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HomeHealth and Safety CodeDiv. 102Pt. 1Ch. 15Art. 2§ 103655 Free Press Access To Records

§ 103655 Free Press Access To Records

Health and Safety Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 103655 Free Press Access To Records

This law says newspapers and news reporters can look at birth, death, marriage, and similar official records without having to pay a fee.

Key Takeaways

  • •Newspapers and their staff can inspect vital records for free.
  • •The rule covers birth, fetal death, marriage, and any other required certificates.
  • •It also includes any index or list of those certificates.

Example

A reporter is writing a story about a famous local family and needs to see the family's marriage certificate at the county recorder's office.

Because of this law, the county cannot charge the reporter any money to let them view the marriage certificate while they are doing their job.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 103655 Free Press Access To Records

No fee shall be charged any publisher or editor of, or reporter employed by, a newspaper of general circulation or a news service to inspect, in the course and scope of his or her position or employment, any certificate of live birth, fetal death, or marriage, or any other certificate required by this part to be filed in the Office of the State Registrar or the office of any local registrar or county recorder, or any index of the certificates. (Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1996.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

newspaper of general circulationnews servicecertificate of live birthfetal deathmarriageOffice of the State Registrarlocal registrarcounty recorder

Related Statutes

  • § 103627 Domestic Violence Fee Increase
  • § 103660 Public Entity Fee Exemption
  • § 102320 Birth Certificate Numbering Rules
  • § 102335 Birth Death Certificate Transmission
  • § 102365 Local Birth Death Records Disposal

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 103655.
View Official Source