Find Fullerton Birth Records
Birth records for Fullerton residents are kept by the Orange County Clerk-Recorder office in Santa Ana. Fullerton does not have its own vital records office, so all birth certificate requests go through the county. The city sits in northern Orange County and has a population of around 140,000 people. Most residents drive about 10 miles south to reach the county office in Santa Ana. You can also order by mail or online if you cannot make the trip in person. The county has birth records going back many decades for anyone born in Fullerton or elsewhere in Orange County.
Fullerton Birth Records Quick Facts
Orange County Clerk-Recorder Office for Fullerton Births
The Orange County Clerk-Recorder handles all birth certificate requests for Fullerton. This is the only place to get official certified copies of birth records. The main office is in Santa Ana at the Old Orange County Courthouse. Fullerton residents can visit during business hours to request copies in person.
Contact details for the Orange County Clerk-Recorder are listed below. Call ahead to check hours and current wait times before making the trip from Fullerton.
- Phone: (714) 834-2500
- Address: 211 West Santa Ana Boulevard, Santa Ana, CA 92701
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
- Website: ocrecorder.com
The fee for a birth certificate copy is $34. This rate applies to all requests from Fullerton and other Orange County cities. Each extra copy costs the same amount. You can pay by cash, check, or card at the counter. Mail orders need a check or money order payable to the Orange County Clerk-Recorder. The office does not accept cash by mail for obvious reasons.
The image shows the state portal where you can also order birth certificates. Many Fullerton residents choose this option when the county office is not convenient. The state charges $29 per copy but may take longer to process than going through Orange County directly.
Getting a Birth Certificate in Fullerton
Fullerton residents have a few ways to get birth certificates. The method you pick depends on how fast you need the copy and whether you can travel to Santa Ana. Each option has trade-offs in terms of cost, speed, and effort.
Going to the office in person is the fastest way. Drive from Fullerton to the Old Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana. The trip takes about 20 minutes without traffic. Bring a valid photo ID and fill out the request form at the counter. Staff will search for the record while you wait. Most people leave with their copy in under an hour. This is a good choice when you need a birth certificate quickly.
Mail requests work well if you are not in a rush. Download the application form from the county website. Fill it out with all the required info about the birth. Include a check or money order for $34 payable to Orange County Clerk-Recorder. Mail everything to the Santa Ana office. The county processes mail requests in the order they arrive. Expect 2 to 3 weeks for processing plus mail time both ways.
Online ordering is another option for Fullerton residents. The county works with an approved vendor to take web orders. You pay the county fee plus a service charge. Total cost runs about $45 to $50 depending on shipping. Orders ship in 2 to 4 weeks. You can pay extra for faster delivery if you need the copy sooner. The online route is handy when you cannot visit or mail a check.
You can also order from the California Department of Public Health. They have birth records for anyone born in the state since July 1905. The state fee is $29 per copy. Processing takes longer than going through Orange County. But this option works if you are not sure which county holds the record you need.
Who Can Request Fullerton Birth Certificates
Not everyone can get an authorized copy of a birth certificate. California law limits who qualifies. The rules protect the privacy of people whose births are on file. Only certain people can get a certified copy that works as legal ID.
You can get an authorized copy if you are the person named on the certificate. Parents can request copies for their kids. Legal guardians have the same rights as parents. Spouses, domestic partners, and adult children are also allowed. Grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings can request copies too. Lawyers working for the person or estate qualify. So do law enforcement and certain government workers.
If you are not on that list, you can still request a copy. But you will get an informational version. This copy has words printed on it that say it cannot be used for ID. The message reads "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY." You can still use this copy to show a birth happened. It just will not work for passports, licenses, or similar uses. Genealogy researchers often get informational copies since they are not related to the people on the records.
When you apply, you must prove who you are. Bring a valid government ID to the counter. For mail requests, you sign a statement under penalty of perjury. The form asks your relationship to the person named. Lying on the form is a crime. Staff may ask follow-up questions to verify your right to the record.
Fullerton Hospitals and Birth Registration
Babies born in Fullerton get their births registered through the hospital. The hospital handles the paperwork in most cases. Staff file the birth registration with the county within days of the birth. Parents do not need to go to the county office to register a new birth. The hospital does it automatically.
St. Jude Medical Center is the main hospital in Fullerton. Many babies in the city are born there. The hospital has a birth registration office that works with parents on the paperwork. They collect the info needed for the birth certificate. This includes parent names, baby name, date and time of birth, and other details. Once filed, the record goes to Orange County.
New birth certificates are not available right away. California gives hospitals up to 21 days to file. Then the county and state need time to process the filing. Wait at least 4 to 6 weeks before trying to order a copy. If you order too soon, the office may not find the record yet. You still get charged even when no record turns up. Being patient saves money and frustration.
Home births and births outside hospitals need extra steps. The parent or midwife must file the registration directly. Contact the Orange County Clerk-Recorder for instructions. They can explain what forms you need and how to submit them. Late registration is possible but takes longer.
Legal Assistance for Birth Record Issues in Fullerton
Sometimes getting a birth certificate is not simple. You may need to correct errors on the record. The name might be wrong or a parent left off. Adoptees often need help getting original birth certificates. Legal issues can make the process harder than a standard request.
The Orange County Bar Association has a lawyer referral service. They can connect you with attorneys who handle vital records cases. Call them at (949) 440-6700 for a referral. Many lawyers offer a low-cost first meeting to discuss your case. This is helpful when you are not sure what steps to take.
Legal Aid Society of Orange County helps low-income residents. They provide free legal help to people who qualify. Their office is in Santa Ana. Call (714) 571-5200 to ask about services. They may be able to help with birth certificate problems if you meet income limits. Fullerton residents can use their services since they serve all of Orange County.
The Fullerton Public Library has resources too. Their reference desk can point you to legal self-help guides. California has online tools for common court forms. The courts website at courts.ca.gov has info about amending vital records. You can often handle simple corrections without a lawyer if you follow the steps carefully.
Nearby Cities for Birth Records
If the birth did not happen in Fullerton, you may need to check another location. Several nearby cities are also in Orange County. Others are in Los Angeles County to the north. The county where the birth took place holds the record.
Here are cities near Fullerton where you might look for birth records:
Not sure where the birth happened? The California state health department can help. They have an index of all births since July 1905. Contact them to find out which county holds the record you need. Then you can order directly from that county or through the state.
More Orange County Birth Record Info
For complete details about birth certificates in Orange County, visit our county page. It has full contact info, fee schedules, and instructions for all request types.