Clovis Birth Records Lookup

Birth records for Clovis residents are kept by the Fresno County Clerk-Recorder. Clovis is a city of about 120,000 people in the Central Valley, just northeast of Fresno. The city has grown rapidly in recent decades and is known for its schools and family friendly atmosphere. When you need a birth certificate for someone born in Clovis, you must request it from the county office. Fresno County maintains all vital records for births that occurred within its boundaries.

Where Clovis Residents Get Birth Certificates

Clovis does not have its own vital records office. All birth certificates for Clovis residents come from Fresno County. The county office is in downtown Fresno, about 10 miles from central Clovis. The drive takes 15 to 20 minutes under normal traffic conditions.

Fresno County is one of the most populous counties in California and handles a large volume of vital records each year. The Clerk-Recorder office serves the entire county, including all the small towns and rural areas surrounding Fresno and Clovis.

Here is the Fresno County Clerk-Recorder contact info:

• Address: 2281 Tulare Street, Room 303, Fresno, CA 93721
• Phone: (559) 600-3490
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM
• Website: co.fresno.ca.us/departments/county-clerk

The fee is $29 for each certified copy of a birth certificate. This is one of the lower rates in California. Payment options at the counter include cash, check, and credit card. Mail orders require a check or money order payable to Fresno County.

How to Get a Clovis Birth Certificate

Clovis residents have several ways to get birth certificates from Fresno County. Each method works a bit differently.

Going in person gives you the fastest results. Visit the Fresno County office with your photo ID. Fill out the vital records request form at the counter. Staff will search their system while you wait. If they find the record and you qualify for a certified copy, you can leave with it that day. Plan for 30 to 45 minutes at the office. Busy days may take longer.

Mail orders are convenient if you cannot make the trip to Fresno. Download the birth certificate request form from the county website. Fill in all the fields with the birth details. Include a copy of your photo ID and payment by check or money order for $29 per copy. Mail everything to the Clerk-Recorder office. Processing takes about 3 to 5 weeks after receipt. Add time for postal delivery.

Online ordering works through approved third party services. These websites let you submit your request and pay by credit card. They forward your order to the county. The cost is higher because vendors add service fees. Expect to pay around $40 to $50 total through online services. Certificates ship in 2 to 4 weeks.

Clovis Community Medical Center is a major hospital serving the area. Births there are filed with Fresno County automatically. New parents do not need to file any paperwork themselves.

Who Can Get Clovis Birth Records

State law limits who can receive certified copies of California birth certificates. These rules apply to all Clovis birth records in the Fresno County system.

The individual named on the certificate can always request their own record. Parents and legal guardians can get copies for their children. Adult children can request their parents' certificates. Grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings are also approved. Spouses and registered domestic partners can request each other's records.

Legal professionals have access in certain cases. Attorneys representing the subject or their estate can make requests. Government agencies get records for official purposes. Law enforcement can access records for investigations. Courts may order records released for legal proceedings.

Anyone not on the approved list can still request a copy. They receive an informational version rather than certified. This type has a statement on it saying it is not valid for identification. The birth data is identical. You cannot use it for things like passport applications. Family tree researchers often get informational copies.

You must verify your identity when requesting any birth record. Show a valid government photo ID at the counter. Mail requests require a copy of your ID included with the application.

Central Valley Birth Record Services

Clovis is part of the Central Valley region of California. The valley runs through the middle of the state and includes several large agricultural counties. Each county has its own vital records system. Knowing where a birth took place matters for getting the right records.

Fresno County is one of the largest counties in the Central Valley by population. The county includes not just Fresno and Clovis but also many smaller communities and rural areas. All births in these areas are filed with the same county office.

Central California Legal Services provides legal aid to low income residents of the region. They cover Fresno County and surrounding areas. Contact them if you need help with vital records issues or face barriers getting needed documents.

Clovis Birth Certificate Processing Times

How fast you get your birth certificate depends on which method you choose. Plan ahead based on your deadline.

In person requests are usually done the same day. Most visits take 30 to 45 minutes. Staff search the computer system for your record. Once found, printing and certification takes just a few minutes. Wait times vary based on how busy the office is. Arriving early often means shorter waits.

Mail orders take 3 to 5 weeks at the county. Add time for postal transit. Most people receive their certificate 5 to 7 weeks after mailing the request. Incomplete applications cause delays. Double check your form before sending.

Online orders through vendors ship in 2 to 4 weeks typically. Some offer rush processing for extra fees. Shipping method affects delivery time. Standard shipping takes several days. Express options cost more.

New births need time to enter the system. Wait at least 6 weeks after a birth before ordering. Hospitals have 21 days to file the paperwork. County processing adds more time. Ordering too early results in a no record found notice.

Historical Clovis Birth Records

Clovis was founded in 1891 as a railroad town. Birth records from the area go back to the early years of the city. Fresno County has records on file going back many decades.

For births before July 1905, the county is your only option. California did not start statewide vital records until that date. Very early records may be incomplete or stored in archives. Contact the Clerk-Recorder for help finding old records.

Records more than 75 years old are open to the public under state law. Anyone can request copies without proving a family connection. The California State Archives may also have some historical Fresno County records for genealogy research.

Nearby Cities for Birth Records

Other Central Valley cities have their own county offices for birth records. If a birth occurred in a different area, contact that county.

Fresno uses the same county office as Clovis since both cities are in Fresno County. Bakersfield is in Kern County. Modesto is in Stanislaus County. Stockton is in San Joaquin County.

Fresno County Birth Records

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