How to get a certified copy of a birth certificate or other record (2026)
A certified copy is a copy issued by the office that holds the original record, with that office's seal or stamp. Here is which office to ask for birth, death, marriage, property and court records, with example fees taken only from the issuing offices' own pages.
Not legal advice. This page is general information from official pages. Who may order a record, and what ID you need, is set by each state. Errand Desk isn't affiliated with any government agency or with VitalChek.
Where do I get a certified copy? Comparison by record type
| Record | Usually issued by | Example fee |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | State vital records office; some counties also issue copies | Texas $22 [2]; California $31 [1] |
| Death certificate | State vital records office; some counties also issue copies | Texas $20 first, $3 each additional [2]; California $26 [1] |
| Marriage record | County clerk or recorder where the license was issued, or the state | Los Angeles County $19 [6]; California $19 [1] |
| Deed or other recorded property document | County recorder | Los Angeles County $6 first page, $3 each additional [7] |
| Court record | Clerk of the court that handled the case | Federal district courts $12 per document certified [9] |
Fees are examples from the offices named, not national prices. There is no national price for any of these records.
What is a certified copy?
It's a copy made and certified by the office that keeps the original. For a birth certificate, the U.S. Department of State says the document "must have the official seal or stamp of the issuing office," and that if you don't have the original, you should "get a replacement from the office which issued it" [10]. A photocopy you make yourself, or one a notary signs, isn't the same thing.
Some offices also issue an "informational" certified copy to people who aren't authorized to get the full version. In Los Angeles County, that copy is stamped "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY" [5].
How do I get a certified birth or death certificate?
Order from the vital records office in the state where the birth or death happened, not the state where you live now. Many states let you order by mail, in person or online. Some examples from official pages:
| Office | Birth certificate | Online option named by the office |
|---|---|---|
| California Department of Public Health | $31 per copy (death $26, marriage $19), effective Jan 1, 2026 [1] | Not stated on the fee page |
| Texas DSHS Vital Statistics | $22, long or short form (death $20 first, $3 each additional) [2] | Not stated on the fee page |
| New York State Department of Health (outside New York City) | $30 by mail [3] | Online or phone: $45 plus a vendor processing fee per order; the page's online order link goes to VitalChek [3] |
| Florida Department of Health | $9 for the first computer-generated certification (includes the $9 search fee), $4 each additional [4] | VitalChek: $19 first copy (includes the search fee and a $10 rush fee) plus a $7 VitalChek processing fee [4] |
| Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk | $34 [5] | VitalChek, plus a card handling fee [5] |
| Cook County Clerk (Chicago and suburban Cook County) | $15 first copy, $4 each additional copy of the same record [8] | VitalChek, plus $13.45 for processing and standard postage [8] |
- New York City is separate. The New York State page says it doesn't have birth records for the five boroughs [3].
- Fees are often kept if no record is found. Texas says its fees are non-refundable "even if the record is not found" [2], and California keeps the fee as a search fee [1].
- Paying by mail? California asks for a check or money order payable to CDPH Vital Records [1]. See where to get a money order.
- Need it fast? Texas charges $25 for expedited processing [2]. Cook County prints most records while you wait at its offices [8].
Can I order a certified copy online?
Often, yes, but start from the government office's own website. Some offices send online orders to one named vendor. Florida says VitalChek "is the only contracted vendor" for its Bureau of Vital Statistics and that it doesn't recommend any other online vendor [4]. Los Angeles County says VitalChek "is the only authorized third party vendor" it works with [5]. Vendor processing fees are added to the office's own fee [3][4][8].
Where do I get a certified marriage certificate?
Usually from the county clerk or recorder where the marriage license was issued. Los Angeles County charges $19 per certified copy of a public or confidential marriage record. Only the spouses, or someone with a court order, can get a confidential one [6]. Some states also issue marriage records: California's state fee is $19 [1].
How do I get a certified copy of a deed?
Ask the recorder in the county where the property is. Los Angeles County charges $6 for the first page and $3 for each additional page for a certified copy of a real estate record, plus a search fee of $0.50 per name per year ($1 minimum) [7]. Other counties set their own fees.
How do I get a certified copy of a court record?
Ask the clerk of the court that handled the case. In federal district courts, it's $12 to certify a document, $24 for an exemplification, $0.50 per page for a paper copy and $34 per name or item for a records search, effective Dec 1, 2023 [9]. State and local courts set their own fees, so check the court's website.
Using a certified copy for a passport or an apostille
- Passport: a U.S. birth certificate used as proof of citizenship must show, among other things, the issuing office's seal or stamp and the registrar's signature, and "You cannot submit electronic copies of birth certificates" [10]. See our passport application checklist.
- Apostille: for a birth, marriage or death certificate used abroad, the state that issued it handles the next step. See how to get an apostille.
FAQ
How much does a certified copy of a birth certificate cost?
It depends on the state or county. In our examples: Florida $9, Cook County $15, Texas $22, New York State $30 by mail, California $31 and Los Angeles County $34 [1][2][3][4][5][8]. There's no national price.
Can a notary make a certified copy of a birth certificate?
For passports, the State Department says the certificate must carry the seal or stamp of the issuing office, and to get a replacement from the office that issued it [10]. That means the vital records office, not a notary.
Is VitalChek official?
VitalChek is a private company. Some government offices name it as their online vendor: for example Florida, Los Angeles County and Cook County, and New York State's online order link goes to it [3][4][5][8]. Check your office's own page to see which vendor, if any, it uses.
Do I get my fee back if no record is found?
Often not. Texas says its fees are non-refundable even if the record isn't found, and California keeps the fee as a search fee [1][2].
Where do I get a certified copy of a court judgment?
From the clerk of the court that issued it. Federal district courts charge $12 to certify a document [9].
Related guides
- US passport application checklist: what to bring, fees, forms and photocopy rules from the State Department.
- How to get an apostille: state fees from official pages, and when the U.S. Department of State is involved.
- Where to get a money order, and what it costs: USPS fees and limits, Walmart, Western Union, MoneyGram and 7-Eleven, plus cashier's checks.
- Certified Mail, Registered Mail and PO Boxes: USPS extra service prices from Notice 123, and how PO Box prices work.
- Where to get something notarized, and what it costs: banks, credit unions, libraries, AAA, The UPS Store and online notary, plus state fee limits.
- All guides
Sources
All sources last checked Oct 27, 2026. Each is a government page.
- California Department of Public Health, "Vital Records Fees" (fees effective January 1, 2026): cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/pages/vital-records-fees.aspx (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics "Costs and Fees": dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics/costs-fees (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- New York State Department of Health, "Birth Certificates": health.ny.gov/vital_records/birth.htm (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Florida Department of Health, "Birth Certificates": floridahealth.gov/certificates/certificates/birth/index.html (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, "Birth Record Online Request": lavote.gov/home/records/birth-records/birth-records-request/online-request (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, "Marriage Records In-Person Appointment": lavote.gov/home/recorder/marriage-records/marriage-records-request/inperson-request (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, real estate records request "Fees": lavote.gov/home/recorder/real-estate-records/real-estate-records-request/fees (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Cook County Clerk, "Birth Certificates": cookcountyclerkil.gov/vital-records/birth-death-records/birth-certificates (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- United States Courts, "District Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule" (effective December 1, 2023): uscourts.gov/services-forms/fees/district-court-miscellaneous-fee-schedule (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- U.S. Department of State, citizenship evidence page (Last Updated October 05, 2026): travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/citizenship-evidence.html (last checked Oct 27, 2026)