Birth Certificate Apostille in Santa Barbara

Which Copy Can Be Apostilled

The Secretary of State does not judge the document itself. It confirms that the official who signed your copy is who they claim to be. That only works when the signature belongs to an official whose signature the state keeps on file: a county recorder or deputy recorder, a county clerk, or the State Registrar at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

That rules out a few copies people often bring us:

• Hospital or “keepsake” certificates with footprints. These are not official records.
• Photocopies or scans, even of a certified copy.
• Copies signed only by a county Health Officer or local registrar, usually issued right after a birth. California will not apostille these until the County Clerk-Recorder certifies them, or you replace them with a recorder or CDPH copy.
• Very old certified copies. If the official who signed it left office long ago, their signature may no longer be on file. A freshly issued copy avoids the problem.

Getting a Certified Copy in Santa Barbara County

If you were born in Santa Barbara County, the County Clerk-Recorder issues certified copies at the Hall of Records, 1100 Anacapa Street in Santa Barbara, and at 511 East Lakeside Parkway in Santa Maria. The Lompoc branch has closed, so North County residents use Santa Maria. You can also order by mail with a notarized sworn statement; we can notarize that statement for you at the office for $15.

Born somewhere else in California? Order from that county’s recorder or from CDPH Vital Records. Born in another state? Only that state can apostille it, but we can still help you sort out the right office.

Ask for an authorized certified copy. Informational copies are stamped as not valid to establish identity, and foreign authorities commonly refuse them.

Countries That Ask for Birth Certificates

Italy, Ireland, Poland, Portugal and other citizenship-by-descent countries want the birth certificates of each generation, often in the long form, and are strict about matching names. Spain, Mexico and the Philippines ask for one to register a marriage. Many residency and retirement visas want one for each family member. Several countries also want the certificate issued recently, often within three to six months, so check before you order an old copy out of a drawer.

Translation

Most non-English-speaking countries want a translation after the apostille, and some want the apostille page translated as well. We offer certified translations ($85 per page) and sworn translations ($185 per page), and can tell you which one your destination accepts.