Find Antioch Birth Records

Birth records for Antioch residents are maintained by the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder office. Antioch is the second largest city in Contra Costa County with about 115,000 people. The city sits along the San Joaquin River in the East Bay region. When you need a birth certificate for someone born in Antioch, you must request it through the county office in Martinez, which is the county seat. The county keeps all vital records for births that happened anywhere within its borders.

Where Antioch Residents Get Birth Certificates

Antioch does not have its own vital records office. Like almost all California cities, birth certificates come from the county. For Antioch residents, that means the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder in Martinez. The office is about 15 miles from downtown Antioch, roughly a 20 to 30 minute drive depending on traffic.

The Martinez office serves as the central location for all Contra Costa County vital records. Staff there can look up any birth that happened in the county. They also have records that go back many decades. The office is in the historic county administration building downtown.

Here is the contact info for the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder:

• Address: 555 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA 94553
• Phone: (925) 335-7900
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM
• Website: contracosta.ca.gov/164/Clerk-Recorder

The county charges at least $36 for a certified copy of a birth certificate. Some online services may add extra fees for processing. Payment by cash, check, or credit card is accepted at the counter. Mail orders require a check or money order.

How to Get an Antioch Birth Certificate

Getting a birth certificate for someone born in Antioch involves going through Contra Costa County. You have several options for how to place your request. Each one has different time frames and costs.

Walking into the Martinez office is the quickest way to get a copy. Bring your photo ID. Fill out the request form they give you. Staff will search their system while you wait. If the record is found and you qualify, you can leave with your certified copy that same day. Plan to spend 20 to 45 minutes there. The office can get busy, especially on Mondays and right after holidays.

Mail requests are convenient if you cannot make the trip to Martinez. Download the vital records request form from the county website. Complete it with all the info about the birth you are looking for. Include a photocopy of your ID and your payment. Send it all to the Clerk-Recorder office. Processing takes 3 to 5 weeks once they receive your materials. Add time for mail both ways.

Online ordering through third party vendors is another path. These services let you fill out a form on the web and pay by card. They handle the request on your behalf. Expect to pay more than the base county fee when you use these services. Processing and shipping usually takes 2 to 4 weeks.

For people born recently in Antioch, keep in mind that new birth records take time to enter the system. California law allows 21 days for the hospital to file the paperwork. Then the county needs time to process it. Wait about 6 weeks after a birth before ordering.

Who Can Get Antioch Birth Records

California restricts who can receive a certified copy of a birth certificate. These rules apply to all Antioch birth records held by Contra Costa County.

The person named on the certificate can always get their own record. Parents and legal guardians can request copies for their minor children. Adult children can get their parents' records. Other close family members like grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings are on the approved list. Spouses and registered domestic partners qualify too.

Legal representatives also have access. This includes attorneys representing the person or their estate. Court appointed representatives can request copies for their cases. Government agencies and law enforcement can get records for official purposes. Anyone else falls outside the approved group.

People not on the approved list can still request a copy. They will receive an informational version. This copy has a statement printed on it saying it is not valid for ID purposes. The information on it is the same. It just cannot be used for things like getting a passport or proving identity. Genealogists and researchers often get informational copies.

East Contra Costa County Resources

Antioch is part of the East County area of Contra Costa. While vital records are handled in Martinez, other services are available closer to home. The county has a satellite office in Pittsburg that handles some clerk services, though not all vital records functions.

Residents looking for help with vital records paperwork can also check with local notary services. Several businesses in Antioch offer notary services that may be needed for mail-in birth certificate requests. Notarization is sometimes required when someone other than the person named is making the request.

Legal aid organizations in Contra Costa County can help low income residents who need birth certificates but face challenges getting them. Bay Area Legal Aid serves the region and may be able to help with identity document issues.

Antioch Birth Certificate Processing Times

The time to get your birth certificate varies by method. Counter service is fastest. Mail takes longest. Here is what to expect.

In person requests at the Martinez office are typically done in under an hour. Most people wait 15 to 30 minutes. When the office is busy, it can stretch to an hour. Arriving right when they open at 8 AM often means shorter waits.

Mail orders take 3 to 5 weeks at the county level. This is just processing time. Add a week for your materials to reach Martinez and another week for the certificate to come back to you. Total time is usually 5 to 7 weeks from when you mail your request.

Online orders through approved vendors typically arrive in 2 to 4 weeks. Some services offer rush options for extra fees. Standard shipping is usually included in the quoted price. Faster shipping costs more.

Historical Birth Records in Antioch

Antioch has a long history dating back to the 1850s. It was one of the earliest settlements in the East Bay. Birth records from this area go back many decades in the Contra Costa County system.

For births before July 1905, the county is the only source. California did not start statewide vital records until that date. Very early Antioch birth records may be incomplete or stored in archives. Contact the Clerk-Recorder for help with historical record searches.

Records more than 75 years old become public under California law. Anyone can request copies without proving a family relationship. The California State Archives may also have some historical Contra Costa County records. Call them at (916) 653-6814 for research help.

Nearby Cities for Birth Records

Other East Bay cities are served by nearby county offices. If a birth took place in a different city, check which county handles those records.

Vallejo and Fairfield are in Solano County. Richmond is also in Contra Costa County like Antioch. If you are unsure where a birth occurred, the state health department can search their statewide index for births since 1905.

Contra Costa County Birth Records

For full details on Contra Costa County vital records, including forms and complete procedures, see our main county page.