Sonoma County (CA) Birth Certificate Online

How to Obtain a Sonoma County, California Birth Certificate

Getting a government-issued birth certificate in Sonoma County, California is a straightforward process that can be completed with little to no hassle. In fact, a Sonoma County birth certificate can be obtained without having to visit a vital records office nor wait in line.

You can order an authorized copy of a Sonoma County (CA) birth certificate for yourself or on behalf of a third person, as long as you are qualified to do so see eligibility information above

To obtain a copy of an Sonoma County birth certificate online:

1. Fill out and print the California birth certificate application (available by clicking the button on this page). Then, sign the sworn statement in the presence of a notary public
2. Include a photocopy of the applicant’s valid identification documents (detailed list below), a self-addressed stamped envelope, and the required payment
3. Mail the aboveto the California Vital Records Office

You will receive the Sonoma County birth certificate at your home address, once it is processed and issued by the vital statistics office.

Copies of Sonoma County birth certificates may be ordered by posting your application package to the following mailing address:

Sonoma County Vital Statistics
415 Humboldt St,
Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Individuals in need of an urgent copy of a Sonoma County birth certificate may print and sign their Sonoma County birth certificate application after filling it out online and submit it in person with the necessary requirements.

Walk-in service means the applicant has to visit the Vital Registration counter early during office hours and wait in line. However, if the record is found on file at the same office, it may result in same-day issuance of the Sonoma County, CA birth certificate.

Please note that fees may vary between the state vital records office and the county vital records office, so make sure to inquire about the exact search cost once you arrive.

Furthermore, the county office at which you submit the birth certificate order depends on the age of the certificate bearer.

The simplest is to post your request to the California state vital records office.

However, should you prefer to send it to the Sonoma County office, here are the necessary addresses.

For birth certificates of babies born within the last 2 years, file your request at:

Sonoma County Vital Statistics
415 Humboldt St,
Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Sonoma County birth certificate requests for births recorded more than 2 years ago may be submitted at:

County Clerk-Recorder Office
585 Fiscal Drive Room 103
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Sonoma County Birth Certificate Copy Required Information

To get a copy of a Sonoma County, California birth certificate, you will need to fill out the online birth certificate application with the following personal details, as stated on the birth record:

• The full names of the certificate holder’s mother and father
• The certificate holder's full name
• Date and place of birth

Required documents for a certified copy of a Sonoma County birth certificate

Citizens applying for a certified copy of a Sonoma County birth certificate need to prove their identity with an unexpired identification document. Applicants also need to complete and sign the sworn statement on the application form in the presence of a notary public.

Applicants can show any of the following government-issued identification documents as proof of identity:

• Driver’s license issued by California state
• School ID
• Voter Registration Card
• U.S. Military card
• U.S. passport, card or card issued by a foreign embassy or consulate
• Native American tribal document with photograph
• U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner card

How to Request an Apostille for a Sonoma County Birth Certificate

Sonoma County, CA citizens who need to use their birth certificate abroad for official business need to make sure their vital record bears an apostille to grant it legal validity outside the US territory.

To get an apostille for a Sonoma County birth certificate:

1. Order a certified copy of the Sonoma County, California birth certificate
2. Prepare a cover sheet stating the country in which the document will be utilized, as well as a self-addressed envelope with pre-paid postage
3. Upon receiving the certified copy of the Sonoma County, CA birth certificate, mail the complete document to the California Secretary of State's office with the required apostille fee for authentication

California Authentications Unit street address:

California Secretary of State
Authentications Unit
Notary Public Section
1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor

Sacramento, CA 95814

California Authentications unit PO BOX:

Notary Public Section
P.O. Box 942877
Sacramento, CA 94277–0001

Birth Certificate Cost in Sonoma County, California

When ordering a copy of a birth certificate in Sonoma County, California, (CA) it is necessary to pay the appropriate search fee.

The following payment methods are available when mailing your Sonoma County birth certificate application:

• Personal check
• Money order
• Cashier check
• Business check

Sonoma County birth certificate applications processed in the California state vital records office carry a $29 fee.

Applications submitted by post or handed in person at the Sonoma County Clerk’s Office carry a $32 fee.

Please note that the fee varies depending on whether you submit your Sonoma County birth certificate application at the California State or the Sonoma County office.

Applicants submitting their request in person also have the option of paying the fee in cash or by credit/debit card.

It is advisable to order extra copies using the same birth certificate application form. Additional copies can be kept on file ready for future use. Duplicate copies of the same Sonoma County birth certificate ordered within a single form carry the same cost as the initial copy ordered.

Applicants with an Affidavit of Homeless Status are eligible to obtain a fee exemption for a copy of their Sonoma County, CA birth certificate.

The Sonoma County Recorder —or any other California State Vital Records Office— will issue a certified copy of a birth certificate without a fee to citizens who can verify their status as a homeless person. The Affidavit of Homeless Status for a Fee Exempt Copy of a Birth Certificate must be completed by a Homeless Services Provider.

Sonoma County, California Birth Certificate Processing Times

Once you have mailed the complete Sonoma County birth certificate application package, along with the requirements detailed above and the necessary fees, the vital records office will process your request.

In most cases, your Sonoma County birth certificate order will be filled within 5-7 weeks. However, some vital records may take longer due to peak demand periods.

You will then receive your certified copy of the Sonoma County, California CA birth certificate by post, delivered right to your door.

This is especially important when you need to present your Sonoma County birth certificate for a procedure that has a strict deadline, such as school enrollment, retirement planning, or having a passport issued in time for a trip abroad.

If the record is found on file at the same county office, it may result in same-day issuance of the Sonoma County, CA birth certificate.

California Vital Records Offices

The following is a complete list of Vital Records and Public Health offices that can provide birth certificate copies in California. Keep in mind that the Sonoma County County Clerk’s office may sometimes process requests faster than the state vital records office.

Regardless of whether the birth certificate you require is found or not, a non-refundable search fee will be charged as per California law.

Therefore, unless you are sending your application to the State of California Vital Records Office, it is advisable to submit a Sonoma County birth certificate application at the office where the birth was first recorded, whenever possible. That way, you can be sure that the search will result in the long-form certified birth certificate being issued.

In some cases, applying at a different county office may result in the bureau issuing a short-form birth certificate instead of long-form should they not have the full file on location. In other cases, you may be issued a document stating the birth record was not found.