Before you submit a request to the CDPH, determine whether the marriage or divorce record you want is available from CDPH Vital Records and if you can obtain an authorized copy or an informational copy.
CDPH Vital Records only accepts orders submitted by mail. Complete and send the application form along with a Notarized sworn statement (if applicable) and check or money order for the certified copy fee to:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records - MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
If using a courier service that requires a physical address for delivery, please use the following address:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records - MS 5103
1501 Capitol Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95814
Notes:
Fill out a separate application for each record requested.
Make sure that you have completed all items required on the application, and provide as much information as possible to help locate the record, otherwise your request may be returned to you for correction.
Fees are payable to CDPH Vital Records via check or money order. International money orders for out-ofcountry requests should be payable in U.S. dollars. Fees are also nonrefundable per state law.
If the CDPH cannot locate the record based on the information you provided, California Health and Safety Code authorizes CDPH to maintain the fee for the search itself, and a Certificate of No Public Record (CNPR) will be issued.
You must have your sworn statement notarized if ordering an authorized copy. Having your sworn statement notarized is not necessary if you are ordering an informational copy. However, unless an informational copy is indicated on the application form, applications received without a notarized sworn statement will be returned to the sender.
A certified copy fee must accompany all requests for copies of vital records.
Applying Online - VitalCheck
Go online and simply follow the steps to place an order. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service and all major credit cards are accepted.
Individuals who can obtain an authorized copy of a birth or death certificate as stated by California law:
The registrant (person listed on the certificate) or a parent or legal guardian of the registrant. A child, grandparent, grandchild, brother or sister, spouse, or domestic partner 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 California 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.)
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.)
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.
Informational Copy
If you cannot obtain an authorized copy under California law, you may request for an informational copy instead. 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."
Notes:
Authorized and informational copies are both certified copies.
A notarized sworn statement is required for all requests for authorized certified copies of marriage certificates.
For requests submitted to CDPH: $15.00 fee per copy requested
Fees are payable to CDPH Vital Records via check or money order. Checks must be drawn on a United States bank. Money orders must be drawn on a United States bank or issued by the United States Postal Service. International money orders for out-of country requests should be payable in U.S. dollars. Fees are also nonrefundable per state law.
Do not send cash by mail. CDPH cannot be held responsible for fees paid that are lost, misdirected, or undelivered.
The California Department of Public Health Vital Records does not collect or maintain information about whether a marriage was between individuals of the opposite sex or the same sex.
You may obtain your certificate either from the CDPH (only accepts orders submitted by mail) or from your local County Recorder Office (in person or by mail).
Public Marriage Records
CDPH Vital Records is experiencing lengthy delays in the processing time for marriage records due to the increased and urgent need for certified copies of birth certificates as proof of identity. Because of this processing time can easily exceed 6 months, you should submit your request for a marriage record to the County Recorder's Office in the county where the marriage license was issued.
Confidential Marriage Records
Certified copies of confidential marriage records are only available from the County Clerks Office in the county where the confidential marriage license was issued. Only the two individuals named on the marriage certificate can obtain copies of confidential marriage records.
Before you submit a request to the CDPH, determine whether the marriage or divorce record you want is available from CDPH Vital Records and if you can obtain an authorized copy or an informational copy.
CDPH Vital Records only accepts orders submitted by mail. Complete and send the application form along with a Notarized sworn statement (if applicable) and check or money order for the certified copy fee to:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records - MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
If using a courier service that requires a physical address for delivery, please use the following address:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records - MS 5103
1501 Capitol Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95814
Notes:
Fill out a separate application for each record requested.
Make sure that you have completed all items required on the application, and provide as much information as possible to help locate the record, otherwise your request may be returned to you for correction.
Fees are payable to CDPH Vital Records via check or money order. International money orders for out-ofcountry requests should be payable in U.S. dollars. Fees are also nonrefundable per state law.
If the CDPH cannot locate the record based on the information you provided, California Health and Safety Code authorizes CDPH to maintain the fee for the search itself, and a Certificate of No Public Record (CNPR) will be issued.
You must have your sworn statement notarized if ordering an authorized copy. Having your sworn statement notarized is not necessary if you are ordering an informational copy. However, unless an informational copy is indicated on the application form, applications received without a notarized sworn statement will be returned to the sender.
A certified copy fee must accompany all requests for copies of vital records.
Applying Online - VitalCheck
Go online and simply follow the steps to place an order. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service and all major credit cards are accepted.
Individuals who can obtain an authorized copy of a birth or death certificate as stated by California law:
The registrant (person listed on the certificate) or a parent or legal guardian of the registrant. A child, grandparent, grandchild, brother or sister, spouse, or domestic partner 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 California 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.)
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.)
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.
Informational Copy
If you cannot obtain an authorized copy under California law, you may request for an informational copy instead. 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."
Notes:
Authorized and informational copies are both certified copies.
A notarized sworn statement is required for all requests for authorized certified copies of marriage certificates.
For requests submitted to CDPH: $15.00 fee per copy requested
Fees are payable to CDPH Vital Records via check or money order. Checks must be drawn on a United States bank. Money orders must be drawn on a United States bank or issued by the United States Postal Service. International money orders for out-of country requests should be payable in U.S. dollars. Fees are also nonrefundable per state law.
Do not send cash by mail. CDPH cannot be held responsible for fees paid that are lost, misdirected, or undelivered.
The amount of time needed to process your request may occasionally increase as volume of applications being processed by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) increases. The County Recorder Offices can sometimes process requests faster than the CDPH.
Following are processing time for marriage record amendments and issuance of a certified copy of the amended record (if you paid for a copy):
The California Department of Public Health Vital Records does not collect or maintain information about whether a marriage was between individuals of the opposite sex or the same sex.
You may obtain your certificate either from the CDPH (only accepts orders submitted by mail) or from your local County Recorder Office (in person or by mail).
Public Marriage Records
CDPH Vital Records is experiencing lengthy delays in the processing time for marriage records due to the increased and urgent need for certified copies of birth certificates as proof of identity. Because of this processing time can easily exceed 6 months, you should submit your request for a marriage record to the County Recorder's Office in the county where the marriage license was issued.
Confidential Marriage Records
Certified copies of confidential marriage records are only available from the County Clerks Office in the county where the confidential marriage license was issued. Only the two individuals named on the marriage certificate can obtain copies of confidential marriage records.
Marriage is a legal contract binding two people together, granting them rights and obligations. A Marriage Certificate is an official statement that two people are married.
A copy of the marriage certificate is often necessary when you apply for administrative procedures such as obtaining a passport or applying for certain social benefits.
Following are procedures on how you can obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate.