San Benito County Birth Records
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San Benito County Birth Records (1905-1995)
CaliforniaBirthIndex.org provides free access to San Benito 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 San Benito County Birth Records
Each birth record in our San Benito County database includes:
— Full name (first, middle, last)
— Date of birth
— Sex
— Mother's maiden name
— County of birth (San Benito 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 San Benito County Birth Records
Use the search bar at the top of any page to find San Benito 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 San Benito County.
About San Benito County
San Benito County was created on February 12, 1874, carved from Monterey County, with additional territory from Merced and Fresno counties added in 1887. Named after the San Benito River (itself named by Father Juan Crespi in 1772 for Saint Benedict of Nursia), the county encompasses nearly 1,400 square miles of California's Central Coast. Hollister, founded in 1868 by William Welles Hollister on the former Rancho San Justo, became the county seat. The county remained relatively small through most of the 20th century — growing from about 15,000 in 1950 to nearly 37,000 by 1990 — but has seen rapid growth since as a bedroom community for Silicon Valley workers.
How to Get a Certified San Benito 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.
San Benito County County Clerk-Recorder-Elections
— Address: 1601 Lana Way, Hollister, CA 95023
— Phone: (831) 636-4029
— Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (arrive by 4:30 PM for applications)
— Website: County Clerk-Recorder-Elections
Fee: $31 per certified copy. As of January 1, 2026 (AB 64 $2 increase). In-person payments: cash only — bring exact amount.
Ways to Order
In Person: Visit the County Clerk-Recorder-Elections at 1601 Lana Way, Hollister, CA 95023. Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (arrive by 4:30 PM for applications). 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: San Benito County Clerk-Recorder, 1601 Lana Way, Hollister, CA 95023. 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
Birth records are available 21 days after the date of the event. For the current and previous year, you may also obtain certificates from the San Benito County Health and Human Services Vital Records office at 351 Tres Pinos Road, Suite A-202, Hollister, CA 95023.
San Benito County Specifics
San Benito County is one of the smallest counties covered in this database by 1990 population. In-person payments are cash only — bring the exact amount for faster processing. Online orders through VitalChek require you to print the application, have your signature notarized, and mail or fax the notarized page separately. Hollister sits atop the Calaveras Fault and is one of the world's best examples of aseismic creep — a geological oddity that makes it a unique place of birth.
Authorized vs. Informational Copies
San Benito 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 San Benito 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 San Benito County County Clerk-Recorder-Elections directly at (831) 636-4029
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