Vital Records
The governmental authority is tasked with the safekeeping of the vital records. The original copy of the vital record is always kept by the government authority. In the United States vital records are public and in most cases can be viewed by anyone in person at the governmental authority. Copies can also be requested for a fee. There are two types of copies: certified and uncertified. Certified copies are official copies that can be used as identification whereas uncertified copies do not contain the governmental authority’s seal and often are marked that they should not be used for identification. Fees for certified copies are higher than uncertified copies. Some states have started making vital records available online for free. Vital records that are online typically are 90 or more years old and assume the person listed in the record is no longer alive.
Births
- California Birth Index, 1905-1995 at FamilySearch.org
- California Births and Christenings, 1812-1988 at FamilySearch.org
- San Luis Obispo County Register of Births & Delayed Birth Certificate Index available on San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society website. (opens in new window)
- Click on “Check this index for persons of interest”
- Note entries in “Notes” and “Image/Pg” columns
- If “SLOCGS Pub” use SLO Births [Old Publication-Scans] link
- If “FS/Del Births” use FS Online: SLO Births link
Deaths
- Social Security Death Master File
- Early West Coast Deaths from Overland Monthly and Out West Magazine, 1872
- Pre 1905 Death Index
Marriages
- California Marriages, 1850-1945 at FamilySearch.org
- Early West Coast Marriages from Overland Monthly and Out West Magazine, 1872
- San Luis Obispo County Marriages on San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society website.
- Western States Marriage Index from BYU Family History Center
Vital Record Transcriptions
- San Luis Obispo County Vital Records Indexes & Images
- Transcriptions by Linda L. Donnelly. Each transcription is a single document in PDF format.
- Transcriptions by Barbara Erden and Patti Jo Overturf: Section One Section Two
Order Vital Records
To order certified copies of vital records, see SLO County Clerk-Recorder Vital Records
Births Certificates
Requesting a birth record filed in the County of San Luis Obispo can be completed in person, by mail, fax, or email. The fee for each record is $32.00. Instructions for filing a request for a certified copy of a Birth Certificate and an application form for doing so are available online through the County Clerk-Recorder website, Birth Certificates page.
Death Certificates
Requesting a death record filed in the County of San Luis Obispo can be completed in person, by mail, fax, or email. The fee for each record is $24.00. Instructions for filing a request for a certified copy of a Death Certificate and an application form for doing so are available online through the County Clerk-Recorder website, Death Certificates.
Marriage Certificates
Requesting a marriage record filed in the County of San Luis Obispo can be completed in person, by mail, fax, or email. The fee for each record is $17.00. Instructions for filing a request for a certified copy of a Marriage Certificate and an application form for doing so are available online through the County Clerk-Recorder website, Marriage Certificates page.