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How to Obtain a Birth or Death Certificate

In-person Ordering

To purchase an Orange County birth or death certificate in person, you will need the following:

  1. Application for Vital Record English or Spanish
    1. If purchasing a certificate in person, do not complete or notarize the second page of application.
  2. A valid government-issued photo identification
    1. I.D. must be for the individual purchasing the record
    2. We do not accept expired identification
  3. Pay fee ($32 each for birth certificates or $24 each for death certificates)
    1. Method of payment accepted for in-person customers:  cash, check, cashier’s check, money order and credit/debit card
  4. Visit us Monday – Friday (excluding holidays) between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at 200 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Suite 100-B, Santa Ana, CA 92701

Mail-in Ordering

To purchase an Orange County birth or death certificate through the mail, you will need the following:

  1. Application for Vital Record English or Spanish
  2. Notarized Sworn Statement (page 2 of application)
  3. Pay fee ($32 each for birth certificates or $24 each for death certificates)
    1. For mail-in orders we accept check, cashier’s check, or money order
    2. Do not send cash
    3. Make checks payable to:  Orange County Health Care Agency or OCHCA.
  4. Include a postage paid, self-addressed envelope
  5. Mail all items to:

         Office of Vital Records
         200 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Suite 100-B
         Santa Ana, CA 92701


Online Ordering

To purchase an Orange County birth or death certificate online please visit VitalChek, a third-party website, at https://www.vitalchek.com/vital-records .

  1. Select Birth or Death Certificate
  2. Complete the online application
  3. Pass electronic identity proofing 
    1. If identity cannot be electronically verified, a Notarized Sworn Statement will be required
  4. Pay fees by credit/debit card or electronic check to include:
    1. Certificate fee ($32 each for birth certificates or $24 each for death certificates)
    2. VitalChek online processing fee $12.95
    3. Shipping fee ($1 for regular mail or $19 for UPS priority shipping)