Recorder's News Flash

San Bernardino County Recorder
Larry Walker, Auditor/Controller-Recorder
222 W. Hospitality Lane, 1st Floor, San Bernardino CA 92415-0022
Public Service Counter Hours 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday.
(909) 387-8314
www.sbcounty.gov/acr

Per California Health and Safety Code Section 103526, the County Recorder may provide a certified copy of a birth, death or public marriage certificate to an authorized person only. If a requestor does not meet the requirement of an authorized person the County Recorder may only issue an informational certified copy of birth with a legend stating "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY."

Please note: Effective April 27, 2009, San Bernardino County will implement the California Department of Public Health’s “Vital Records Image Redaction and Statewide Access” program. This will allow staff to access a single State database for requesting automatically redacted informational-only copies of birth records from 1985-present and death records from 1996-present. These certificates will show black redaction boxes across any signatures or social security numbers.

Download Certificate Applications in English

Download Certificate Applications in Spanish

Authorized Persons as Described in Health and Safety Code Section 103526

(1) The registrant or a parent or legal guardian of the registrant.

(2) 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.

(3) A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business.

(4) A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of the registrant.

(5) 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.

(6) Any funeral director who orders certified copies of a death certificate on behalf of any individual specified in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (a) of Health and Safety Code Section 7100. (Notary acknowledgment not required).

Copy Requests

Certified Copy - Walk in Customers

The County Recorder must receive a written request signed under penalty of perjury for each certificate.

Certified Copy - By Mail

The County Recorder must receive a written request signed under penalty of perjury that has been notarized.

Informational Copy requested by Mail or Walk in:

The County Recorder must receive a written request. The County Recorder shall provide an informational copy and shall display a legend that states "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY." The statement shall be placed on the certificate in a manner that will not conceal information. Note: Informational copies should not be purchased in order to obtain a driver's license, social security card, state I.D. card, passport, or for insurance claims or coverage.

Fee for a search and/or certified copy of birth is $17.00 each.
Fee for a search and/or certified copy of death is $12.00 each.

Adoption/Name Change:

If you are requesting a copy of a birth record of a child who has been adopted or had a legal name change, your written request should be sent to the State Department of Health Services, Office of Vital Records - M.S. 5103, PO Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410, the telephone number is (916) 445-2684. There is a $15 charge for each copy requested payable by check or money order to the office of Vital Records.

Download Certificate Applications in Adobe Acrobat 5 format

Note: Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0.5 or greater is required to view and print these documents.

English Language Forms

Effective 01/01/2010 Birth/Death/Marriage Certificate Application

Spanish Language Forms

Click here to download Spanish Language Forms

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