Thursday, April 10, 2014

California Public Marriage Records

By Ben Kingsley


Marriages in California vital records are available from the State's Department of Public Health Vital Records division. These records are important as it can establish the parties' identities as well as be used as supporting document for the parties in case of spousal benefits, death and early retirement benefits. The Division provides two types of certified copies: authorized copy and informational copy.

Under the California State Law, authorized copies are copies that can establish a person's identity and serve as supporting document. As such only, a limited number of individuals are allowed to obtain such copies. These individuals are the parties named in the record themselves, relatives or those with affinity with the registrant including parents, legal guardians, siblings and children. Others that are eligible include law enforcement agencies that require such copies in the performance of their jobs, attorneys with court order, entities appointed by the law and funeral agents or funeral establishment. For those who are not eligible they can still get a copy. They can request for an informational copy, which contains the same information as that of that authorized copies. The only different between the two is that the "informational" copy contains a legend indicating that the copy is not to be used as supporting document to establish the person's identity. Both copies are certified true copies.

To obtain a certified copy from the CDPH office, one must fill up an application form as well as have a sworn statement notarized and included in the request. Payment should also be attached to the request. Fees are as follows: Marriage certificates - $14, Dissolution of marriages copies - $13 and Affidavit to Amend Marriage certificate - $20. Fees for amendments may be waived by the Department in certain instances.

Processing time varies depending on the volume of requests that the office receives. As the Office is under heavy volume request for marriage certificate, processing can exceed six months for marriage records and two months for amendments. Newer marriages can expect faster processing time as the certificates are already imaged. For those who urgently need the copies, they can also request the County Recorder Office for copies of the certificate. Fees for the copies vary from county to county and such, it is important to call or check the site for the updated fee info.

The CPDH also issues only public types of marriage certificates. For those who want a confidential marriage certificate, they can make their request at the County clerk office that issued the marriage license. To request from the CDPH, download the pamphlet available at the site and together with the supporting documents and send the forms by mail or courier. Keep in mind that the Office only accepts checks or money orders issued from USPS and US bank. Fees are not fundable and in cases where no results are found, the Office will release a No Public Record Certificate.

As the CDPH is experiencing heavy volume for marriage certificates, processing can take up to 6 months. For those who urgently require marriage and divorce records, they can send their marriage request to the County Recorder's Office and divorce request to the Superior Court Office. One can also check other online search portals that offer searches for private and public records. This is by far the most convenient and fastest way for one to get the information they need.




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