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Where to mail your certificate application in California

Mail your completed California certificate application to CA Department of Public Health – Vital Records, PO Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410. This office issues certified copies of birth, death and marriage certificates registered in the state. $29 for a birth certificate, $24 for a death certificate, $17 for a marriage certificate. Send the signed form, any required ID, and payment, and keep proof of mailing if your certificate is for a passport, estate, or other deadline.

Certificate applications — birth, death and marriage certificates

CA Department of Public Health – Vital Records
MS: 5103
PO Box 997410
Sacramento, CA  95899-7410

Use this address for birth, death and marriage certificates for events registered in California.

Verified September 2026cdc.gov

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Mail my certificate application — $5

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  • We print & envelope
  • USPS, next business day
  • Confirmation of Mailing emailed

Your name
Your return address

CA Department of Public Health – Vital RecordsMS: 5103PO Box 997410Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

Your letter, printed and mailed for you.

Key facts

  • California's vital records office issues certificates only for events (births, deaths, marriages) registered in California — apply to the state where the event happened, not the state you live in now.
  • $29 for a birth certificate, $24 for a death certificate, $17 for a marriage certificate.
  • Personal check or money order payable to CDPH Vital Records; certified copies require a notarized sworn statement (included with the application).
  • The sworn statement on the application must be signed under penalty of perjury and notarized for a certified copy.
  • Mailed applications take longer than online orders because processing only starts once the envelope arrives — allow extra time if you need the certificate for a passport, estate, or other deadline.
  • PostPal prints your completed application and mails it to CA Department of Public Health – Vital Records the next business day — no printer, envelope, or trip to the post office.

How to send your letter

  1. 1

    Confirm the event was registered in California

    Certificates come from the state where the birth, death, or marriage was registered. If the event happened in California, CA Department of Public Health – Vital Records is the right office; if it happened elsewhere, apply there instead.

  2. 2

    Fill out and sign the application

    Download the current application from California's vital records website (linked in the sources below), complete it, and sign it. The sworn statement on the application must be signed under penalty of perjury and notarized for a certified copy. Include your payment: Personal check or money order payable to CDPH Vital Records; certified copies require a notarized sworn statement (included with the application).

  3. 3

    Address the envelope to the vital records office

    Mail it to CA Department of Public Health – Vital Records, PO Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410. Put your own return address on the envelope so anything undeliverable comes back to you.

  4. 4

    Send it without leaving home

    Upload your completed application to PostPal with this address prefilled. We print it, add it to a sealed envelope, and deposit it with USPS within one business day for $5 — postage included.

Common questions

Where do I mail my birth certificate application in California?

Mail it to CA Department of Public Health – Vital Records, PO Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410. $29 for a birth certificate, $24 for a death certificate, $17 for a marriage certificate.

Can I mail a vital records application instead of ordering online?

Yes. California accepts certificate applications by mail — send the signed form, any required ID, and payment to CA Department of Public Health – Vital Records. Mail is a common choice when you can't order online or need to include documents the online system won't accept.

What do I need to include when I mail my application?

Include the completed and signed application form, the sworn statement on the application must be signed under penalty of perjury and notarized for a certified copy., and payment: Personal check or money order payable to CDPH Vital Records; certified copies require a notarized sworn statement (included with the application).

How long does a mailed certificate take?

Longer than an online order, because processing only begins when your envelope arrives and the finished certificate is mailed back to you. If you're up against a passport, travel, or estate deadline, mail early and keep proof of the date you sent it.

Can PostPal mail my California vital records application for me?

Yes. Upload your completed, signed application and PostPal prints it and mails it to CA Department of Public Health – Vital Records the next business day for $5, with a dated Confirmation of Mailing emailed to you. You still fill out and sign the form yourself — we handle the printing, envelope, and postage.

Sources

Addresses verified September 2026 against official sources. Always confirm on the official site before time-sensitive filings.

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