Find Glendale Birth Records

Birth records for Glendale residents are handled by the Los Angeles County Clerk-Recorder office. Glendale does not have its own vital records office. The city sits in the Verdugo Mountains foothills with a population of about 196,000 people. All birth certificates for Glendale births must be requested through the county. Los Angeles County has several locations where you can get copies in person. You can also order by mail or online through approved vendors. The county fee is $34 per certified copy. This guide walks you through each option for getting birth certificates as a Glendale resident.

Los Angeles County Handles Glendale Birth Certificates

Glendale birth certificates come from Los Angeles County. The county Clerk-Recorder keeps all vital records for the area. This includes births, deaths, and marriages. The main office is in Norwalk, but there are other locations closer to Glendale. You have choices when it comes to where you go for your request.

The Norwalk headquarters handles the most requests. It has the largest staff and shortest wait times on most days. If you live in Glendale, the drive is about 25 to 30 miles south on the freeway. Some people prefer to order by mail or online to skip the trip. But in-person visits get you a copy the same day in most cases.

Los Angeles County also runs satellite offices. These smaller locations can process birth certificate requests. Check the county website for the office nearest to Glendale. Call ahead to make sure they handle birth records before you go. Not all satellite offices offer the same services. The Norwalk location is your best bet if you want to be sure they can help you.

The county website has all the forms and info you need. You can download the application before your visit. Fill it out at home to save time. Bring a valid ID and your completed form. Staff will search for the record and print your copy while you wait. Payment is due when you pick up the certificate.

Ways to Get Birth Certificates in Glendale

You have three main options for getting a Glendale birth certificate. Each one has pros and cons. Pick the method that fits your timeline and situation. The fee is the same no matter how you order, though online vendors add service charges.

In-person requests are fastest. Go to the Norwalk office or another county location. Bring your ID and the completed request form. Pay the $34 fee at the counter. Staff will search their records right away. Most people get their copy in 30 minutes to an hour. Busy days take longer. Monday mornings tend to be the most crowded. Try going mid-week in the afternoon for shorter waits.

Mail orders work well if you do not mind waiting. Download the request form from the county website. Fill in all the details about the birth. Include your relationship to the person on the record. Sign the form and get it notarized if you want an authorized copy. Mail it with a check or money order for $34 to the Clerk-Recorder in Norwalk. Processing takes about 2 to 3 weeks. Add mail time both ways. Total time runs 4 to 6 weeks in most cases.

Online ordering is another choice. Los Angeles County works with VitalChek for web orders. Go to the VitalChek site and search for Los Angeles County birth certificates. Fill out the online form and pay by credit card. VitalChek adds a service fee of about $15 on top of the county fee. Your total comes to roughly $49 to $55 depending on shipping. Orders ship in 2 to 4 weeks. Faster shipping costs more. This option is good when you cannot visit in person but need a copy mailed to you.

What You Need to Request Glendale Birth Records

Every request requires certain info about the birth. The more details you give, the easier it is to find the right record. The county database goes back many decades. Without enough info, staff may pull the wrong record or come up empty.

Start with the full name on the birth certificate. Include the date of birth if you know it. The exact date is best, but even the year helps narrow the search. You also need the place of birth. For Glendale births, the hospital name is useful. Several hospitals in the city have handled births over the years. Naming the hospital speeds up the search.

Parents' names round out the request. The mother's maiden name is most important. This is the name she had before any marriages. The father's name helps too if it is on the record. Some older records or records from unmarried parents may not have a father listed. Give whatever info you have.

You must also prove who you are. California law limits who can get authorized copies. Only certain people qualify. The list includes the person named on the certificate, their parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, spouse, or domestic partner. Attorneys and law enforcement can request copies for official work. If you are not on the list, you get an informational copy instead. This type cannot be used for ID purposes.

Birth Certificate Fees for Glendale Residents

Los Angeles County charges $34 for each certified copy of a birth certificate. This fee applies to all requests no matter how you order. It is the same for authorized and informational copies. The county set this fee based on state guidelines.

Extra copies cost the same amount. If you need more than one copy, each one is $34. Some people order several copies at once. This saves time if you need one for a passport, one for school records, and one for your files. The county does not offer discounts for bulk orders.

Online orders through VitalChek cost more. The vendor adds service and processing fees. Expect to pay about $15 extra on top of the county fee. Credit card fees may also apply. Shipping costs vary based on speed. Standard shipping is cheapest. Express and overnight options cost more. Your final total could run $50 to $70 for one copy ordered online with fast shipping.

Payment methods depend on how you order. In-person requests accept cash, check, or credit card. Mail orders must include a check or money order. Make it out to the Los Angeles County Clerk-Recorder. Do not send cash through the mail. Online orders take credit and debit cards.

How Long to Get a Glendale Birth Certificate

Processing time varies by method. In-person is always fastest. Mail and online take weeks. Plan ahead if you have a deadline coming up. Last-minute requests may not arrive in time.

Walk-in requests at the Norwalk office usually take under an hour. Staff search the database while you wait. If they find the record, they print it on the spot. You walk out with your copy the same day. Busy times add to the wait. The office sees heavy traffic on Mondays and right after holidays. Mid-week visits tend to go faster.

Mail orders take 2 to 3 weeks for the county to process. This starts from when they get your request. Add time for mail in both directions. Figure about 4 to 6 weeks total. If your form is missing info, the county will contact you. This adds more time. Fill out the form carefully the first time to avoid delays.

Online orders ship in 2 to 4 weeks with standard processing. VitalChek shows estimated delivery dates at checkout. You can pay for rush processing to speed things up. Even with rush, expect at least 7 to 10 business days. There is no same-day option through the web portal. If you need a copy fast, go to the office in person.

Glendale Hospitals and Birth Records

Several hospitals in and near Glendale have delivered babies over the years. Knowing which hospital is on the birth certificate helps with your request. The county can search by hospital name to narrow results.

Adventist Health Glendale is a major hospital in the city. It has a birthing center and handles many local births. The hospital was known as Glendale Adventist Medical Center for years. Records may show either name depending on when the birth happened. Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital is another option. It also has maternity services for Glendale families.

Births do not always happen in the city where the family lives. Some Glendale families give birth at hospitals in Burbank, Pasadena, or Los Angeles. If the birth was at a hospital outside Glendale but still in Los Angeles County, you order from the same county office. The county keeps all records for its borders. Only births in other counties require a different Clerk-Recorder.

Home births and births at birthing centers also generate records. The midwife or birth attendant files the paperwork with the county. These records end up in the same county database. You order them the same way as hospital births.

Old Birth Records in Glendale

Los Angeles County has birth records going back over a century. The county formed in 1850. Early records may not be as detailed as modern ones. But the county has preserved what they have.

For births before July 1905, the county is your only source. California did not start statewide registration until then. If you need a very old Glendale birth record, the county Clerk-Recorder can search their historical files. Some old records are on microfilm. Staff can make copies from the film.

The California State Archives has some historical vital records too. Their collection includes records from many counties. Records over 75 years old are open to anyone. You do not need to prove a relationship for very old records. Contact the State Archives at (916) 653-6814 to ask about their Los Angeles County holdings.

Genealogy research often leads to Glendale. The city grew rapidly in the early 1900s. Many families settled there during that time. Old birth records can help trace family roots back several generations. The county records are a key resource for this work.

Ordering from the State Instead

You can also get Glendale birth certificates from the California Department of Public Health. The state has copies of all California births since July 1905. Some people prefer the state option. Others find the county faster or easier.

The state fee is $29 per copy. This is $5 less than the county fee. But the state office does not have a public counter. You must order by mail or online. Processing takes longer than the county in most cases. Mail orders to the state take 10 to 15 business days plus mail time.

VitalChek also processes state orders. The service fee applies here too. Your total ends up about the same as ordering from the county online. The main difference is processing time. County orders often ship faster than state orders.

One reason to use the state is when you do not know which county has the record. The state can search all counties at once. If you are not sure where the birth took place, the state search may find it faster. Then you know which county to contact for future orders.

Birth Records in Nearby Cities

If the birth happened in a city near Glendale, you may need to contact a different county. Most nearby cities are also in Los Angeles County. But some border cities fall under other counties. Check where the birth took place before you order.

These major cities are near Glendale and also use Los Angeles County:

For birth records in Los Angeles County, all these cities use the same Clerk-Recorder office. One request covers the whole county. You just need to know which city or hospital the birth happened at. The county database includes all locations within its borders.