California law Health & Safety Code Section 103526, defines individuals who can obtain an authorized copy of a birth, death, and marriage certificate as:

• The registrant or a parent, legal guardian, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of the registrant.

• A party entitled to receive the record as a result of court order or an attorney or licensed adoption agency seeking the birth record in order to comply with the requirements of Section 3140 or 7603 of the 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. (Companies representing a government agency must provide authorization from the government agency.

• Any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the registrant or the registrant's estate (Include a copy of the power of attorney or documentation identifying you as executor.)

• An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant's estate.

• Any agent or employee of a funeral establishment who acts within the course and scope of employment and on behalf of persons specified in HSC § 7100 (a) (1)-(8).

• Surviving next of kin (As specified in HSC § 7100).

If you cannot obtain an authorized copy under California law, you can obtain an informational copy. An informational copy contains the same information as an authorized copy, but will have a legend across the face with the statement "Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity."  Certain items may be redacted and an informational copy may not be used to obtain identification. However, authorized and informational copies are both considered "certified copies.”

Birth records are available 21 days after the date of event. You may request a copy from either the county of birth or from the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR). CDPH-VR issues vital records for all of California where as counties can only issue records for events that occurred in that county.

• County Clerk: Birth records for all years are available from the County Clerk Department in the county where the event occurred.
• California Department of Public Health (CDPH): Birth records for all California Counties.
• Local Registrar: Birth records for current year events and one year prior are available from the county health department in the jurisdiction where the event occurred. These copies will require authentication of the Health Officer and do not have the County seal.

There are two types of certified copies available upon request:

1. Certified Copy (authorized persons only)

A certified copy can be used to establish the identity of the person named on the certificate. If you are requesting a certified copy, you MUST provide a notarized sworn statement (see page 5 of application) declaring under penalty of perjury that you are authorized by law to receive the certified copy (see application for list of authorized individuals). If you are requesting a certified copy and a notarized sworn statement is not included, the application will not be accepted and your request will not be processed.

Note: Only one sworn statement is required for multiple records that are requested at the same time – however, the sworn statement must include the name of each person whose record is being requested and your relationship to that person.

2. Certified Informational Copy (any interested person)

If you are requesting a certified informational copy, you DO NOT need to provide a sworn statement. A certified informational copy has a legend printed on the face of the document that states, “INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY.” Persons who are not eligible to receive a certified copy can receive a certified informational copy. Both types of documents are certified copies of the original document on file. Depending on the exact year of event, some certified informational copies will have signatures and Social Security numbers redacted (concealed).

Death records are available 2 weeks after the date of event. You may request a copy from either the county of birth or from the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR). CDPH-VR issues vital records for all of California where as counties can only issue records for events that occurred in that county.

• County Clerk: Death records for all years are available from the County Clerk Department in the county where the event occurred.
• California Department of Public Health (CDPH): Death records for all California Counties.
• Local Registrar: Death records for current year events and one year prior are available from the county health department in the jurisdiction where the event occurred. These copies will require authentication of the Health Officer and do not have the County seal.

There are two types of certified copies available upon request:

1. Certified Copy (authorized persons only)

A certified copy can be used to establish the identity of the person named on the certificate. If you are requesting a certified copy, you MUST provide a notarized sworn statement (see page 5 of application) declaring under penalty of perjury that you are authorized by law to receive the certified copy (see application for list of authorized individuals). If you are requesting a certified copy and a notarized sworn statement is not included, the application will not be accepted and your request will not be processed.

Note: Only one sworn statement is required for multiple records that are requested at the same time – however, the sworn statement must include the name of each person whose record is being requested and your relationship to that person.

2. Certified Informational Copy (any interested person)

If you are requesting a certified informational copy, you DO NOT need to provide a sworn statement. A certified informational copy has a legend printed on the face of the document that states, “INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY.” Persons who are not eligible to receive a certified copy can receive a certified informational copy. Both types of documents are certified copies of the original document on file. Depending on the exact year of event, some certified informational copies will have signatures and Social Security numbers redacted (concealed).

The County Clerk's Department certifies the authenticity of the signature of the current County Public Health Officer on birth and death certificates to allow customers to submit the certificate directly to the Secretary of State for an Apostille. The County Public Health Officer's signature appears on birth and death certificates that are issued by the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA). Prior to requesting an Apostille using an HHSA vital record, you will need to request a signature authentication from the Clerk's Department. Alternatively, you can use a vital record from the Clerk's Department without the requirement of the Health Officer Authentication for an Apostille.

Public Health Officer signature authentications can also be applied to the "Application for Disposition of Human Remains" and "Certificate of No Communicable Disease."

Marriage certificates are typically available 7 days after the license has been returned. You may request a copy from the Clerk's Department or the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR). CDPH-VR issues vital records for all of California where as counties can only issue records for events that occurred in that county.

• County Clerk: Marriage records for all years are available from the County Clerk Department in the county where the license was purchased.
• California Department of Public Health (CDPH): Marriage records for all California Counties.

There are two types of certified copies available upon request:

1. Certified Copy (authorized persons only)

A certified copy can be used to establish the identity of the person named on the certificate. If you are requesting a certified copy, you MUST provide a notarized sworn statement (see page 5 of application) declaring under penalty of perjury that you are authorized by law to receive the certified copy (see application for list of authorized individuals). If you are requesting a certified copy and a notarized sworn statement is not included, the application will not be accepted and your request will not be processed.

Note: Only one sworn statement is required for multiple records that are requested at the same time – however, the sworn statement must include the name of each person whose record is being requested and your relationship to that person.

2. Certified Informational Copy (any interested person)

If you are requesting a certified informational copy, you DO NOT need to provide a sworn statement. A certified informational copy has a legend printed on the face of the document that states, “INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY.” Persons who are not eligible to receive a certified copy can receive a certified informational copy. Both types of documents are certified copies of the original document on file. Depending on the exact year of event, some certified informational copies will have signatures and Social Security numbers redacted (concealed).

Documentation establishing "No Record of Marriage" on file within the County of San Benito. This letter may be required in some foreign countries to establish that an applicant is free to marry.

How to request a Letter of No Record:

1. Complete the Marriage Certificate request form.
2. The cost of a Marriage Certificate will be charged for a Letter of No Record.
3. Mail or bring completed request to:  

San Benito County Clerk-Recorder
1601 Lana Way
Hollister, CA  95023

If you are a victim of a natural disaster, you may be eligible to receive free copies of your vital records to replace those lost during said disaster.

Please contact our office for assistance in obtaining the correct applications for such requests.

Amendments and corrections to birth, death, and marriage vital records are processed by the State Registrar, California Department of Public Health (CDPH.) The State Registrar corrects errors or adds information to original documents.  Typically, certified copies of amended certificates are requested at the same time the amendment is submitted, and the applicant receives a certified copy once the amendment is completed. 

• If you did not order a certified copy when you submitted the amendment, and you submit a separate request for a certified copy before the amendment has been completed, you will receive a copy of the original (un-amended) record.

• If you know that the record is being amended, and it is the amended record that you want, please wait until the amendment has been completed before requesting a certified copy.

Please refer to their website to find out more about the process, including what form to use, required supporting documentation for the request change, how to submit a request, and other frequently asked questions. The Clerk Department cannot assist the public by filling out the applications for them. Please contact the CDPH directly by calling (916) 445-2684 or by visiting the California Department of Public Health website. 

Note: Confidential marriage records are the only amendment that can be processed through the San Benito County Clerk's Department, only if the marriage license was issued by San Benito County. 

The California Secretary of State provides an Apostille to authenticate California public officials' signatures on documents to be used outside the United States of America.

Information on how to obtain an Apostille can be found on the California Secretary of State's website.