How to Obtain a Certified Copy of 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

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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) – if applying for an Authorized Certified Copy
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. Stamped, self-addressed envelope (business size or manila envelope)
5. Mail all items to:

         County of Orange Health Care Agency
         Office of Vital Records
         200 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Suite 100-B
         Santa Ana, CA 92701

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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 – if applying for an Authorized Certified Copy
   1. If identity cannot be electronically verified, a Notarized Sworn Statement will be required
4. Pay fees by credit/debit card or electronic check
5. Certificate fee ($32 each for birth certificates or $24 each for death certificates)
   1. VitalChek online processing fee $12.95
   2. Shipping fee ($1 for regular mail or $19 for UPS priority shipping)

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