El Dorado County Birth Records

El Dorado County birth records are managed by the Recorder-Clerk office in Placerville. This office keeps birth certificates for events that occurred within El Dorado County limits. You can request certified copies by mail, online, or at the office counter. The county sits along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains and includes popular areas like Lake Tahoe's south shore. Whether you were born in Placerville, South Lake Tahoe, or another part of the county, this guide covers how to get your El Dorado County birth certificate.

El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk Office

The El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk is the main source for local birth certificates. They have records for births that occurred in the county. The office is in Placerville at the county government center. You can visit in person or send a request by mail.

The office address is 360 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA 95667. Phone number is 530-621-5490. Office hours run Monday through Friday. Call ahead to check current hours since they can change. The staff helps people find birth records and answers questions about the process. They process requests in the order they come in.

El Dorado County charges $34 for each birth certificate copy. This fee covers the search and one certified copy. If you need more than one copy, each extra copy costs the same amount. Payment can be made by cash, check, or credit card at the counter. Mail orders need a check or money order payable to El Dorado County. Some people pay a bit more when using a credit card due to processing fees.

The county website has info on how to get birth records. It lists the forms you need and explains what documents to bring if you go in person.

How to Get El Dorado County Birth Certificates

There are three main ways to get a birth certificate from El Dorado County. You can go to the office in person, mail a request, or order online through an approved vendor. Each method has its own steps and timeline.

In person requests are the fastest way to get your record. Go to the Recorder-Clerk office in Placerville during business hours. Bring valid ID like a driver's license or passport. Fill out the application form at the counter. Pay the $34 fee. If the record is found, you can usually get it the same day. The staff will verify your identity and check that you can legally get an authorized copy. If you are not eligible for an authorized copy, you get an informational version instead.

Mail requests take longer but work well if you cannot visit in person. Download the application form from the county website. Fill it out with all the details about the birth. Include the full name on the certificate, date of birth, and place of birth within El Dorado County. Add the parents' names if you know them. Write a check or money order for $34 payable to El Dorado County. Mail everything to the Recorder-Clerk office at 360 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA 95667. Allow 2 to 4 weeks for processing and return mail time.

Online ordering goes through VitalChek, the approved third-party vendor for California vital records. VitalChek adds a service fee on top of the county fee. The total cost is higher than ordering direct. Orders ship after the county processes them. Online is good when you need the convenience of ordering from home. It also works if you live far from El Dorado County and cannot visit in person.

Who Can Get El Dorado County Birth Records

California law limits who can get an authorized birth certificate. The rules come from Health and Safety Code Section 103526. Only certain people qualify for a certified copy that can be used as legal ID.

The authorized list includes the person named on the certificate. It also includes parents and legal guardians. A child, spouse, domestic partner, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the person can also get one. Attorneys acting for the person or their estate qualify. So do government agencies and law enforcement with official business. If you are on this list, El Dorado County will give you an authorized copy. The certificate looks official and can be used for things like getting a passport or proving identity.

If you are not on the authorized list, you still get a copy. But it says "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY" across the front. This informational copy proves a birth happened. Genealogists and researchers often use these copies. They work fine for family history projects. You just cannot use them for legal ID purposes.

When you apply, the county checks your relationship to the person on the record. Bring proof of your relationship if possible. A parent might bring their own ID showing the same address. A child might bring their own birth certificate showing the parent's name. The more proof you have, the smoother the process goes.

Processing Times for El Dorado Birth Certificates

How long it takes depends on how you order. In person is fastest. Mail is slower. Online falls somewhere in between.

At the counter in Placerville, you might get your certificate the same day. If the record is in the system and everything checks out, the staff can print it while you wait. Complex requests take longer. If the birth was a long time ago or the records need extra research, come back another day or wait for a call.

Mail orders need more time. The county receives your request, processes it, and mails back the certificate. This cycle takes 2 to 4 weeks in most cases. Busy times like tax season or back to school can slow things down. Add extra time if you live far away. First class mail from Placerville to other parts of California takes a few days each way.

VitalChek orders process after the county handles them. VitalChek sends your request to El Dorado County. The county pulls the record and sends it back to VitalChek. Then VitalChek ships it to you. This adds a step. Total time runs 2 to 5 weeks depending on shipping speed you pick. Faster shipping costs more but gets the certificate to you sooner.

New births are not in the system right away. It takes a few weeks after a baby is born for the record to show up. The hospital files paperwork with the local registrar. That goes to the state and then to the county system. Wait at least 3 weeks after a birth before ordering. Otherwise you might get a Certificate of No Public Record. The county still keeps your fee even if no record is found.

Historical Birth Records in El Dorado County

El Dorado County was one of the original 27 counties formed when California became a state in 1850. The Gold Rush brought many people to this area. Some birth records from the early days still exist in county archives.

The state health department has records starting from July 1905. County records may go back further. If you need a birth record from before 1905, the county is your only option. The Recorder-Clerk can tell you what historical records they have. Some old records were lost to fires or poor storage over the years. The further back you go, the harder it is to find complete records.

For genealogy research, the California State Archives is another resource. They have microfilmed vital records from various counties including some from the El Dorado area. Records more than 75 years old are open to anyone. Contact the archives in Sacramento to ask about their holdings before making a trip.

Local historical societies sometimes have birth announcements from old newspapers. These can help piece together family history even when official records are missing. The El Dorado County Museum and Historical Society may have leads on where to look. They know the local history and can point you toward other resources.

State Records for El Dorado County Births

You do not have to order from the county. The California Department of Public Health also has El Dorado County birth records. They keep copies of all California births since July 1905. This gives you another option if the county is backed up or hard to reach.

The state charges $29 per copy. That is $5 less than El Dorado County. But the state has no public counter. All requests go by mail or through VitalChek online. Processing takes longer at the state level. They handle records for all 58 counties. Volume is high and wait times reflect that.

To order from the state, use form VS 111. Fill it out completely. Include the name on the certificate, date of birth, and that the birth occurred in El Dorado County. Add parents' names. Sign the form. For an authorized copy, get your signature notarized. Mail the form with payment to CDPH Vital Records in Sacramento. Or go through VitalChek and pay the extra service fee for online ordering.

Pick the county for faster service on straightforward requests. Pick the state if you need the lower fee and can wait longer. Either source gives you an official California birth certificate.

Correcting El Dorado County Birth Records

Mistakes happen on birth certificates. A name might be spelled wrong. The date could be off by a day. Parents sometimes need to add or change information. El Dorado County handles corrections through a formal process.

Minor corrections are easier to fix. These include typos in names or small errors in dates. Fill out an amendment form and provide proof of the correct information. This might be a hospital record, baptismal certificate, or other document from around the time of birth. Pay the fee and submit everything to the Recorder-Clerk. They review the request and update the record if approved.

Major changes are harder. Adding a father to the birth certificate, for example, usually needs a court order. Changing a legal name on the certificate after the fact also requires legal proceedings. These situations go through the Superior Court in El Dorado County. An attorney can help navigate the requirements. Once the court issues an order, the Recorder-Clerk updates the birth record to match.

Delayed registration is another issue. Some births were never properly registered at the time. This was more common decades ago. California law allows for delayed birth registration through a legal process. You need evidence the birth occurred, like old hospital records, affidavits from people who witnessed the birth, or other proof. The county clerk can explain what documents they need for a delayed registration in El Dorado County.

Nearby Counties for Birth Records

El Dorado County borders several other California counties. If the birth did not occur in El Dorado, you might need to contact a neighboring county instead. Sometimes people are not sure which county a birth happened in, especially near border areas.

To the north is Placer County. Their Recorder-Clerk is in Auburn. Placer County charges $32 per birth certificate. Sacramento County is to the west. They are in Sacramento and charge $34. Amador County lies to the south. Their office is in Jackson and the fee is $31. Alpine County is to the southeast, a small mountain county with offices in Markleeville.

Lake Tahoe straddles both El Dorado County and Placer County. If someone was born at a Tahoe hospital, check which side of the county line it was on. Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe is in El Dorado County. Other medical facilities might be in Placer County. Knowing the exact location helps you contact the right office.

More California County Birth Records

Looking for birth records from another California county? Browse our guides to find contact information, fees, and instructions for other areas.

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