Orange County (CA) Birth Certificate Online
Order an Orange County, California (CA) birth certificate online to avoid long lines at the vital records office. Complete an easy form to get a certified copy of an Orange County birth certificate mailed to you.
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.
Orange County, CA Birth Certificate Replacement
Citizens born in the County of Orange are issued a California birth certificate as soon as their birth is officially registered with the OC Clerk/Recorder.
This vital record is an essential legal document that is required when an Orange County citizen wishes to enroll in college or school, obtain government-issued photo identification documents, get married, and more.
If your Orange County, California birth certificate got lost or was stolen,misplaced or destroyed —even partially— you will have to obtain an Orange County birth certificate replacement.
Applying for a government-issued copy of an Orange County, CA vital record can be easily done online, eliminating the need to wait in line at a vital statistics office.
Ordering an Orange County, California birth certificate online is a quick and straightforward procedure. The form takes no more than 10 minutes to complete and we provide personalized instructions to help you complete your OC birth certificate application with ease.
Once your Orange County birth certificate replacement application has been processed, you will receive an official copy of your vital record at home.
Orange County, CA birth certificate types
When ordering a replacement birth certificate in Orange 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 fulfill your needs.
There are 2 different types of birth certificate copies that can be issued in OC, California.
Long-form copy of an Orange County, CA birth certificate
A long-form copy of a birth certificate issued in Orange County is also known as:
- Certified copy of a birth certificate
- Full copy of a birth certificate
- Authorized copy of a birth certificate
- Official copy of a birth certificate
A certified copy of an OC birth certificate can be used to establish a person’s:
- Identity
- Age
- Citizenship
An authorized copy of an Orange 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 OC birth certificate. An informational copy will not be accepted to prove your identity.
A long-form Orange 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 an Orange 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 an OC birth certificate is raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored.
Certified copies of an Orange 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.
If you are not eligible to obtain a certified copy of a birth certificate in Orange County, you may order a redacted, informational copy instead.
Short-form copy of an Orange County, CA birth certificate
An informational copy of an Orange 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 OC birth certificate is available to the general public —you do not need to be a qualified individual to order a copy.
Informational copies of an Orange 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 Orange County, CA
The easiest way to get a government-issued birth certificate copy in Orange County, California is to order the vital record online. The straightforward process can be completed with little to no hassle.
To order an authorized copy of an Orange County County (CA) birth certificate:
- Complete the birth certificate application (available by clicking the button on this page) with the required information
- Print, sign and notarize the application form
- Mail it to the Orange County, California vital records office with a large stamped, self-addressed envelope, and a check to cover the fees
OC Birth and Death Certificates orders may be submitted by mailing your application package to the following addresses, depending on how long ago the certificate bearer was born:
For birth certificates of babies born within the last 30 days, send your request to:
County of Orange Health Care Agency
Office of Vital Records
200 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Suite 100-B
Santa Ana, CA 92701
For all other birth certificate applications, send your order to:
OC Clerk-Recorder
ATTN: Vitals Records
P.O. BOX 238
Santa Ana, CA 92702
OC citizens born in or around Santa Ana, Anaheim, Irvine, Huntington Beach, amongst other locations can send their order for a certified copy of their birth certificate at the Orange County Clerk’s Office.
Applicants are advised to file the Orange County birth certificate application at the vital records office where the birth was recorded, whenever possible. This should ensure that the record is found and the bureau can issue a long-form birth certificate, as long as the applicant is eligible.
Should the birth record not be found, 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.
Citizens of Santa Ana, Anaheim, Laguna Hills, or the rest of Orange County who prefer to file their birth certificate application in person, may do so at the following addresses during walk-in hours —although this usually entails waiting in line:
Orange County Clerk-Recorder Central Office
601 N. Ross St.
Santa Ana, CA 92701
8 am – 4:30 pm
Orange County Clerk-Recorder North County Branch Office
222 S. Harbor Blvd, Ste. 110A
Anaheim, CA 92805
9 am – 4:30 pm
Orange County Clerk-Recorder South County Branch Office
24031 El Toro Rd., Ste. 150 Laguna Hills, CA 92653 9 am – 4:30 pm
Required documents for a certified copy of an Orange County birth certificate
Citizens applying for a certified copy of an Orange 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 an Orange County Birth Certificate
Orange County, CA citizens 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:
- Order a certified copy of the Orange County, California birth certificate
- Include the certified copy of the OC 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
- Upon receiving the certified copy of the Orange, 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:
California Secretary of State
Authentications Unit
Notary Public Section
1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
California Authentications unit PO BOX:
Notary Public Section
P.O. Box 942877
Sacramento, CA 94277–0001
Documents being mailed via any other service (e.g. Fedex, UPS, DHL) can be sent to this address:
Notary Public Section
1500 11th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Mail documents via the United States Postal Service should be sent to:
Notary Public Section
P.O. Box 942877
Sacramento, CA 94277–0001
Orange County Certified Birth Certificate Cost
When ordering a copy of a birth certificate in Orange County, California (CA), it is necessary to pay the appropriate search and issuance fee.
The following payment methods are available when mailing your Orange County birth certificate application:
- Personal check
- Money order
- Cashier check
- Business check
Applicants submitting their request in person also have the option of paying the fees in cash or by credit/debit card.
The filing fee of each copy of a birth certificate in Orange, California is of $25.
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 Orange County birth certificate ordered within a single form carry a cost of $25.
Applicants with an Affidavit of Homeless Status are eligible to obtain a fee exemption for a copy of their OC birth certificate.
As per the Health and Safety Code Section 103577, the local registrar or county recorder shall issue an Orange County 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.
Orange County Birth Certificate Processing Times
Births of children born in hospitals in Orange County are automatically registered and certified copies of OC birth certificates for newborns are usually available 15 days after birth.
Once you have mailed the complete Orange 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 Orange birth certificate order will be filled within 4 weeks. However, some vital records may take longer due to peak demand periods.
You will then receive your certified copy of the Orange, California CA birth certificate by post, delivered right to your door.
Individuals in need of an urgent copy of their Orange County birth certificate may print and sign their OC birth certificate application and submit it in person early during office hours —this usually entails waiting in line but can result in same-day service.
California Vital Records Offices
The following is a complete list of Vital Records and Public Health offices that can provide birth certificate copies in California. Keep in mind that the Orange County Clerk’s office may sometimes process requests faster than the state vital records office.
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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 Orange County (CA) Birth Certificates
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Where can I get a copy of an Orange County, California birth certificate?
The most convenient way to get a certified copy of an Orange County birth certificate is to apply online.
Once you have filled out your Orange County birth certificate application and gathered the necessary documentation, you may post your application package to the following address:
Orange County Clerk’s Office, vital records division:
Orange County Birth Certificates
12 Civic Center Plaza, Room 101
or PO Box 238
Santa Ana, CA 92702-0238The agency will then issue the OC 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 get a birth certificate in Orange, California?
To get a copy of a birth certificate from the Orange County vital statistics office:
- The certificate holder must be a California-born citizen, and the applicant must be eligible
- Complete the Orange online birth certificate application form (available at the button above). Our experts will review your form to ensure it is mistake-free so your document can be issued on the first try
- Once revised, print and sign the affidavit in the presence of a notary public then post the Orange birth certificate application form with the fee and required documents (full list above)
The Orange birth certificate application form can be submitted by mail to avoid waiting in line at the vital records office or in-person during office hours.
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How much does an Orange County birth certificate copy cost?
Each copy of a government-issued Orange County, California birth certificate carries a fee of $25 per copy.
It is advisable to order more than one copy of an Orange County County birth certificate within the same form to keep on file for future use or for your records. Additional copies of a birth certificate requested within the same order form carry a cost of $25 per document.
Homeless individuals are eligible to receive their birth certificate free of charge (see detailed information above).
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How long does it take to get a birth certificate in Orange County?
Getting a government-issued copy of a birth certificate in the County of Orange usually takes 4 weeks to process. Unfortunately, rush service is not available at this time.
The surefire way to get a certified copy of an OC 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 Orange County vital records office can send your birth certificate directly to your door on the first try.
