In an attempt to stop the illegal use of vital records, and as part of statewide efforts to reduce identity theft, a new 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 Section 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 Section 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 Section 7100 of the Health and Safety Code.

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: $17.00



• Death Certificate: $12.00



• Marriage Certificate: $13.00

You can order Birth, Death or Marriage Certificates on-line at www.vitalchek.com. Additional fees apply for orders placed using a credit card. When ordering a certified copy of a birth or death certificate on-line through VitalChek you must also fax your notarized sworn statement to the County Clerk's office at (707) 565-3957. The certified copy will be mailed to you after the credit card information and notarized sworn statement have been received by our office. Please call our office at (707) 565-2645 with any questions regarding this process.

NOTE: Birth, death, and marriage certificates are available only 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 707-565-2645. Public access terminals are available for limited vital records research at the County Clerk's Office. Vital records information and research is NO LONGER available at the County Recorder's Office.

Copies of birth records may be obtained at the:

Sonoma County Clerk's Office
2300 County Center Drive, Suite B-177
Santa Rosa, California 95403

You must present valid picture identification when requesting copies.

Copies of birth records are no longer available at the County Recorder's Office

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. 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).

To download a PDF edition of the Application for
Certified Copy of Birth Record, click the following button:

Para descargar la Aplicación para
Obtener una Copia Certificada de Nacimiento, clic el siguiente botón:

Copies of death records may be obtained at the:

Sonoma County Clerk's Office
2300 County Center Drive, Suite B-177
Santa Rosa, California 95403

You must present valid picture identification when requesting copies.

Copies of death records are no longer available at the County Recorder's Office

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 Section 7100 of the Health and Safety Code shall not be required to provide the notarized statement required by subdivision (a).

To download a PDF edition of the Application for
Certified Copy of Death Record, click the following button:

Para descargar la Aplicación para
Obtener una Copia Certificada de Defunción, clic el siguiente botón:

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 B-177, Santa Rosa, CA 95403, or write to our office at the address listed above and have your signature notarized on that written request, or enter your order on-line 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 Llicenses are $13.00.

You can order a certified copy of a Public or Confidential Marriage License on-line at www.vitalchek.com. Additional fees apply for orders placed using a credit card.

If you need further information regarding birth, death or marriage certificates, you may call the County Clerk's Office at 707-565-2645 or visit our office Monday through Friday 8 AM to 5 PM.

We are always interested in receiving your feedback and/or questions.