Contra Costa County, California (CA) Birth Certificate Online
Order an Contra Costa County, California (CA) Birth Certificate online. Complete a simple form to get a certified copy of a CA birth certificate and avoid long lines at the Contra Costa County vital records office.
Legal Disclaimer: US Birth Certificates is a privately owned website that is not affiliated with, not owned or operated by any government agency. US Birth Certificates is an independent preparer that provides vital records application preparation assistance services. If you are looking for blank forms, you can get them for free at the relevant state office.
Contra Costa County, CA Birth Certificate Replacement
Citizens born in the County of Contra Costa are issued a California birth certificate as soon as their birth is officially registered with the Contra Costa County Vital Registration Office or the County Clerk/Recorder.
This vital record is an essential legal document that is required when a Contra Costa County citizen needs to prove their identity, citizenship or age.
A Contra Costa County birth certificate copy is necessary to enroll in college or school, obtain government-issued photo identification documents, get married, amongst other official business.
If your Contra Costa County, California birth certificate got lost or was stolen, misplaced, or destroyed —even partially— you will have to obtain a Contra Costa County birth certificate replacement.
Applying for an official copy of a Contra Costa County, CA vital record can be easily done online, eliminating the need to wait in line at a vital statistics office.
Ordering a Contra Costa County, California birth certificate online is a quick and straightforward procedure. The form takes no more than 10 minutes to fill out. Then, simply follow our personalized instructions to help you complete your Contra Costa County birth certificate application with ease.
Once your Contra Costa County birth certificate replacement application has been processed, you will receive an official copy of your birth record at home.
Contra Costa County, CA Birth Certificate Types
When ordering a certified copy of your birth certificate in Contra Costa County, California, it is important to understand the different types of birth certificates available in order to make sure you obtain the correct document to meet your needs.
There are 2 different types of birth certificate copies that can be issued in Contra Costa County, California.
Long-form copy of a Contra Costa County, CA birth certificate
A long-form copy of a birth certificate issued in Contra Costa County is also known as:
- Unrestricted copy of a birth certificate
- Certified copy of a birth certificate
- Full copy of a birth certificate
- Authorized copy of a birth certificate
- Official copy of a birth certificate
An unrestricted copy of a Contra Costa County birth certificate is a government-issued full-length copy of the original document. It includes any corrections, changes, or amendments made to the birth record.
If you need your birth certificate to sign up at university, get a driver’s license, apply for a US passport, get married, or for other legal purposes, then you need to order a certified copy of your Contra Costa County birth certificate. An informational copy will not be accepted to prove your identity.
An unrestricted copy of a Contra Costa County birth certificate is required at the following agencies, amongst others:
- DMV: To obtain a driver’s license
- Social Security: To obtain a Social Security number or card
- Passport agencies: To obtain a passport card or passport book
An official or certified copy of a Contra Costa County birth certificate can be visually distinguished because it will always carry the registrar’s seal, signature, and the date it was filed. The seal on long-form copies of a Contra Costa County birth certificate is raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored.
Certified copies of a Contra Costa County birth certificate can only be ordered by qualified individuals:
- The certificate bearer, their parent or legal guardian, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner
- A third party entitled to receive the birth record by court order, or an attorney or a licensed adoption agency seeking the birth record 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
- 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.
Applicants requesting an unrestricted certified copy of a Contra Costa birth certificate, must complete and sign a sworn statement under penalty of perjury as required by Section 103526 of the California Health and Safety Code.
If you are not eligible to obtain a certified copy of a birth certificate in Contra Costa County, you may order a redacted, informational copy instead.
Short-form copy of a Contra Costa County, CA birth certificate
An informational copy of a Contra Costa County birth certificate is also known as a short-form birth certificate. It is an abstract or redacted version of the birth record which only shows the individual's basic information.
This type of Contra Costa County birth certificate is available to the general public —you do not need to be a qualified individual to order a copy.
Informational copies of a Contra Costa County birth certificate cannot be used for identification purposes.
These copies bear the following statement imprinted across the face of the copy:
“Informational, not a valid document to establish identity”
How to Get a Certified Birth Certificate in Contra Costa County, CA
The easiest way to get a government-issued Contra Costa County, California Birth certificate copy, is to complete the order form online. The process is straightforward and hassle-free.
To order an unrestricted certified copy of a Contra Costa County (CA) birth certificate:
- Complete the birth certificate application (available by clicking the button on this page) with the required information
- Print the application form and sign the sworn statement in the presence of a notary public
- Mail it to the State of California Vital Registration Office with a large stamped, self-addressed envelope, and a check or money order to cover the fees
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Alternatively, Contra Costa County Birth and Death Certificates orders may also be submitted by mailing your application package to the Contra Costa County offices. The address depends on how long ago the certificate bearer was born:
For birth certificates of babies born this year or last year, send your request to:
Contra Costa County Vital Registration Office
10 Douglas Drive, Ste #220
Martinez, CA 94553
For birth records registered from 1905 to the present, send your order to:
Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder’s Office
555 Escobar Street
Martinez, CA 94553
Contra Costa County citizens born in or around Pleasant Hill, Discovery Bay, Martinez, Concord, amongst other locations can also send their order for a certified copy of their birth certificate at the Contra Costa County Clerk’s Office.
Citizens of Contra Costa County who prefer to submit their birth certificate application in person may do so at the addresses above during walk-in hours —although this usually entails waiting in line.
Please note that fees may differ depending on whether you are sending your Contra Costa birth certificate application to the California State Vital Records Office or the County Recorder’s Office. Remember to verify and submit the appropriate fees with your application.
Should the birth record not be found, the State of California Health and Safety Code (H&SC) 103650 requires the vital records office to retain the search fee and issue a Certificate of No Public Record.
Contra Costa County birth certificate copy required information
To get a copy of a Contra Costa County, California birth certificate, you will need to fill out the online birth certificate application with the following personal details:
- Gender
- Date of birth
- Full name (as it would appear on the certificate)
- Mother’s name or parent’s name prior to first marriage
- Father’s name or parent’s name prior to first marriage
Required documents for a certified copy of a Contra Costa County birth certificate
Citizens applying for a certified copy of a Contra Costa County birth certificate need to prove their identity with an unexpired identification document. Applicants also need to complete and sign the second page of the application form in the presence of a notary public.
Proof of identity can be provided using any of the following documents:
- Driver’s license issued by California state
- School ID
- Voter Registration Card
- U.S. Military card
- U.S. passport, card or card issued by a foreign embassy or consulate
- Native American tribal document with photograph
- U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner card
How to Request an Apostille for a Contra Costa County Birth Certificate
Contra Costa County, CA citizens who need to present their birth certificate abroad need to make sure their document bears an apostille to grant it legal validity outside the territory of the United States.
This can be done by following these simple steps:
- Order a certified copy of the Contra Costa County, California birth certificate
- Prepare a cover sheet stating the country in which the document will be utilized, a self-addressed envelope with pre-paid postage
- Upon receiving the certified copy of the Contra Costa, CA birth certificate, mail the complete document to the California Secretary of State's office with the required apostille fee for authentication
California Authentications Unit street address:
Secretary of State (California)
300 South Spring Street, Room 12513
California, CA 90013
California Authentications unit PO BOX:
Notary Public Section
P.O. Box 942877
Sacramento, CA 94277–0001
Contra Costa County Certified Birth Certificate Cost
Ordering a copy of a birth certificate in Contra Costa County, California (CA) entails the payment of the appropriate search fee.
The following payment methods are available when mailing your Contra Costa County birth certificate application:
- Personal check
- Money order
- Cashier check
- Business check
The filing fee of each copy of a Contra Costa County birth certificate is $29 when processed by the California State Vital Records Office.
Citizens filing their Contra Costa birth certificate application at the County Clerk’s Office in Contra Costa are required to pay a fee of $32.
It is advisable to order several copies using the same birth certificate application form. Additional copies can be kept on file ready for future use. Extra copies of the same Contra Costa County birth certificate ordered within a single form carry the same cost as the first copy. A rush service is not available for urgent copy in Contra Costa birth.
Applicants submitting their request in person also have the option of paying the fee in cash or by credit/debit card.
Citizens of Contra Costa with an Affidavit of Homeless Status are eligible to obtain a fee exemption for a copy of their CA birth certificate.
The Contra Costa County Recorder —or any other California State Registrar— will issue a certified copy of a birth certificate without a fee to any citizen who can verify their status as a homeless person. The Affidavit of Homeless Status for a Fee Exempt Copy of a Birth Certificate must be completed by a Homeless Services Provider.
Contra Costa County, California Birth Certificate Processing Times
Once you have mailed the complete Contra Costa County birth certificate application package, along with the requirements detailed above and the necessary fees, the vital registration office will process your request.
In most cases, your Contra Costa birth certificate order will be filled within 6 weeks. However, some vital records may take longer due to peak demand periods.
You will then receive your certified copy of the Contra Costa, California CA birth certificate by post, delivered right to your door.
Individuals in need of an urgent copy of a Contra Costa County birth certificate may print and sign their Contra Costa County birth certificate application and submit it in person.
For birth certificate copies issued for a baby born this year or last year the application can be turned in at the Contra Costa County Vital Registration Office counter
For birth certificate copies of records recorded more than 2 years ago, you may walk in the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder’s Office instead.
Regardless of the office you submit your application at, make sure to arrive early during walk-in hours since obtaining a Contra Costa birth certificate copy in person usually entails waiting in line but can result in same-day service.
California Vital Records Offices
Once you have mailed the complete Contra Costa County birth certificate application package, along with the requirements detailed above and the necessary fees, the vital registration office will process your request.
In most cases, your Contra Costa birth certificate order will be filled within 6 weeks. However, some vital records may take longer due to peak demand periods.
You will then receive your certified copy of the Contra Costa, California CA birth certificate by post, delivered right to your door.
Individuals in need of an urgent copy of a Contra Costa County birth certificate may print and sign their Contra Costa County birth certificate application and submit it in person.
For birth certificate copies issued for a baby born this year or last year the application can be turned in at the Contra Costa County Vital Registration Office counter
For birth certificate copies of records recorded more than 2 years ago, you may walk in the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder’s Office instead.
Regardless of the office you submit your application at, make sure to arrive early during walk-in hours since obtaining a Contra Costa birth certificate copy in person usually entails waiting in line but can result in same-day service.
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Alameda County Birth Certificates
1106 Madison Street, First Floor
Oakland, CA 94607 -
Contra Costa County Birth Certificates
10 Douglas Drive, Ste #220
Martinez, CA 94553 -
Fresno County Birth Certificates
1221 Fulton Street
1st Floor, Rm. 128
Fresno, CA 93721 -
Los Angeles County Birth Certificates
12400 Imperial Highway
Norwalk, CA 90650 -
Orange County Birth Certificates
200 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Suite 100-B
Santa Ana, CA 927011 -
Riverside County Birth Certificates
10 Douglas Drive, Ste 220
Martinez, CA 94553 -
Sacramento County Birth Certificates
600 8th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814 -
San Bernardino County Birth Certificates
222 West Hospitality Lane
San Bernardino, CA 92415 -
San Diego County Birth Certificates
HHSA Office of Vital Records MS P529
3851 Rosecrans Street. Suite 802
San Diego, CA 92110 -
San Francisco County Birth Certificates
101 Grove Street, Room 105,
San Francisco, CA 94102, (415) 554-2700 -
Santa Clara County Birth Certificates
70 West Hedding Street, East Wing, First Floor
San Jose, CA 95110
FAQs About Contra Costa County (CA) Birth Certificates
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Where can I get a copy of a Contra Costa County, California birth certificate?
The most convenient way to get a certified copy of a Contra Costa County birth certificate is to apply online.
Once you have filled out your Contra Costa County birth certificate application and gathered the necessary documentation, you may post your application package to the following address:
California Department of Public Health
Office of Vital Records - MS 5103,
P.O. Box 997410,
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410The office will then issue the Contra Costa County birth certificate and you will receive it by mail at the address stated on your self-addressed prepaid envelope.
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How can I change the name on a Contra Costa County birth certificate?
To modify a citizen’s name on a Contra Costa birth certificate you will first need to order a certified copy of the birth certificate you would like to amend.
To change any part of a baby's name or any part of the parents’ names except for adding a middle name —which can be done using Form VS-24—, a court order is necessary.
Once you have the court order or appropriate form, you will need to present those alongside the certified copy of the Contra Costa County birth certificate you would like to modify and the appropriate fees at the following address:
California Department of Public Health
Office of Vital Records - MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410 -
How long does it take to get a birth certificate in Contra Costa County?
Getting a government-issued copy of a birth certificate in the County of Contra Costa usually takes 6-weeks to process. Unfortunately, rush service is not available at this time.
The surefire way to get a certified copy of a Contra Costa County birth certificate issued directly is to have our experts revise your application before you mail it —or submit it in person. That way, you can be certain it is error-free and your request won't be rejected.
Typos or inconsistencies in the data may cause unnecessary delays or setbacks.
Our team can help you avoid the extra hassle so that the vital records office can send your Contra Costa County birth certificate directly to your door on the first try.
