Have a question? Need assistance? Use our online form to ask a librarian for help.
Based on the date of the vital event (birth, death, marriage, divorce), determine whether you are seeking a state, territory, county, or parish level record. If the record you are seeking has been digitized, you can access it online, through the projects described below. If it has not been digitized or if you need a certified copy, contact the appropriate state or county office to view the record.
| Birth Records |
Note: California is a closed adoption state. All parties involved in the adoption must give consent for records to be viewed or copies made. |
|---|---|
| Death Records |
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| Marriage Records |
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| Divorce Records |
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The subscription resources marked with a padlock 
are available to researchers on-site at the Library of Congress. If you are unable to visit the Library, you may be able to access these resources through your local public or academic library.
Using Ancestry Library Edition for California
Begin your search through Ancestry's vast collections, by viewing the list designated as California Records External.
Using FamilySearch for California
FamilySearch provides useful state and county wikis that make excellent starting points for research. The California Wiki External includes links to each of its counties.
FamilySearch has digitized many of its microfilms containing county courthouse records. Not all records have been indexed yet, so search engine results may NOT show you the full range of FamilySearch data. You must browse the FamilySearch catalog External listings for each county to view the full set of records available. The vast amount of accessible original records is well worth your time to explore.
There is no fee to use FamilySearch, but you must create a free, personal account to access the databases and digital records.
Contact the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records to learn more about accessing state-level records and explore additional options for obtaining copies.
Though California is a closed adoption state, adoptees and their family members can file a request to see adoption records.
California Department of Social Services
Adoptions Support Unit
744 P Street, MS 8-12-521
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-8089
[email protected]
Below are selected print publications for statewide vital records. The following titles link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to additional online content are included when available.
To locate additional published materials, go to the Print Resources section of this guide for search tips on locating published county courthouse records, abstracts, and indexes that may aide you in locating original records at the county level.
Guide to public vital statistics records in California by 
