California Vital Records

These federal and national sources complement California's state-level records. They are the authoritative sources you should cross-check when California state records are incomplete or out-of-state activity matters.

CDC, Where to Write for Vital Records
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains the official national directory of every state's vital records office. Use this to confirm the correct agency, mailing address, and current fee for the state where the event occurred.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm (cdc.gov) NCHS / National Vital Statistics System
The National Center for Health Statistics collects aggregate vital statistics from all 57 U.S. jurisdictions but does not itself issue individual certificates.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/index.htm (cdc.gov) California Vital Records — CDPH
Official California vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce) are issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) — Vital Records.
California Vital Records (official: cdph.ca.gov) (cdph.ca.gov) SSA, Form SS-5 (Social Security Number Application)
If you need a vital record to replace a Social Security card or establish proof of age, the SSA accepts birth certificates and several secondary documents listed on Form SS-5.
https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf (ssa.gov)  Frequently Asked Questions California Vital Records Search, FAQ  Last reviewed: April 2026  Updated: April 2026