorized-copy fee. Supported electronic payments may carry an additional service charge. | Qualifying modern records may be issued during the visit. Other listed record years and informational copies are mailed; the published mailing period is within 20 business days. |
| $34 authorized-copy fee, paid using an accepted check or money order. | The county lists mailing within 20 business days after receipt. Allow additional time for inbound and return mail. |
Published periods are not guaranteed arrival dates. Incomplete forms, missing notarization, payment problems, or unavailable records can affect processing.
Urgent Requests
The RR/CC FAQ states that its office does not offer expedited birth certificate service. Faster shipping should not be assumed to guarantee faster record review or issuance.
If you have a deadline, confirm availability and service options with the responsible office before ordering. Recently registered records may require a public health office inquiry.
No-Record Results
The county states that the fee for the first copy of each record is nonrefundable and that a No Record Statement is issued when the record is not found.
A no-record result concerns the search performed using the supplied information. Review the birth location, recorded name, date, registration status, and possible amendments before paying for another search.
If the issue remains unresolved, ask the RR/CC or California Department of Public Health about the appropriate next step.
Information and Documents to Prepare
Use the current application to determine the required fields. Prepare accurate record details and the documents needed for your copy type and request method.
- The person's name as recorded on the birth certificate.
- The date and actual location of birth.
- Parent information requested by the application.
- Your relationship or legal authority to receive an authorized copy.
- The requested copy type and quantity.
- Your current mailing and contact information.
- Valid identification for an in-person request.
- A notarized Certificate of Identity when required.
- Any required court order or other supporting documentation.
- An accepted payment method.
If a record was amended or affected by adoption or a legal name change, follow the instructions for identifying the current record.
Review spelling, dates, signatures, and delivery details before submitting. Keep application, order, and appointment numbers for follow-up.
Adoptions, Corrections and Record Changes
Ordering an Existing Amended Record
The RR/CC adoption and name-change guidance explains requests involving adoption, amendments, and legal name changes.
When requesting a child's record following adoption, follow the application's instructions concerning the ADOPTED box and recorded details.
Ordering the current amended certificate is different from requesting a pre-adoption original record or other adoption records. Do not assume that the standard copy application provides access to every related record.
Correcting a Record or Adding a Parent
The California Department of Public Health handles birth record amendments. Ordering another copy from the RR/CC does not correct the information on the existing record.
Use the state's Amending a California Birth Record page to find the procedure and current forms for the change needed.
Adding or changing parent information may involve a different process from correcting a clerical error. Review the applicable parentage instructions and confirm which procedure applies before completing forms or obtaining supporting documents.
Use the submission address and payment instructions specified for the particular amendment. Do not send an amendment application to the RR/CC's ordinary copy-request mailing address.
Abstracts, Long-Form Copies and Apostilles
Birth Abstracts and Long-Form Requests
The RR/CC states that it no longer issues or replaces birth abstracts. If an agency rejects an old abstract, ask which certified birth record it requires and use the appropriate copy request process.
For a request described as a long-form birth certificate, the county directs applicants to its standard certified-copy ordering methods. Confirm the receiving agency's requirements, particularly if the document will be used outside the United States.
Apostilles
The RR/CC issues the certified birth record. The California Secretary of State handles the apostille process for qualifying California documents.
Review the official apostille instructions before submitting the certificate. Confirm the destination country's requirements and the document, fee, and delivery arrangements applicable to your request.
Ordering a county birth certificate does not automatically include an apostille or other authentication service.
Record Inspection and Special Requests
Viewing Records
The RR/CC provides appointment-based inspection of certain birth certificates and indexes that are available for public inspection at its Norwalk headquarters.
Review the official inspection instructions for coverage, identification, appointment requirements, and any search or retrieval charges.
The county requires enough information to identify each requested record and does not permit random searches. Inspecting a record does not provide a certified copy suitable for a separate application.
Subpoenas and Custodian Requests
Subpoenas and requests requiring a custodian-of-records declaration use separate procedures. Follow the official RR/CC subpoena instructions for the correct address, identification of records, payment, and service requirements.
Do not use the ordinary copy-request mailing address without checking the special procedure. The RR/CC does not accept service for records maintained by another county department.
Contacts and Mailing Addresses
Office visits, ordinary copy requests, amendments, and special legal requests may use different addresses. Confirm the instructions for the specific service.
| Office or service | Contact or address | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| RR/CC headquarters | 12400 Imperial Highway Norwalk, CA 90650 800-201-8999 Office locations and services |
County record services and in-person assistance. Confirm appointment and record availability requirements. |
| Ordinary RR/CC birth record requests by mail | Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Birth, Death and Marriage Records Section P.O. Box 489 Norwalk, CA 90651-0489 Mail request instructions |
Completed ordinary copy applications with the required documents and payment. |
| Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Vital Records Office | 313 North Figueroa Street, Room Lobby-1 Los Angeles, CA 90012 213-288-7812 Birth record instructions |
Recent records and registration services within its jurisdiction. Pasadena and Long Beach have separate arrangements. |
| Pasadena birth records | Pasadena Public Health records information | City birth record services within the coverage described by Pasadena. |
| Long Beach birth records | Long Beach Vital Records | City birth record services. Confirm current record-year coverage and request arrangements. |
| California Department of Public Health Vital Records | 916-445-2684 CDPH official website Birth record amendment instructions |
State birth record services and amendment guidance. Use the address specified for the particular application or amendment. |
| California Secretary of State | Apostille instructions | State authentication procedures for qualifying documents. |
Published office hours and available services may change. Confirm the location, appointment requirements, and current submission instructions before traveling or mailing documents.
Birth Certificate Request Checklist
- Confirm the birth location: Use the jurisdiction where the birth occurred, not your current residence.
- Check record availability: Recent births may require a public health office request.
- Account for city arrangements: Pasadena and Long Beach have separate public health services.
- Choose the right copy: Confirm whether the receiving agency requires an authorized certified copy.
- Check additional identification: A birth certificate does not satisfy every agency's identity requirements.
- Complete required declarations: Obtain notarization when the selected request method requires it.
- Use the official ordering route: Begin an online order through the county's authorized processor link.
- Check the branch: Confirm that it handles birth records and the relevant record year.
- Use the correct mailing address: Ordinary RR/CC copy requests go to the Birth, Death and Marriage Records Section at P.O. Box 489.
- Verify payment: Review current fees and accepted methods; do not mail cash.
- Allow for processing and delivery: A published processing period is not a guaranteed arrival date.
- Separate copies from corrections: Ordering a certificate does not amend the record or obtain an apostille.
- Keep confirmations: Retain order numbers, application copies, appointment details, and mailing records.
If you find an outdated detail or broken link in this guide, please contact our website editor. Do not send identity documents, birth certificate applications, payment information, or amendment materials to this website. Submit them through the responsible agency's designated process.