Registering Births

Hospital Births
For every birth, birth information is collected and completed by a designated birth recorder at each birthing hospital in Santa Clara County. The Birth Recorder has 10 days to send the information to the Public Health Department for registration. Registration can take from 5-7 working days after receipt, at which point a birth certificate becomes available. (Total time: 15-17 days after birth)

Rush/Emergency Requests
If a family has urgent travel needs outside of the area and requires the birth certificate sooner than the normal 15-17 day processing time, please make the "Rush Request" known to the birth recorder at the hospital. If the request is not made at the hospital, it is at the discretion of the office to expedite a birth certificate.

Out of Hospital Births (e.g. home, ambulance or car en route)
Parents who have a baby out of the hospital must register the birth with the Vital Records and Registration Office directly. 1) A home birth packet must be obtained and completed. If you do not have pdf view/print capability, call the office to obtain a home birth packet by mail. 2) Call the office at 408-885-2010 to set-up an appointment for signing required documents.

Need to purchase a birth certificate? Go to our Obtaining a Birth or Death Certificate page for more information.
 

Registering Deaths

Death certificates and permits for disposition of human remains are usually prepared by a funeral director and signed by a physician. Physicians have 15 hours to sign the death certificate after death. Funeral Directors have up to 8 days to file the death certificate/permit. Once the records are complete, the certificate and permit information are electronically sent to the Public Health Department for registration by the Funeral Director. Registration usually happens within 1-2 (business) hours once received electronically. Funeral Directors will usually arrange for copies of death certificates on the family's behalf. (Total time: 8-9 days after death)

Rush/Emergency Requests
Funeral Directors will generally accommodate any special needs the family may have, including obtaining certificates much sooner than the 8-9 day processing time listed above (the upper limits required by law). Please work with your Funeral Director to make your needs known.

Violent, sudden or medically unattended death
The Medical Examiner-Coroner (MEC) is responsible to investigate all violent, sudden or medically unattended deaths within the county. If autopsy/toxicology reports are not immediately available, a death certificate may be prepared with the causes listed as "Pending." Once the cause-of-death is known, the MEC submits an amendment for registration. Contact the MEC office for more information or timelines.

Need a Funeral Director? One resource is The National Funeral Director's Association's searchable database.

Need to purchase a death certificate? Go to our Obtaining a Birth or Death Certificate page for more information.

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