Instructions issued for getting a birth certificate

Springtime for parents is a time when they sign up their children for preschool, Little League, Kindergarten, AYSO soccer, childcare and myriad other programs. Part of the enrollment process requires that the parent (or guardian) provide a birth certificate.

The County Clerk-Recorder’s Office is the place of record for all children born in a county; the San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder’s Office has the ability to produce a certified copy of a birth certificate for all children born in San Mateo County. A certified copy of a birth certificate costs $17.

Only those listed below are authorized to obtain certified copies of birth certificates:

• The registrant or a parent/legal guardian of the registrant;

• A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or domestic partner of the registrant;

• Person(s) entitled to receive the record as a result of a court order, or an attorney or a licensed adoption agency seeking the birth record in order to comply with the requirements of Section 3140 or 7603 of the Family Code;

• An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant’s estate, or any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the registrant or the registrant’s estate;

• A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency.

The easiest way to obtain a certified copy of a birth record is to visit the Clerk-Recorder’s Office in person at 555 County Center, first floor, in Redwood City. There is an application that must be filled out, a fee to pay and in a few minutes, the copy will be created for the requester, once all the requirements are met.

Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Payment types accepted include: Cash, checks and credit or debit cards (Visa and Mastercard only).

The County Clerk-Recorder’s Office also provides this service by mail. Both notarized Certificate of Identity and a completed application form signed under penalty of perjury by the authorized requester are required for all orders sent by mail. Applications and Certificate of Identity forms are on the Clerk-Recorder’s Web site http://www.smcare.org/records/birth.asp.