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Beginning July 1, 2003 the California Health
and Safety Code Section 103526 permits only specific individuals to receive an
AUTHORIZED CERTIFIED COPY of a birth or death record. An AUTHORIZED CERTIFIED
COPY of a birth record is required to obtain a driver's license, passport,
social security card and other services related to an individual's identity. An
AUTHORIZED CERTIFIED COPY of a death record may be required to obtain death
benefits, claim insurance proceeds, notify social security and obtain other
services related to an individual's identity. Please see below for a list of
authorized individuals.
Individuals permitted to receive an AUTHORIZED
CERTIFIED COPY:
- 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 estate
- Any funeral director that
orders certified copies of a death certificate on behalf of any individual
specified in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (a) of Section
7100 of the Health and Safety Code
Those who do not meet the criteria for an
AUTHORIZED CERTIFIED COPY may receive an INFORMATIONAL CERTIFIED COPY with the
words "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY" imprinted
across the face of the copy.
When ordering in person, an authorized
individual must complete an approved application including signing a sworn
statement under penalty of perjury before the clerk to receive an AUTHORIZED
CERTIFIED COPY. A notarized Certificate of Identity and a completed application
form signed under penalty of perjury by the authorized requestor are required
for all orders sent by mail. Applications and Certificate of Identity forms are
usually available for download from your local County Registrar website.
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