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Birth & Death Certificates - San Mateo County Vital Statistics

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Was the birth or death registered prior to 1970? If the birth or death was registered prior to 1970,  please send your request to the San Mateo County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder's Office in Redwood City or the California Office of Vital Records in Sacramento. San Mateo County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder's Office 555 County Center, 1st Floor Redwood City, CA 94063 (650) 363-4500 application for public records California Department of Health Services Office of Vital Records M.S. 5103 PO Box 997410 Sacramento, CA 95899-740 (916) 445-2684 Only Authorized Persons May Receive Certified Copies of Birth and Death Records The California Health and Safety Code Section 103526, permits only authorized persons to receive certified copies of birth and death records. Those not authorized by law will receive a copy marked "Informational, not a valid document to establish identity". An authorized person is: A parent or legal guardian of the registrant. A party entitled to receive the record as a result of a court order, or any attorney or 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 government agency, as provided by the law, who is conducting official business. A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of the registrant. An attorney representing the registrant's estate, or any person or agency empowered by statue or appointed by a court on behalf of the registrant or the registrant's estate. A funeral director ordering certified copies of a death certificate on behalf of an individual specified previously. How to Request Birth and Death Records from San Mateo County Vital Statistics The Vital Statistics Office holds records from 1970 to the current year. If you would like to obtain a certified or informational copy of a recent birth or death certificate, you may visit our office or mail in an application. Fees A fee must be collected before a search is made, whether or not the record is found. This authority is found in Health and Safety Code Section 10606. We accept checks, postal or bank money orders in the exact amount. We do not accept credit/debit cards.  Cash is only accepted for in-person requests.  Please note that we are not able to make change for $100 bills. Birth Certificates: $19.00  Death Certificates: $14.00 To order a birth or death certificate in person at the Office of Vital Statistics, you must present personal identification, such as a drivers license.  Application forms do not need to be notarized when applying in-person. Mail-In Requirements To order a birth or death certificate by mail, you must follow the steps listed below: Fill out an application for birth or death record. Application for: birth certificate  death certificate Have the sworn statement notarized with a certificate of acknowledgment in the presence of a Notary Public. Mail the application, sworn statement/certificate of acknowledgment, and payment to: San Mateo County Vital Statistics 225 West 37th Avenue San Mateo, CA 94403 (650) 573-2395 Office Hours: 8am - 5pm Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri and 8am - 4pm Thursday   last updated: 06/12/08