How to Find California Birth Records

How to Find United States Birth Records California Births

Statewide registration of births began in 1905 in California with general compliance by 1920.

Next Step: When did the birth occur?

Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's birth record:

Births before 1905

Before 1852, no births were recorded by the county or state. You must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place.

Records that give birth information:
Death Records Cemetery Records Newspapers Bible Records	Church Records Census Military Records Tax Records

Return to top: Choose another birth year

Births after 1905

In 1852, Kentucky passed a law requiring counties to record births. This law was repealed in 1862. Registration was again attempted from 1874 to 1879 and sporadically from 1892 to 1910. Delayed records of births before 1911 exist. If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for birth information in other records.

For births that exist during this time period, try the following databases:

Includes Index and Digital Images
Try 1st:
At FamilySearch Centers/Libraries:
	Kentucky Births, 1852-1910	Ancestry Library edition - free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center includes digital images
Use Your Ancestry Subscription:
	Kentucky Births, 1852-1910	Ancestry subscription - $, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry
Next try:
Includes Index Only
	Kentucky, Births, 1839-1960	FamilySearch - Free; incomplete index, no images
Can't find your ancestor in the index?		Tips for searching indexes
No birth record for your ancestor?		Other records with birth information

Obtain the Certificate

With full names, exact dates and places (from your records or the index above) of an event, you can order a copy of the birth certificate for a fee from VitalChek.

Restrictions for persons born within the last 100 years:
To obtain a copy of the birth certificate for those born within the last 100 years, you must be:

The person on the certificate
The parent or grandparent of the person on the certificate
The spouse of the person on the certificate
The child of the person on the certificate
The sibling of the person on the certificate
The legal guardian of the person on the certificate
Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate

NOTE: A copy of the birth certificate cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 100 years have passed from the date of the birth.

If you do not want to order the birth record, there are other records with birth information you can search.