To order a birth certificate you will need:

• Name of the child at birth
• Date of birth
• City of birth
• The mother's maiden last name

$34.00 must be paid for each copy of birth certificate and a single $2.00 convenience fee per online order.

Online order accepts Visa and MasterCard.

Note: Newborn certificates are available approximately 4 weeks after the birth date. Certificates for births prior to 1880 are not available.

Alameda County can only issue birth certificates for children born in Alameda County. Please visit the website of the county where the birth occurred. Below is a listing of Bay Area county vital records websites:

• Contra Costa
• Marin
• Napa
• San Francisco
• San Mateo
• Santa Clara
• Solano
• Sonoma

Informational copy will have a legend across the face of the document with the statement above.
Click on What's the difference for more details.

ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WITH INFORMATIONAL COPY?
YES       NO

Birth certificates processed by the City of Berkeley are not received by this office until approximately 2 months after the birth date. Contact the Berkeley Health Department to obtain a copy of the certificate.

Unrestricted
An unrestricted birth certificate can be used to establish your identity. Persons requesting unrestricted certified copies of birth certificates must sign a statement, under penalty of perjury, that they are authorized to receive such a copy.
(Examples of agencies requiring Unrestricted: DMV, Social Securities, Passport agencies)

Who can be an authorized requestor?

• The registrant (person listed on the certificate) or a parent or legal guardian of the registrant. (Legal guardian must provide documentation.)
• A party entitled to receive the record as a result of a court order, or an attorney or a licensed adoption agency seeking the birth record in order to comply with the requirements of Section 3140 or 7603 of the California Family Code. (Please include a copy of the court order.)
• A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business. (Photo identification or a request on the agency's letter head.)
• A child, grandparent, grandchild, brother or sister, spouse, or domestic partner of the registrant.
• An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant's estate, or any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the registrant or the registrant's estate. (Please include supporting documentation.)
• Appointed rights in a power of attorney, or an executor of the registrant's estate. (Please include a copy of the power of attorney and/or supporting documentation identifying you as executor.)

Informational
If you cannot obtain an unrestricted copy under California law, you can obtain an informational copy. An informational copy contains the same information as an unrestricted copy, but will have a legend across the face with the statement, "Informational. Not a valid document to establish identity". It is intended only as an informational document and cannot be used for identity purposes.

To learn more about the state law and who is an authorized requestor, click here.

Orders placed by mail are being processed approximately 2-3 weeks from the date that we receive them. Once processed, delivery may take up to 7 days.

1. Print and complete the Written Application.
2. Have the written application notarized
   Note: International requests for unrestricted copies must be notarized at a United States Embassy.
3. Mail application and your fee payment to this address:
   
   Alameda County Clerk-Recorder's Office
   1106 Madison Street
   Oakland, CA 94607
   
   You may find vital record fees here. You may pay by check (personal, company, bank, or cashiers), money order or traveler's checks. Out of country payments must be made in U.S. dollars. Credit cards are not accepted for mail orders.

Please bring a legal photo ID

1. Come to the Clerk-Recorder's Office at 1106 Madison Street, Oakland, CA or at 7600 Dublin Boulevard, Suite 160 Dublin, CA
   Directions and Office Hours
2. You will be asked to complete a written application (Unrestricted certificates will require you to sign application stating that you are an authorized requestor).
3. Our office staff will attempt to locate the birth certificate you have requested. Please note the following:
   • The fee for any search of the birth files and records is $34.00 and shall be paid in advance by the applicant regardless of whether the certificate is found or not. You may pay by cash, debit/ATM, check (personal, company, bank, cashier's or traveler's) or money order.
   • Certificates from 1880 to 1939 will take up to 3 business days to complete. Certificates from 1940 to present can be completed the same day in most cases.
   • Some certificates may not be found in this office's files. In such a case, a research request must be sent to the State and completion of the order may take as long as 2 months.
   • Sometimes, a certificate may not be found in our records or the State's records. In such a case, a Certificate of No Record will be issued.