VITAL RECORDS

Delayed Registration of Birth

A Delayed Registration of Birth VS 85 (PDF) form is utilized to register a California birth when:

The birth was not registered within the first year
A certified copy of the original birth certificate is not obtainable
Proper evidence and affidavits supporting the California birth are available (see informational pamphlet for description).

Important Notes:
If the child is under a year old and the birth has not been registered, please contact the local registrar in the district of birth.
If proper evidence and affidavits are not available, a Court Order Delayed Registration of Birth may be required.

For further information please see the informational pamphlet for Delayed Registration of Birth (PDF) and checklist.

Supporting Documents

Delayed Registration of Birth applications must be accompanied by documents that support the birth occurred in California. These supporting documents must show the date the document was established, provide the parent’s name, and the date and place of birth of the child. Acceptable documents include certified or original copies of the following:

Hospital birth records
Baptismal certificate or other church records
School registration or transcripts
Military service records (DD 214 form)
Voter registration cards
Birth certificate of applicant’s child
Marriage certificate of applicant (county or state issued)
Newspaper notice of birth (entire page from newspaper, which includes date published and name of newspaper)

Required documentation is determined as follows:

If only the applicant is signing, two (2) pieces of documentary evidence must be provided, one (1) of which must show parentage
If one of the witnesses to the birth is the physician or other principal attendant, only one piece of documentary evidence is required
If there are two (2) witnesses to the birth signing the affidavit, then one (1) piece of documentary evidence is required

Note: A witness to the birth must have been at least five (5) years of age at the time the birth occurred. If supporting documentation is not available or witnesses to the birth were not at least 5 years of age at the time the birth occurred, then a Court Order Delayed Registration of Birth is required.

Child was born on or after January 1, 1995

If the child was born on or after January 1, 1995, one of the following supporting documents is required to include the name of father/parent not giving birth name on the birth certificate:

Photocopy of parent’s marriage – If the parents are married to each other
Voluntary Declaration of Parentage (DCSS 0909) form – If the parents are not married to each other
Photocopy of parent’s State Registered Domestic Partnership Declaration – If the parents are in a State Registered Domestic Partnership

Sworn Statement

A notarized Sworn Statement is required if a certified authorized copy of the delayed certificate is requested. For explanation of who may receive a certified authorized copy view this link.

Amendment Fees

Delayed Registrations of Birth require a twenty-three dollar ($23) registration fee, which includes a certified copy of the birth certificate
Additional copies are twenty-five dollars ($25) each