Birth Certificates 

• This office only issues certificates for births that occurred in Sacramento County. 
• Authorized Copy: California law [H&S Code 103526] defines individuals who can obtain an authorized copy of a birth certificate as:
  1. The registrant (person listed on the certificate) or a parent or legal guardian of the registrant.
  2. 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 in order to comply with the requirements of Section 3140 or 7603 of the Family Code.
  3. A member of law enforcement agency or a representative of another government agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business.  Companies representing a government agency must provide authorization from the government agency.
  4. A child, grandparent, grandchild, brother or sister, spouse, or domestic partner of the registrant.
  5. An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant’s estate or any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the registrant or the registrant’s estate. (If you are requesting a Certified Copy under a power of attorney, please include a copy of the power of attorney with this application form.)
• Informational Copy: If you cannot obtain an authorized copy under California law, you can obtain an informational copy.  An informational copy contains the same information as an authorized copy, but will have a legend across the face with the statement: "Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity".  Certain items may be redacted and an informational copy may not be used to obtain identification.  However, authorized and informational copies are both considered "certified copies".
• For births outside of Sacramento County, please contact the county in which the event occurred California County Registrars and Recorders

New Birth Certificates 

New baby birth certificates may take twenty-one (21) days for registration and availability.

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE - HSC

DIVISION 102. VITAL RECORDS AND HEALTH STATISTICS [102100-103925]

102400 Each live birth shall be registered with the local registrar of births and deaths for the district in which the birth occurred within 21 days following the date of the event.

Death Certificates 

• This office only issues certificates for deaths that occurred in Sacramento County. 
• Authorized Copy: California law [H&S Code 103526] defines individuals who can obtain an authorized copy of a death certificate as:
  1. Child/Sibling of Registrant (Or a relative described in HSC §7100 (a)(1)-(8))
  2. Grandparent/Grandchild of Registrant
  3. Authorized by Court Order (Include copy of the court order)
  4. Parent/Legal Guardian of Registrant (Must provide documentation)
  5. An Agent or Employee of a funeral establishment who acts within the course and scope of his or her employment and who orders certified copies of a death certificate on behalf of an individual specified in paraghraphs (1) to (5), of Subdivision (1) of Section 7100 of the Health and Safelty Code.
  6. Power of Attorney/Executor of the Registrant's Estate (Include a copy of the power of attorney or documentation identifying you as executor)
  7. Spouse/Registered Domestic Partner of Registrant
  8. Attorney Representing Registrant or Registrant's Estate
  9. Law Enforcement/Gov. Agency (Conducting Official Business)
  10. Surviving Next of Kin (specified in HSC §7100)
• Informational Copy: If you cannot obtain an authorized copy under California law, you can obtain an informational copy.  An informational copy contains the same information as an authorized copy, but will have a legend across the face with the statement: "Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity".  Certain items may be redacted.  However, authorized and informational copies are both considered "certified copies".
• Certificates for recent death typically take up to 1-2 weeks to become available.  The certificate must be registered by the local registrar’s office and the California Department of Public Health Vital Records prior to issuance.
• For deaths outside of Sacramento County, please contact the county in which the event occurred - California County Registrars and Recorders

To begin the order process, click on the appropriate link on the top left.