California Public Records
| How
To Search Public and Vital Records -
Vital records are records of life events important enough that
some level of government acquires, organizes, and preserves
them. While the term "vital records" is often applied
to a wide variety of life events... Read
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Vital Records
California vital records prior to July 1st, 1905 are found within
the county where the event occurred. Records thereafter were kept
by the State Registrar of Vital Statistics. No statewide index is
available for records prior to 1905. For birth, marriage and death
records prior to 1905, write to the clerk of the county in question.
For birth, marriage and death records after 1905, write:
Office of Vital Records and Statistics
Department of Health Services
304 S Street
P.O. Box 730241
Sacramento, CA 94244-0241
Fax: 800-858-5553
(Visit the website to learn how to order a certified copy of vital
records.)
http://www.dhs.cahwnet.gov/hisp/chs/OVR/Ordercert.htm
Directory of County Health Officials, Registrars, and Recorders
http://www.dhs.cahwnet.gov/hisp/chs/OVR/localregindex.htm
Land Records
California is a federal-land state. Lands were generally bought
from the government or from other individuals. For lands purchased
from other individuals, consult the local county recorder's office,
generally in the county where the transaction took place. For federal
land patents, contact:
BLM California State Office
Room E-2841
2800 Cottage Way
Sacramento, CA 95825-1889
Land-entry case files for these patents are available
at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Tract books and township
plat maps are also available at the address above.
Private land claims also need to be considered. The
term refers to the settling of property ownership by the government
of the United States for lands previously acquired under a different
sovereign. Californians received land under Spanish and Mexican
governments. Records of many of these transactions can be found
at the State Archives in Sacramento. For further reference to all
transactions, consult the publications below:
Gates, Paul W. "Public Land Disposal in California."
Agricultural History 49 (1975): 158-78
Robinson, William Wilcox. Land in California: The
Story of Mission Lands, Ranchos, Squatters, Mining Claims, Railroad
Grants, Land Scrip [and] Homesteads. Berkeley: University of California
Press, 1948.
Avina, Rose H. Spanish and Mexican Land Grants in
California. New York: Arno Press, 1976.
Hone, E. Wade. Land and Property Research in the
United States. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, Inc., 1997.
Court Records
Court records can be a complex source for any state. Their records
entail probate records (which include wills), guardianship, naturalization,
and a wide variety of other sources, ranging from criminal trials
to simple road orders. All contain information about individuals
within the area. It should be remembered that there are different
levels of jurisdiction for courts in the United States, all of which
should be considered for research under various circumstances. Court
of Common Pleas, Orphan's Court, Probate Court, District Court,
Superior Court, Supreme Court, and other titles are among those
encountered. To study more about court records in general, see:
"Research in Court Records" by Arlene H. Eakle, found
in Loretto Dennis Szucs and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking, eds., The
Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy, rev. ed. (Salt Lake City:
Ancestry, 1997).
Military Records
The California State Archives has become the state's official repository
for service records of Californians from the Indian Wars through
the World Wars, including National Guard records. The National Archives's
seven-roll microfilm index to compiled service records for California's
Union Army Volunteers is available for research at the California
State Library and through the FHL. The California State Library
also has the National Archives seventeen-roll microfilm series of
the California War History Committee's "World War I Records
of California Service Men." See also the following publications:
Orton, Richard H., ed., Records of California Men
in the War of Rebellion, 1861–1867 Sacramento: State Printing
Office, 1890
Parker, J. Carlyle, comp. A Personal Name Index to
Orton's..., Vol. 5 of Gale Genealogy and Local History Series. Detroit:
Gale Research, 1978.
Neagles, James C. U.S. Military Records: A Guide
to Federal and State Sources. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, Inc., 1994.
Additional Sources
Cleland, Robert Glass. From Wilderness to Empire: A History of California,
1542–1900. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1944.
A History of California: The American Period. New
York: Macmillan Co., 1922.
Ogle, Sandra K. "Genealogical Research in California"
National Genealogical Society Quarterly 76 (Sept. 1988): 194–211.
Parker, J. Carlyle. Index to Biographees [sic] in
19th Century California County Histories. Detroit: Gale Research,
1979.
Ryskamp, George R. Tracing Your Hispanic Heritage.
Riverside, CA: Hispanic Family History Research, 1984.
California Vital Records:
Event: Birth
Cost of copy: $12.00
Address:
Office of Vital Records
Department of Health Services
P.O. Box 730241
Sacramento, CA 94244-0241
Remarks: State office has had records since July
1905. For earlier records, write to County Recorder in county where
event occurred.
Check or money order should be made payable to State
Registrar, Department of Health Services or Office of Vital Records.
Personal checks are accepted. To verify current fees, the telephone
number is (916) 445-2684.
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All California Records
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Event: Death
Cost of copy: $8.00
Address:
Office of Vital Records
Department of Health Services
P.O. Box 730241
Sacramento, CA 94244-0241
Remarks: State office has had records since July
1905. For earlier records, write to County Recorder in county where
event occurred.
Check or money order should be made payable to State
Registrar, Department of Health Services or Office of Vital Records.
Personal checks are accepted. To verify current fees, the telephone
number is (916) 445-2684.
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Event: Marriage
Cost of copy: $12.00
Address:
Office of Vital Records
Department of Health Services
P.O. Box 730241
Sacramento, CA 94244-0241
Remarks: State office has had records since July
1905. For earlier records, write to County Recorder in county where
event occurred.
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Event: Divorce
Cost of copy: $12.00
Address:
Office of Vital Records
Department of Health Services
P.O. Box 730241
Sacramento, CA 94244-0241
Remarks: Fee is for search and identification of
county where certified copy can be obtained (years 1962 thru 1984
only). For all other years or for a copy of the decree, write to
County clerk in County where event occurred. Certified copies of
decrees are not available from State Health Department.
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Event: Divorce (county)
Cost of copy: Varies
Address: See remarks
Remarks: Clerk of Superior Court in county where
divorce was granted.
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All California Records
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