How to Obtain a Birth or Death Certificate

In-person:

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

1. Completed 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. In-person customers may pay with cash, check, cashier’s check, money order, or credit/debit card
4. Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday (excluding holidays) between 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at 200 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Suite 100-B, Santa Ana, CA 92701 

By Mail

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 requests, 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

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 the 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)