Replacing Vital Records

If you were born in the U.S. and need a replacement birth certificate, you will need to search for the pertinent vital records office for the state or county or city in which you were born. The exact process will vary by jurisdiction, as will the cost.

You may find the following helpful:

How to Get a Copy of Your Birth Certificate
Where to Write for Vital Records

If you are an American who was born overseas, such as a military dependent born abroad: Replace or Amend a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA)

If you need replacement copies of things like marriage certificates, the process is similar. But most people on the street will be most concerned with replacing their birth certificate or other record of birth.

You will need a Mailing Address of some sort. In downtown San Diego, Presbyterian Urban Ministries may be able to provide you with a mailing address for purposes of replacing ID and getting replacement birth certificates.

Once you get replacement vital records, you need to protect them. At a minimum, you should store them in Ziploc bags so they don't get wet and ruined. But you might also consider getting a safe deposit box for your vital records, especially if you expect to remain in the general area for the foreseeable future.



If you are in downtown San Diego, there are organizations that may help you get ID and birth certificates, such as Presbyterian Urban Ministries. If you have to do this yourself, it can take time to come up with the funds, etc.