Marin County Birth Records
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Marin County Birth Records (1905-1995)
CaliforniaBirthIndex.org provides free access to Marin County birth records from 1905 to 1995. Search by name to find birth dates, parents' names, and county of birth — completely free, no registration required.
What You'll Find in Marin County Birth Records
Each birth record in our Marin County database includes:
— Full name (first, middle, last)
— Date of birth
— Sex
— Mother's maiden name
— County of birth (Marin County)
The California Birth Index does not include time of birth, hospital name, or parents' first names. For those details, you'll need a certified birth certificate (see below).
How to Search Marin County Birth Records
Use the search bar at the top of any page to find Marin County birth records by first and last name. You can also search by parents' names to find siblings or children born to specific parents in Marin County.
About Marin County
Marin County is one of California's original 27 counties, created in 1850 and named after a Coast Miwok chief. Located across the Golden Gate from San Francisco, Marin developed as a residential enclave connected to the city by ferry and later by the Golden Gate Bridge (1937). The county's population grew from about 86,000 in 1950 to 230,000 by 1990. Marin became one of the wealthiest counties in the United States, and its relatively modest population means fewer birth records in our database compared to larger counties — but the records span from the 1850s to present.
How to Get a Certified Marin County Birth Certificate
While CaliforniaBirthIndex.org provides free index information, you'll need a certified birth certificate for official purposes like passports, driver's licenses, or proving identity.
Marin County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk
— Address: 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 232, San Rafael, CA 94903
— Phone: (415) 473-6092
— Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
— Website: Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk
Fee: $31 per certified copy. As of January 1, 2026 (AB 64 $2 increase). Fee is non-refundable even if no record is found.
Ways to Order
In Person: Visit the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk at 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 232, San Rafael, CA 94903. Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Most in-person requests are processed the same day or within a few business days.
By Mail: Send a completed application with payment (check or money order) to: Marin County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 232, San Rafael, CA 94903. Allow 2-4 weeks for processing and delivery.
Through the State: You can also order from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for $31 per copy. See our guide: How to Get a Certified Birth Certificate.
Recent Births
For births within the last 6 weeks, contact the Marin County Office of Vital Statistics at 10 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael — phone (415) 473-4163. After 6 weeks, the Recorder's office handles all records.
Marin County Specifics
The Marin County Recorder's office is located inside the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Civic Center — one of the architect's last commissions and a National Historic Landmark. The office opens at 9:00 AM, later than most California county offices, and closes at 4:00 PM. Marin has birth records going back to the 1850s, among the earliest in California. For mail-in requests, download and print the application form from the county website, complete it, and mail with check or money order payable to "County of Marin."
Authorized vs. Informational Copies
Marin County issues two types of certified birth certificates:
— Authorized copy: Can be used to establish identity (for passports, driver's licenses, etc.). Only available to the person named on the certificate, their parents, legal guardians, or other authorized individuals.
— Informational copy: Marked "Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity." Available to anyone but cannot be used for identification purposes.
What If I Can't Find a Record?
If you can't find a Marin County birth record in our database, consider:
— Trying alternate name spellings or maiden names
— The birth may have occurred in a neighboring county
— Pre-1905 births are not included in the California Birth Index
— Contact the Marin County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk directly at (415) 473-6092
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