Birth, Death, and Marriage Certificates
Laws Regulating Vital Records
In an attempt to stop the illegal use of vital records, and as part of statewide efforts to reduce identity theft, a new California law (effective July 1, 2003) changed the way certified copies of birth and death certificates are issued.
Certified copies to establish the identity of a registrant can be issued only to authorized individuals, as indicated below. All others will be issued Certified Informational Copies that are not valid to establish identity, and contain a legend on the face of the document that states, "Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity."
In the case of birth records, the new law describes an authorized person as:
- The registrant or a parent or legal guardian 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 in order to comply with the requirements of § 3140 or 7603 of the Family Code.
- A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business.
- A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of the registrant.
- 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.
In the case of death records, the new law describes an authorized person as:
- A parent or legal guardian 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 in order to comply with the requirements of § 3140 or 7603 of the Family Code.
- A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business.
- A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of the registrant.
- 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.
- Any 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 paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (a) of § 7100 of the Health and Safety Code.
Overview
The County Clerk has birth, death and marriage records for events occurring in Sonoma County. We maintain the following documents:
- Birth Certificates from 10/14/1855. Death Certificates from 1873 to the present
- Marriage Certificates from 09/23/1846 to the present
The cost for certified copies of these certificates is as follows. All fees are payable by check or money order to the County Clerk's Office:
- Birth Certificate: $21.00
- Death Certificate: $16.00
- Marriage Certificate: $16.00
Please note that the fee for Certified Copies of Birth Certificates increase as of January 1st 2012. This was due to Assembly Bill 1053 chaptered on October 2, 2011. As of January 1st 2012, copies of Birth Certificates are now $21.00. You may read more about the $2.00 fee increase here.
The Sonoma County Clerk's Office does not accept credit cards or online orders; however, for your convenience, you can process online requests through an independent company that we have partnered with to provide you this service; VitalChek Network, Inc. VitalChek can be reached through its website, www.vitalchek.com. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service, and all major credit cards are accepted, including American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard® or Visa®.
You can order Birth, Death or Marriage Certificates online at: www.vitalchek.com. Additional fees apply for this service. When ordering a certified copy of a birth or death certificate online through VitalChek you must also fax your notarized sworn statement to the County Clerk's office at (707) 565-3957. Please call our office at (707) 565-3800 with any questions regarding this process.
Note: Birth, death, and marriage certificates are available at the office of the County Clerk, located at 2300 County Center Drive, Suite B-177, in Santa Rosa. For information, visit our office or call (707) 565-3800. Public access terminals are available for limited vital records research at the County Clerk's Office.
Important Details about Birth Records
Copies of birth records may be obtained at the:
Sonoma County Clerk's Office
2300 County Center Drive, Suite B177
Santa Rosa, California 95403
You must present valid picture identification when requesting copies.
To apply for birth records, you must complete the sworn statement included with the Application for Certified Copy of Birth Record and you must sign the sworn statement under penalty of perjury. If you mail or fax your application, your sworn statement must be notarized and included with your application. If you mail or fax your application and do not include a notarized statement sworn to under penalty of perjury, your application will be rejected as incomplete and it will be returned to you without being processed.
Please note that the fee for Certified Copies of Birth Certificates increase as of January 1st 2012. This was due to Assembly Bill 1053 chaptered on October 2, 2011. As of January 1st 2012, copies of Birth Certificates are now $21.00. You may read more about the $2.00 fee increase here.
Note: Any member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of a state or local government agency, as provided by law, who orders a copy of a record to which subdivision (a) applies in conducting official business may not be required to provide the notarized statement required by subdivision (a).
Para descargar la Aplicación para
Obtener una Copia Certificada de Nacimiento, clic el siguiente botón:
Important Details about Death Records
Copies of death records may be obtained at the:
Sonoma County Clerk's Office
2300 County Center Drive, Suite B177
Santa Rosa, California 95403
You must present valid picture identification when requesting copies.
To apply for death records, you must complete the sworn statement included with the Application for Certified Copy of Death Record and you must sign the sworn statement under penalty of perjury. If you mail or fax your application, your sworn statement must be notarized and included with your application. If you mail or fax your application and do not include a notarized statement sworn to under penalty of perjury, your application will be rejected as incomplete and it will be returned to you without being processed.
Note: Any member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of a state or local government agency, as provided by law, who orders a copy or a record to which subdivision (a) applies in conducting official business may not be required to provide the notarized statement required by subdivision (a). An agent or employee of a funeral establishment who acts within the course and scope of his or her employment and who orders death certificates on behalf of individuals specified in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of Subdivision (a) of § 7100 of the Health and Safety Code shall not be required to provide the notarized statement required by subdivision (a).
To download a PDF of the Application form for
Certified Copy of Death Record, click the following button:
Para descargar la Aplicación para
Obtener una Copia Certificada de Defunción, clic el siguiente botán:
Marriage Certificates
In order to obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate, you must provide the following information:
- Full name of both parties to the marriage
- Date of Marriage
If you were married using a Confidential Marriage License, a party to the marriage must either appear in person with valid photo identification at the County Clerk's Office, located at 2300 County Center Drive, Suite B177, Santa Rosa, CA 95403, or writing to our office at the address listed above and have your signature notarized on that written request, or by ordering online at www.vitalchek.com and following the directions on their website.
Only the parties to the marriage may obtain certified copies of a Confidential Marriage License. Anyone other than the parties to the marriage requesting a certified copy of a Confidential Marriage License must first obtain a Superior Court order for the release of that record. Certified copies of Confidential Marriage Licenses are $16.00.
The Sonoma County Clerk's Office does not accept credit cards or online orders; however, for your convenience, you can process online requests through an independent company that we have partnered with to provide you this service; VitalChek Network, Inc. VitalChek can be reached through its website, www.vitalchek.com. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service, and all major credit cards are accepted, including American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard® or Visa®.
Order a certified copy of a Public or Confidential Marriage License online at www.vitalchek.com. Note: Additional fees apply.
To download a PDF Application for
Certified Copy of Marriage Record (English), click the following button:
If you would like more information about vital records available through the County Clerk's Office,
please call our 24 hour information line at (707) 565-3700, or you may call our office phone at
(707) 565-3800 during regular business hours, or visit our office Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
We are always interested in receiving your feedback and/or questions.
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Important Notice:
The staff of the Clerk-Recorder-Assessor's Office are forbidden by California legal codes to practice law or provide legal advice; this prohibition includes giving advice about what forms you might need or how you should fill them out.
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Santa Rosa, California
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