Birth Certificate Application (8/22):  English | Español

Death Certificate Application (8/22): English | Español

What Agencies Issues Birth or Death Certificates?

If the birth or death occurred in:	Then go to:
Madera County, in the last 12 months	Madera County Dept. of Public Health (MCDPH) 1604 Sunrise Avenue, Madera •  (559)675-7898
Madera County, 1 Year or more ago	Madera County Recorder's Office 200 West 4th Street • Madera • (559) 675-7724
Outside of Madera County	California State  Department of Health Services Office of Vital Records, MS 5103,P.O. Box 997410 Sacramento, CA, 95899-7410 • (916) 445-2684

How to get a Birth/Death Certificate at Madera County Department of Public Health

In person or by mail, all requests are filled on a fee for service basis:

• In person requests  are filled immediately 
  • Accepted payments are cash, check, credit/debit cards or money order
  • Fill out an application and do not sign it until directed 
    • Application must be signed in the presence of Public Health Staff
    
    
• By mail requests are filled the same week the request is received
  • Payment can be made by check, credit/debit cards or money order
    • Do not mail cash
  • Send a completed application with notarized signature

COST
California Fees (Effective 2026)
Births	$31
Death	$26
Fetal death	$23

 Authorized vs. Informational copy 

Per Calif. Health and Safety Code Section 103526, an:

• Authorized copy is valid for all legal purposes of identification
• Informational copy is marked "Informational, Not A Valid Document To Establish Identity"

The California Dept. of Public Health Vital Records page, "Authorized copy vs. Information copy" outlines who is entitled to an authorized or informational copy. 

Burial permits are issued by Madera County Department of Public Health and are required before any disposition of human remains can take place. Disposition authorizations include:

• Burial
• Cremation/Burial
• Cremation/Placement of urn at a private residence
• Cremation/Scattering at sea
• Cremation/Scattering on private property
• Scientific Use
• Disinterment and re-interment with a different disposition
• Ship out of California
• Ship in to California

Most of the time, dispositions are decided upon, authorized, and finalized at the time of death when a death certificate is filed with the Department of Public Health. In some cases, however, circumstances arise after the initial documentation has been processed that requires a change in the original disposition.

Changes can be authorized at the Department of Public Health by the responsible family member when they,

1. Present a copy of the original burial permit, or if that document is unavailable, a certified copy of the death certificate.
2. Pay a $12.00 fee by cash, check, or debit card.
3.  VS-9 Form: Application and Permit for Disposition of Human Remains. We highly recommend that you complete and submit this form before your in-person visit to ensure an efficient and hassle-free process. While it can be done onsite, submitting it in advance is preferable.

No appointment is necessary.  Feel free to call with questions (phone number at bottom of page). Relevant laws and regulations for a disposition permit:

• Health and Safety Code Sections 7054.3,  7055,  7203,  103050,  103055 (b),  103070,  103075,  103090  

Births that occur outside recognized birthing facilities must be registered by the parents at the Health Department. This can be done locally within the first year after the child’s birth. If the one-year limit has been exceeded, the birth will have to be registered with the State Office of Vital Statistics using a Delayed Certificate of Birth. If documentation required by the State of California to prove the facts of birth is not in existence, the parents will have to petition the courts to register the birth. Registering a birth locally also requires certain documentation to prove the facts of birth.

Feel free to call us  for more information or if you have any questions filling out the forms at (559) 675-7898.

• Home Birth Packet

Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program

Please bring the following documents to the appointment:

1. Government-issued picture ID
2. Proof of Residency (PG&E, water bill, etc.)
3. Physician Recommendation Letter
4. Completed Application
5. Application Fee

COST
Standard Application Fee:	$100
Discounted Application Fee:  (with proof of Medi-Cal)	$50

Medical Marijuana Application

For questions, please visit the Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) webpage.

When you have questions about how to accomplish certain tasks that concern the State Office of Vital Statistics, your local Vital Statistics Office can help. This can include changing incorrect information on birth and death certificates, how to obtain state services, and understanding laws and regulations governing these legal documents. Correcting information on birth and death certificates requires the completion of an Affidavit to Amend a Record. There is no cost to submit one of these documents within one year after the event. If an affidavit is submitted after one year, there is a $20.00 fee that includes a certified copy that will be mailed to you upon acceptance of the affidavit by the State of California. The local office maintains all the forms that you might need to accomplish changes and corrections. We can also refer you to the appropriate state entities when you have a complaint about services you have received from cemeteries, funeral homes, and related businesses.

The Madera County Department of Public Health compiles statistics of many kinds related to local health issues. Births, deaths, and infectious diseases reported in Madera County are some of the statistics that are routinely compiled from year to year. Requests for data, purpose and plan for dissemination should be made in writing and four weeks allowed for delivery or comment. Always include a telephone number where you can be reached as specific information is often required to complete a request. Other government resources for health data include California Department of Health Services, www.dhs.ca.gov, and The U.S. Bureau of Census, www.census.gov.