Monterey County (CA) Birth Certificate Online

How to Get a Certified Birth Certificate in Monterey County

Getting a government-issued birth certificate in Monterey County, California is a straightforward process that can be completed with little to no hassle.

To order an authorized full copy of a Monterey County (CA) birth certificate, just fill out the Monterey County birth certificate application (available by clicking the button on this page) with the required information, have it notarized, and mail it to the State of California Vital Records Office with the necessary requirements and payment.

Include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the Monterey County birth certificate copy can be sent to you once it is issued.

California Department of Public Health
Vital Records - MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA

The easiest way to obtain an Monterey County birth certificate copy is to post your request to the California State Office.

Alternatively, Monterey County Birth and Death Certificates orders may also be submitted by mailing your application package to the Monterey County Clerk or the Department of Public Health depending on the year the event was recorded, as explained below.

Please note that the Monterey County Clerk can only issue birth certificates for individuals born in Monterey County more than 3 years ago and back to 1906.

Monterey County Clerk address:

168 W Alisal St # 1
Salinas, CA 93901

To obtain an Monterey County birth certificate of toddlers that are currently less than 3 years old, applicants should submit their application at the Department of Public Health instead.

Citizens of Monterey County who prefer to submit their birth certificate application in person, may do so at the following address during walk-in hours —although this usually entails waiting in line.

Birth certificate copy required information

To get a certified copy of a Monterey County, California birth certificate, you will need to complete the online birth certificate application with the following personal data:

• The full name as stated on the birth certificate
• The mother's full maiden name
• The date and place of birth

Required documents for a Monterey County birth certificate

Citizens applying for a long-form certified copy of a Monterey County birth certificate need to prove their identity and sign the application form in the presence of a notary public as well as provide a sworn statement.

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

Who is eligible to apply

The following applicants are required to comply with the conditions or additional documentation detailed below alongside the Monterey County birth certificate application. This depends on the relationship between the applicant and the certificate holder.

If you are the certificate bearer or a parent of the certificate bearer, you must:

• Provide documentation that proves your identity
• Be over the age of 18 years old

Legal guardians must provide documentation to prove they have been appointed as a legal guardian of the certificate bearer. This is done by presenting a copy of the guardianship document or court order.

A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of the birth certificate holder must present an identification document.

A third party such as an attorney at law or representative of a licensed adoption agency entitled to receive the birth certificate as a result of a court order must provide a copy of the court order when applying for the birth record.

Law enforcement or other government representatives who need the birth record as part of their official business will have to provide photo identification or a request printed on the agency's letterhead.

Please note that the documentation that must be presented alongside the San Francisco birth certificate application may vary depending on the person requesting the vital record (see detailed information above).

How to Request an Apostille for an Monterey County Birth Certificate

Citizens born in Monterey County, CA who need to present their birth certificate outside the territory of the United States need to make sure their document bears an apostille to grant it legal validity abroad.

This can be done by following these simple steps:

1. Order a certified copy of the Monterey County, California birth certificate
2. Include the certified copy of the Monterey County birth certificate, a cover sheet stating the country in which the document will be used, a self-addressed envelope with pre-paid postage and submit the complete package to the California Secretary of State's office with the required apostille fee for authentication
3. You may request the apostille by mail at the Sacramento office, or in person at the Sacramento office or the Los Angeles office

California Authentications Unit street address:

Mail documents via United States Postal Service to:

Notary Public Section
P.O. Box 942877
Sacramento, CA 94277–0001

SF birth certificate apostille requests being mailed via any other service (e.g. FedEx, UPS, DHL) can be sent to the following street address:

Authentications Unit
Notary Public Section
1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor

Sacramento, CA 95814

California Authentications unit walk-in service address in Sacramento:

Secretary of State (Sacramento)
1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

California Authentications unit walk-in service address in Los Angeles:

Secretary of State (Los Angeles)
300 South Spring Street, Room 12513
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Monterey County Birth Certificate Cost

When ordering a copy of a birth certificate in Monterey County, California (CA), it is necessary to pay the appropriate search fee.

The search fee of each copy of a birth certificate in Monterey County, California is of $29. The same fee applies regardless of whether the Monterey County birth certificate application is sent to the county office or the state office.

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 Monterey County birth certificate ordered within a single form carry a cost of $29.

Monterey County Birth Certificate Processing Times

Once you have mailed the complete Monterey County birth certificate application package, along with the requirements detailed above and the necessary fees, the vital records office will process your request.

In most cases, your Monterey County birth certificate order will be filled within 12-14 weeks. However, some vital records may take longer due to peak demand periods.

You will then receive your certified copy of the Monterey County, California CA birth certificate by post, delivered right to your door.

Unfortunately, rush orders are not available for Monterey County vital records. Therefore, it is advisable to request a copy of your birth certificate ahead of time so as to avoid delays.

This is especially important when you need to present your Monterey County birth certificate for a procedure that has a strict deadline, such as school enrollment, retirement planning, or having a passport issued in time for a trip abroad.

Monterey County citizens in urgent need of a certified copy of a birth certificate may print out their completed application package and submit it in person during opening hours. Make sure to have the required documents and fee at hand and to sign the form in the presence of the clerk upon arrival at the Monterey County Clerk’s office.

Although this usually requires arriving and turning in your application before 3:55 PM after waiting in line for hours, it may result in same-day delivery if the applicant visits the office where the birth was originally recorded.