​On February 04, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency to support storm response and relief efforts in eight counties; Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties. This Proclamation support impacted residents in all the counties under a storm state of emergency by waiving fees to replace certificates such as birth, death, marriage, and dissolution of marriage records, and provides flexibility to help hospitals and care facilities in impacted areas continue providing services.

Pursuant to these Proclamations of a State of Emergency, fees for certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and dissolution of marriage records are suspended for any individual who lost such records as a result of the storm. This Proclamation will remain in effect until the Governor terminates the State of Emergency. This Proclamation is available for viewing at: 

• 2024-2-4.Feb-Winter-Storms-SOE-Proc.pdf (ca.gov)​

When requesting free copies of a vital record, survivors of the storm should state on the application, “Southern California Storm,” and complete the enclosed sworn statement declaring under penalty of perjury that they are a survivor. The sworn statement for winter storm survivors is a combined sworn statement which also includes the sworn statement required by Health and Safety Code Section 103526. For requests sent to the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR), survivors should additionally make the notation “Southern California Storm” on the front of the mailing envelope, for faster processing.

The application and combined sworn statement must be submitted to complete the request.

Enclosed is a Monthly Transmittal of Fees form (VS 5), that includes a space to report the number of free copies issued by the county. The cell under “Total” for “Number of Free Copies Issued” has been shaded to avoid confusion when calculating the total fees owed. 

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the CDPH-VR Production Unit at (916) 552-8116.

Sincerely,

Original signed by:

Dana E. Moore, MPH, CPH

State Registrar

Acting Deputy Director

Center for Health Statistics and Informatics

Enclosures