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Birth Certificates

Birth certificates for the current year and one past year are available from the Office of Vital Statistics. Birth certificates for all years are available from the Sonoma County Clerk's Office.

Certified Birth Certificate

A certified birth certificate is used to establish identity for legal purposes. California state laws help protect against identify theft by allowing only an authorized person to receive a certified copy of a birth certificate. Those who are authorized by law to receive a certified copy of a birth certificate are:

• The registrant;
• A parent or legal guardian of the registrant;
• A party entitled to receive the certificate as a result of a court order, or an attorney or a licensed adoption agency seeking the birth certificate in order to comply with the requirement 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 (companies representing a government agency must provide authorization from the government agency);
• A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or domestic partner of the registrant; and
• 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 the application form.)

How to Obtain a Certified Birth Certificate

If applying in person:

1. Go to the Public Health Office of Vital Statistics, 625 5th Street, Santa Rosa.
2. Complete the Application for Certified Copy of Birth Certificate (pdf). Complete a separate application form for each requested birth certificate.
3. Show your photo ID and sign the "Sworn Statement" in front of clerk.
4. Submit payment by cash, check, postal or bank money order, Visa or MasterCard credit card, or debit card.

If applying by mail or fax:

1. Complete the Application for Certified Copy of Birth Certificate (pdf). Complete a separate application form for each requested birth certificate.
2. Have the "Sworn Statement" (page 2 of the application) notarized by a Notary Public.
3. Include payment by check or money order, payable to Sonoma County Department of Health Services. If paying by credit or debit card, call the Office of Vital Statistics at 707-565-4407 to provide your payment information.
4. Mail application, sworn statement, and payment to the Office of Vital Statistics.
5. If faxing the application, call the Office of Vital Statistics at 707-565-4407 to provide your payment information.

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Certified "Informational Copy" of a Birth Certificate

A certified "informational copy" of a birth certificate is a copy of a birth certificate that cannot be used to establish identify and is marked "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY." A certified "informational copy" of a birth certificate is not accepted for any legal purpose, such as school enrollment or obtaining a drivers license or a passport. If you need a copy for a legal purpose, you must obtain a certified birth certificate.

How to Obtain a Certified "Informational Copy" of a Birth Certificate

1. Complete the Application for Certified Copy of Birth Certificate (pdf). Complete a separate application form for each requested birth certificate.
2. Submit payment by cash, check, postal or bank money order, Visa or MasterCard credit card, or debit card.
3. Certified "Informational Copy" birth certificates may be requested in person, by mail, or by fax.

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Changing a Birth Certificate

If there is incorrect or missing information on your child's birth certificate, you may make a request for an amendment. The Office of Vital Statistics can assist in preparing or requesting amendments to birth certificates for all years of birth.

The following forms and instructions are available:

• Adding a Father to a Birth Record (Acknowledgement of Paternity) (pdf)
• Adjudication of Facts of Parentage (pdf)
• Affidavit to Amend a Birth Record (pdf)
• Correcting Gender Errors on Birth Certificates (pdf)
• Court Order Delayed Registration of Birth (pdf)
• Court Order Name Change (pdf)
• Delayed Registration of Birth (pdf)

Not sure which form you need? Call the Office of Vital Statistics at 707-565-4407 for more information.

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