Access Compton Birth Records

Birth records for Compton residents are maintained by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Compton is a city of about 97,000 people in the south central area of Los Angeles County. The city is located between Los Angeles and Long Beach. When you need a birth certificate for someone born in Compton, you must go through the LA County office. The county handles all vital records for births that occurred anywhere within its boundaries, which makes it the largest vital records operation in California.

Where Compton Residents Get Birth Certificates

Compton does not have its own vital records office. Like all LA County cities, residents must contact the county for birth certificates. The good news is that the main LA County Registrar-Recorder office is just a few miles away in Norwalk. This makes it convenient for most Compton residents to visit in person.

The Norwalk office serves as the headquarters for all LA County vital records. It handles requests from across the county. Staff can look up any birth that occurred within LA County boundaries. The office is on Imperial Highway with plenty of parking.

Here is the LA County office contact info:

• Address: 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650
• Phone: (562) 462-2137
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM
• Website: lavote.gov/home/county-clerk/vital-records

The fee is $34 per certified copy of a birth certificate. This rate applies to all LA County requests. Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted at the counter. Mail orders require a check or money order.

How to Get a Compton Birth Certificate

There are several ways to get a birth certificate for someone born in Compton. Each option has different time frames and steps.

In person visits are the fastest method. Drive to the LA County office in Norwalk with your photo ID. Fill out the vital records request form at the counter. Staff search their system while you wait. If the record is found and you qualify, you can leave with your certified copy that day. The visit usually takes 30 minutes to an hour. Busy periods may extend your wait.

Mail requests work well when you cannot visit in person. Download the birth certificate application from the LA County website. Complete all fields with the birth details. Include a copy of your photo ID and payment by check or money order. Mail everything to the Norwalk office. Processing takes about 4 to 6 weeks. Add time for postal delivery both directions.

Online ordering is available through approved third party services. These websites let you submit your request and pay by credit card. They process the order with the county. The cost is higher because vendors add service fees. Expect to pay around $45 to $55 total. Certificates ship in 2 to 4 weeks through online vendors.

Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital in Willowbrook near Compton serves local residents. Births there are filed with LA County automatically. The hospital handles all birth registration paperwork.

Who Can Get Compton Birth Records

California law restricts who can receive certified birth certificates. These rules apply to all Compton birth records held by LA County.

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

Attorneys representing the person or their estate have access. Government agencies and law enforcement can get records for official work. Courts may order records released in legal cases. Anyone else falls outside the approved group.

People not approved can still request a copy. They receive an informational version. This type has words printed on it saying it is not valid as identification. The birth data is the same. You cannot use it for things like passport applications. Genealogy researchers often get informational copies for family tree work.

You must prove your identity for any request. Show a valid government issued photo ID at the counter. Mail requests require a copy of your ID with the application. The form includes a sworn statement about your relationship to the person named.

South Los Angeles Area Resources

Compton is part of the South Los Angeles region. The area includes several cities that all use LA County for vital records. Understanding this helps when tracking down birth records for people with ties to the region.

Long Beach is nearby and is one of the few California cities that issues its own birth certificates for births at Long Beach hospitals. If a birth occurred in Long Beach, you may need to contact that city's health department instead of LA County. Check where the birth actually took place before ordering.

Legal aid organizations serve low income residents of the LA area. Neighborhood Legal Services and other groups may be able to help if you face barriers getting vital records. Contact them if you need assistance navigating the process.

Compton Birth Certificate Processing Times

Processing time varies depending on how you order. Plan ahead based on when you need the document.

Counter service at the Norwalk office is same day in most cases. Visits typically take 30 minutes to an hour. Staff search the computer system for your record. Once found, printing and certification takes just a few minutes. Wait times depend on how busy the office is.

Mail orders take 4 to 6 weeks at the county. This is just processing time. Add time for postal transit both ways. Most people receive their certificate 6 to 8 weeks after mailing the request. Make sure your application is complete to avoid delays.

Online orders through vendors ship in 2 to 4 weeks. Some services offer rush options for extra fees. Shipping method affects final delivery time. Standard mail takes several additional days. Express shipping costs more but arrives faster.

New birth records are not ready immediately. Wait at least 6 weeks after a birth before ordering. Hospitals have 21 days to file paperwork. County processing adds more time. Ordering too soon results in a no record found response.

Historical Compton Birth Records

Compton was incorporated in 1888, making it one of the older cities in LA County. Birth records from the area go back to the early years of the city. LA County has records on file going back many decades.

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

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

Nearby Cities for Birth Records

Other LA County cities use the same county system for birth records. Long Beach has its own vital records office for some births.

Long Beach issues its own birth certificates for births at Long Beach hospitals. If you need a record from Long Beach, check our Long Beach page for that city's process.

Los Angeles County Birth Records

For complete details on LA County vital records, including all branch offices and full procedures, see our county page.