Search California Birth Index Records 1905-1995

The California Birth Records Index covers records between 1905 and 1995 and contains over 24.5 million births 

About California Birth Index Records, 1905-1995

Information Available In This Collection

The California Birth Records Index will typically contain the following information

• Child's name (names may be truncated at 8 letters)
• Date of Birth
• Gender
• Mother's maiden name (names may be truncated at 8 letters)
• Birth county

However please note not all records will have full information. This is as a result of the original data.

Vital records have been kept by the state registrar since July 1905 however records previous to this date are difficult to come by and are very limited in number. The California Department of Public Health Center for Health Statistics is the state's central repository for vital records occurring after 1905 and maintains many vital records, including birth, marriage, death, fetal death, still birth and divorce records would be obtained from California Department of Public Health Center for Health Statistics 

Issuing certified copies of California birth and death records that are on file from 1905 to the present

Maintaining a central registry of California marriages and divorces

Preparing new certificates for adoptions and changes in paternity information

Correcting and amending vital records as authorized by State law

Issuing certified copies of California fetal death and still birth certificates.

California is what is termed a closed records state which means that the Center for Health Statistics will not distribute a request for an authorized copy of a certificate to the general public - it is often the case that authorized copies of vital records can only be obtained by the individual named on the record, parents of the individual named on the record, and certain other individuals or entities specified in law.  All other requestors can only obtain informational copies.  All copies issued are “certified copies.”

Applications should then be sent to:

California Department of Public Health

Vital Records – MS 5103

P.O. Box 997410

Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

(916) 445-2684