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Contra Costa County · birth, death, marriage, divorce

Apostille for Contra Costa County records.
Two offices issue them.
A Health copy may need a $5 verification.

Contra Costa County birth and death certificates come from either the Clerk-Recorder on Escobar Street or Contra Costa Health’s Vital Registration, both in Martinez. A Health copy may need the County Clerk’s Health Officer verification, listed at $5, before the Secretary of State. We handle that step before filing.

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At a glance
Clerk-Recorder copies555 Escobar Street · Martinez
Health copiesVital Registration · 10 Douglas Dr, Suite 220, Martinez
DivorceCourt Records · Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, Room 103
Clerk stepHealth Officer verification · $5 on the 2026 fee schedule
Price$180 mail-in · $450 same-day · $650 for 3
Who issues what

Where each Contra Costa County record comes from.

Contra Costa County records by issuing office, checked October 2026
RecordOfficeCoversFee
Birth or death, Clerk-Recorder copyClerk-Recorder, 555 Escobar Street, Martinez
M–F 8–4:30, to 6:30 on the 1st and 3rd Thursday		1905 to present. In person needs photo ID; mail orders need a notarized sworn statement.Birth $38, death $30fee schedule eff. Jan 1, 2026
Birth or death, Health copyContra Costa Health, Vital Registration, 10 Douglas Drive, Suite 220, Martinez
M–F 8–4 · 925-313-1125		Births and deaths from this year and last year onlyBirth $38, death $30as posted, Oct 2026
Marriage, publicClerk-Recorder, 555 Escobar Street, Martinez1905 to present$23 per copyfee schedule eff. Jan 1, 2026
Marriage, confidentialClerk-Recorder, 555 Escobar Street, MartinezAnyone not authorized by law gets a letter confirming the marriage exists, not a copy$23 per copyfee schedule eff. Jan 1, 2026
Divorce judgmentSuperior Court Records, Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, 725 Court Street, Room 103, Martinez
M–F 8–4 · 925-608-1000		Valid ID required to view a file. Mail: P.O. Box 911, Martinez, CA 94553, Attn: Court RecordsCertified divorce judgment $15, copies includedcourt records page, Oct 2026
The clerk step

Why a Health copy may need a $5 verification.

The Secretary of State authenticates the signatures of California public officials. It apostilles county clerks, county recorders and the State Registrar directly. For a birth or death certificate signed by a health officer or county registrar, its guidance says county clerk certification “may be required.”

Contra Costa’s 2026 Clerk Division fee schedule lists “Verification of a Health Officer” at $5.00. The county does not publish the request steps online, so we confirm them with the Clerk-Recorder when we order.

Contra Costa Health’s Vital Registration sells copies only for births and deaths from this year and last year; everything older comes from the Clerk-Recorder. Which official signed your copy decides whether the step applies. We read the signature block, get the verification when it is needed, then file in Sacramento.

Rejection traps

What sends Contra Costa County files back.

We screen for each one in the $45 Document Check.

01A Health copy sent straight to Sacramento. A certificate signed by a health officer or local registrar may need the County Clerk’s verification first. We check the signature before anything is filed.
02A mail order without a notary. The Clerk-Recorder requires a notarized sworn statement on mail requests for an authorized copy. In person, photo ID replaces the notary.
03A confidential marriage request from the wrong person. Anyone not authorized by law receives a letter confirming the marriage exists instead of a certified copy. We have a spouse sign the request.
04An outdated court page. One Superior Court page still says records are mail-only at 1111 Ward Street. Court Records moved to Room 103 at the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse in January 2026.
05A photocopy instead of a certified copy. One of the most common catches in our Document Checks. A photocopy carries no official’s signature, so it cannot be apostilled. Fix: a new certified copy from the issuing office.
From our Google reviews

Done right the first time.

Five-star Google review
“Dante walked me through each step, caught issues before they became problems, and made sure everything was done correctly the first time.”
Toeni Hudson, J.D. · Google review
$450Same-day · Sacramento counter
How we handle it

We read the signature first, get the Martinez verification if your copy needs it, then file in Sacramento.

$45 Document Check before any fee. Mail-in at $180, 2–4 weeks. Price confirmed before work begins.

Call (415) 439-0289Document Check

Asked on Contra Costa County calls.

01

Can my Contra Costa County birth certificate go straight to the Secretary of State?

It depends on which office issued it. The Secretary of State apostilles county recorders’ signatures directly. A copy from Contra Costa Health’s Vital Registration, signed by a health officer or local registrar, may also need the County Clerk’s verification first. We read the signature block in the Document Check before any fee.
02

Where do I get the Health Officer verification?

From the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder, 555 Escobar Street, Martinez. The county’s 2026 fee schedule lists Verification of a Health Officer at $5. The county does not publish the request steps online, so we confirm them when we order.
03

Where do I get a certified copy of a Contra Costa County divorce judgment?

From Superior Court Records, Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, 725 Court Street, Room 103, Martinez. A certified divorce judgment is $15, copies included. By mail, use form REC-01 with a self-addressed stamped envelope and send it to P.O. Box 911, Martinez, CA 94553, Attn: Court Records. The mail form also lists a $15 search fee per case.
04

Which office has a Contra Costa birth certificate from a few years ago?

The Clerk-Recorder, 555 Escobar Street, Martinez, which holds births from 1905 on. Contra Costa Health’s Vital Registration sells copies only for births and deaths from this year and last year.
05

I no longer live in Contra Costa County. Can you handle it without me?

Yes. Have the certified copy shipped to our office at 416 Bryant Street, San Francisco, CA 94107, or mail us the one you hold. We check it, get any verification it needs, file it in Sacramento and ship the apostille back tracked.
What changed

2026-10: Page built from Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder, Contra Costa Health, Superior Court and Secretary of State sources.

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