The Vital Statistics Section of the Public Health Department
provides the following services:
- Issues certified copies of birth and death events
- Authorizes burial permits
- Registers births and deaths
- Registers out-of-hospital births
- Acts as a liaison between the public and the State of California
Office of Vital Records
- Compiles data relating to births and deaths
- Compiles data on infectious diseases reported in Madera County
- Provides statistical information upon request
- Open to the public Mon-Fri, 8:00-11:30AM and 1:00-4:30PM
Certified Copies of Birth and Death Certificates
Certified copies of birth and death certificates are only available for Madera County events. Copies of birth and death events that occur outside Madera County must be obtained from the county of occurrence or the Department of Health Services, Office of Vital Records, MS 5103, P.O. BOX 997410, Sacramento, CA, 95899-7410, (916) 445-2684 or http://www.dhs.ca.gov/hisp/chs/OVR/ordercert.htm. The Health Department holds these documents for a limited amount of time. Any event older than two years from the current year must be obtained from the Madera County Recorder's Office, 209 West Yosemite Ave., Madera, CA 93637-3534, (559) 675-7724. Please note that the Recorder's Office does not accept personal checks for documents requested by mail. Fees for these documents as of January 1, 2006 are as follows:
Births.............$14.00
Deaths...........$12.00
Copies can be obtained by direct request in person at the Health Department or by mail. All requests are filled on a fee for service basis. No credit card transactions are performed by the Health Department at this time. Acceptable methods of payment are by cash, check, or money order (please do not send cash in the mail). Requests made in person are filled immediately. Requests by mail will be filled the same week the request is received. Send requests to: Madera County Health Dept., Attn: Vital Stats, 14215 Road 28, Madera, CA., 93638-5715. California law governing who may acquire certified copies of vital events changed as of July 1, 2003. Only qualified persons may receive regular certified copies that are valid for all legal purposes of identification. Those who do not qualify as authorized persons under California Health and Safety Code, Section 103526, may receive a certified copy marked "Informational, Not A Valid Document To Establish Identity". The necessary information, forms and instructions to complete an application for a birth certificate or application for a death certificate may be downloaded here. If the applicant wishes to pick up certified copies in person from the Health Department, they must sign the application in the presence of Health Dept. staff. If the application is to be mailed, the applicant must have his/her signature notarized. For more information, you may call (559) 675-7893 or 1-800-427-6897.
Burial Permits
Burial permits are issued by the Health Department and are
required before any disposition of human remains can take place.
Dispositions that can be authorized 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 Health Department. 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 Health Department by the responsible family member presenting a copy of the original burial permit, or if that document is unavailable, a certified copy of the death certificate. There is a $11.00 charge for issuing burial permits and no appointment is necessary within normal business hours. For more information or instructions concerning your particular situation, please call the Vital Statistics section of the Health Department at (559) 675-7893 or 1-800-427-6897.
Registering Out-of-Hospital Births
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. You can call the Health Department to have an informational packet mailed to you by phoning (559) 675-7893 or 1-800-427-6897.
The Health Department as a Liaison Between The Public and
the State
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. For more information call (559) 675-7893 or 1-800-427-6897.
Provides Statistical Information Upon Request
The Health Department 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 should be made in writing and two 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 The Department of Health Services, www.dhs.ca.gov, and The U.S. Bureau of Census, www.census.gov. All requests for local statistics should be sent to: Madera County Public Health Department, Attn: Vital Statistics, 14215 Road 28, Madera, CA 93638-5715.
Also See 
WIC
Program
Contacting Us  |
Madera County Public Health
Department
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