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Obtaining a Copy of a Birth Certificate in California
- 1). Determine the type of birth certificate needed. A certified copy can be used to establish the identity of the person named on the certificate, while an informational copy cannot. Only the person named on the certificate, his parent or guardian, a party entitled to the certificate due to a court order, a member of a law enforcement agency conducting official business, an attorney representing the person's estate or the person's child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or domestic partner can legally request a certified copy.
- 2). Review processing time and determine if you can obtain the birth certificate within the time needed to conduct your business. The Department of Public Health can take up to six weeks to fulfill your request.
- 3). Complete the birth certificate request form available on the Department of Public Health website.
- 4). Have the Sworn Statement included with the request form notarized if you are applying for a certified copy.
- 5). Mail in the request form with the appropriate fee. As of July 2010, the fee for a birth certificate request is $14.
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