Processing Times

Requests for Certified Copies

The California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR) estimated processing times for certified copies of vital records are listed below, which may occasionally increase as the volume of requests increases. The processing time begins when CDPH-VR receives your request. County offices can sometimes process requests faster than CDPH-VR.

• Birth certificate
• Death certificate
• Marriage certificate
• Divorce record
• Fetal Death/Still Birth certificate

Requests for Amendments

CDPH-VR processing times for amendments are currently six (6) to eight (8) weeks from the date the request is received.  Times may occasionally increase as the volume of requests increase.   

Amending a California Vital Record:

• Birth
  
• General Birth Amendment
• Court Order Name Change
  
• Correcting a Sex Field Error
  
• Sex Change/Reassignment
  
• Adoption
• Acknowledgement of Paternity/Parentage
• Adjudication of Paternity
• Supplemental Name Report
  
• Death/Fetal Death
  
• Marriage
  

Establishing a California Vital Record:

• Delayed or Court Order Delayed Vital Events
• Delayed Registration of Birth
  
• Court Order Delayed Registration of Birth
  
• Court Order Delayed Registration of Marriage
  
• Court Order Delayed Registration of Death
  
• Court Order Delayed Registration of Fetal Death