Clerk-Recorder Frequently Asked Questions

Visiting one of our offices is the quickest way to obtain a birth/death/marriage certificate. If you are unable to visit, ordering online with expedited delivery will be the best alternative.

Vital Record fee information can be located here

Unrestricted An unrestricted birth certificate can be used to establish your identity. Persons requesting unrestricted certified copies of birth certificates must sign a statement, under penalty of perjury, that they are authorized to receive such a copy. (Examples of agencies requiring Unrestricted: DMV, Social Securities, Passport agencies) Who can be an authorized requestor? 

• The registrant (person listed on the certificate) or a parent or legal guardian of the registrant. (Legal guardian must provide documentation.)
• A party 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 California Family Code. (Please include a copy of the court order.)
• A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business. (Photo identification or a request on the agency’s letter head.)
• A child, grandparent, grandchild, brother or sister, spouse, or domestic partner of the registrant.
• 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. (Please include supporting documentation.)
• Appointed rights in a power of attorney, or an executor of the registrant’s estate. (Please include a copy of the power of attorney and/or supporting documentation identifying you as executor.)

Informational If you cannot obtain an unrestricted copy under California law, you can obtain an informational copy. An informational copy contains the same information as an unrestricted copy, but will have a legend across the face with the statement, “Informational. Not a valid document to establish identity“. It is intended only as an informational document and cannot be used for identity purposes. To learn more about the state law and who is an authorized requestor, click here

To protect your identity, all vital record copy requests require verification before processing. You can complete verification using one of the following methods:

1. Online Electronic Identification – The fastest and most convenient option
2. Notarized Authorization Statement – Submit a completed and notarized form.

Information on the above methods will be provided via email once your order has been placed. For the quickest processing, we strongly recommend using Online Electronic Identification when placing your order.

1. Print and complete an application and have it notarized. (Applications can be found here in the Vital Records section)
2. Mail application and your fee payment to this address: Alameda County Clerk-Recorder’s Office 1106 Madison Street Oakland, CA 94607

You can find vital record copy fees here. You may pay by check (personal, company, bank, or cashiers), money order or traveler’s checks. Out of country payments must be made in U.S. dollars. Credit cards are not accepted for mail orders.

We don’t charge your card until the order is processed, if your order is still pending you have not been charged. You can cancel the order using this link: Order Status or for further assistance contact crocustomerservice@acgov.org

Please contact the California Department of Public Health for information about the Amendment process at 916-445-2684 or visit this link for more information: Amending a California Birth Record

We do not provide Apostille Services, please contact: The California Secretary of State at: 916-653-3595 or visit this link for more information: Request an Apostille :: California Secretary of State

We will issue a Certificate of No Record when we search the provided information and cannot locate the requested record.

You will need to contact the courts to obtain court records. Visit this link for more information: Court Records

If you completed a court-ordered name change, you will need to contact the courts to obtain a copy of your name change decree. Visit this link for more information: Court Records

We do offer virtual marriage services as well, but you need to be physically located in California to utilize this service. Visit this link for additional information:  Virtual Marriage Services  

A member of our staff will contact you soon to schedule a virtual appointment. Please check your email for communications from our office regarding your order.

The license is good for 90 days, you must have a ceremony during that time. If not, a new license will need to be purchased. The ceremony must take place in California, and the license needs to be returned to our office after the ceremony for registration.

A Public license is $81.00, a Confidential license is $90.00. Marriage certificates are $21.00 each and if we perform a ceremony for you there is a $75.00 ceremony fee.

Marriage Ceremonies performed in our wedding room are by appointment only in our Oakland office. Please visit this link to view and schedule an appointment: Ceremony Appointment Booking We also offer Express Marriage Ceremonies performed at one of our counters.

The certificate is issued after the marriage license is registered. If you have an in-person ceremony we will provide it during the visit. If having a virtual ceremony, it will be mailed. If you have a ceremony outside of our office, your certificate will be sent by mail after the license is returned and registered.

You can discuss this topic with the staff in more detail during license issuance, or you can visit this link for more information: Change Name on Marriage License

Our office will only ask for this if the divorce took place in the last 30 days, if so you will need to provide a certified copy from the court of the final divorce decree.

A witness is required if you purchase a public marriage license. At least one witness will need to be present and complete the required fields on the license. If you purchase a confidential marriage license, there is no witness required.

A Duplicate license will need to be issued. Please send a request to crocustomerservice@acgov.org to begin this process.

Please see this link for our One-Time Deputy Marriage Commissioner Program,

The Alameda County Clerk-Recorder’s Office does not provide document recording templates. Please go to www.saclaw.org to locate the document template you are looking for. If you’re not sure which document you should be recording, we strongly suggest that you contact a real estate professional such a real estate attorney or a title company.

The Preliminary Change of Ownership Report can be found on our website, please visit this link: Forms

Please visit this link for information regarding transfer taxes: Real Property Sales & Transfers – Transfer Tax Please be advised that we will not be able to calculate transfer taxes for you, but we will verify the amount when your document is submitted for recording. We are also unable to tell you which exemption code can be used for your recording.

You can request to purchase a certified copy of the recorded document during the office visit. The cost is $3.50 per page with an additional $1.00 to certify. This would be in addition to the required recording fees. You can also bring a photocopy of the document you’re recording, and we can give you a conformed copy. There is no charge for a conformed copy.

Please expect your document back in the mail in approximately 4-6 weeks from the date of recording.

You may check our index online here: Official Public Records Portal

The Alameda County Clerk-Recorder’s Office does not provide document recording templates. Please go to www.saclaw.org to locate the document template you are looking for. If you’re not sure which document you should be recording, we strongly suggest that you contact a real estate professional such a real estate attorney or a title company.

Liens are considered a matter of public record and can be searched using our online index tool. However, if you want to view the images of public records, that can only be done in the office. Visit the following link to begin a search on our index: Public Records Index

Unfortunately, our public record database is not searchable by APN# or address, only owner name. However, you can provide that information to the Assessor’s office to obtain the owner’s name. The Assessor’s office can be reached at (510) 272-3787.

A deed is evidence of ownership; it would have been recorded when you purchased the home. The county will not send an updated deed after a mortgage is paid. If you need a copy of the item your lender recorded, we can assist with that request.

An easement may take time to research, and you will likely need prior owner names. You should consider visiting one of our offices to conduct your search. Please contact: crocustomerservice@acgov.org for additional information.

If a document is recorded in our office that will prompt a title transfer, you will automatically be notified by mail. There is no need to opt-in for this service. You can also search our public record index for recent recordings: Public Records Index

You can begin the application online here. Once you’ve completed the application online, you will need to visit one of our offices to complete the filing. If you complete your application online, please be sure to bring your reference number when you visit our office. You can also use one our kiosks in the office to complete the application.

After filing the Fictitious Business Name statement, it must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in Alameda County. Once this step is complete, the newspaper will send us proof of publication as required.

You will need to start over by submitting a new filing to our office and paying the filing fee again.

Any change to your Fictitious Business Name statement will require a new filing and must be published in the newspaper.

To file in person, present your $15,000 bond, issued by a surety company of your choice, your commission from the Secretary of State, the oath forms and the appropriate filing and recording fees to the County Clerk. Notary bond information must match exactly with what is on the notary commission. The Clerk will administer the oath, then forward the bond and one copy of the oath to the County Recorder for recording. Within a few weeks, the recorded document will be returned to you by mail. Please see below for fee information:

$50.00	One Page Bond and One Page Oath (standard size 8.5″ x 11″)
$3.00	Each Additional Page (standard size 8.5″ x 11″)

All pages must be 8.5″ x 11″ or an additional $3.00 per page fee of the document will be required.  

Yes, you can submit your journals in person at either office. You can also return them by mail to: Alameda County Clerk-Recorder’s Office 1106 Madison Street Oakland CA 94607 If you are returning them by mail, please make sure your commission information and journal entry dates are written in the provided section in the front of the journal.

No, do not send your notary stamp to our office. Please contact the California Secretary of State for guidance or visit this link for more information: Notary Public & Apostille :: California Secretary of State

We will need to confirm the journals have been returned by the notary to our office. Please send an inquiry to crocustomerservice@acgov.org providing the notary’s name and commission number.