California Free Birth Records Available Online

By Claire Dowell


In terms of population, no other state in the country can top California with its more than 37 million residents. For this reason alone, it is safe to assume that the number of California birth records the state is keeping in its repositories is overwhelmingly huge. At present, getting access to this kind of information is becoming a lot more common and relatively easier with all the services the government is providing.

Every state in the country assigns an agency that is responsible for the proper storage, maintenance and dissemination of these types of documents. In the state of California, the task falls under the jurisdiction of the state's Department of Public Health through its Vital Records section. Birth reports that date back to July 1905 are found in this office, along with other vital accounts for deaths, marriages and divorce information. The agency charges fourteen dollars for each request pertaining to birth reports.

For those who want to access free birth records that are dated before the aforementioned year, visiting or contacting the County Recorder in the county where the person was born would be a logical step. However, if you have no knowledge as to where the subject was born, you may have a dilemma on your hands since there are 58 counties in the state of California. As to the transaction fees and processing time, that will depend on the county as well, since many of these counties are hugely understaffed due to budget cuts.

When it comes to requesting certified copies of California birth records, the applicant has to observe the procedures and requirements that are in place. First off, the requester must complete a request form and sign a sworn statement that has been notarized in order for his or her request to be processed. If the requirements have not been met upon submission, the request will be deemed incomplete and is therefore returned to the applicant without any actions done.

Luckily, when commercial record providers and data search websites began gaining prominence, the public became aware of an alternative option in getting access to vital information. With these types of services now available, individuals who wish to gather information pertaining to vital events no longer have to go through a slew of procedures and requirements. Regardless of your reasons for wanting access, using an online data search service can be quite beneficial.

For many background researchers and genealogists, there is nothing better than a comprehensive free birth records database that you can access anytime and anywhere. By choosing a reputable information service provider, you can have that ability. For a minimal one-time registration fee, you can avail the services offered by many highly regarded data search websites and record providers. And since many of them house a variety of vital information in a single database, you can easily run a search that covers a wide range of preferences. Can you think of a more efficient and practical way to obtain birth reports and other vital statistics data?




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