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HomeHealth and Safety CodeDiv. 102Pt. 1Ch. 3Art. 1§ 102405 Birth Certificate Signing Authority

§ 102405 Birth Certificate Signing Authority

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

§ 102405 Birth Certificate Signing Authority

This law says that if a baby is born in a hospital or birth center, the person in charge can sign the birth certificate if the doctor or midwife isn't around. They also have to make sure the birth certificate gets registered on time.

Key Takeaways

  • •If a baby is born in a hospital or birth center, the boss or someone they pick can sign the birth certificate if the doctor or midwife isn't there.
  • •This person has to make sure the birth certificate is sent to the local office on time.
  • •This rule only applies to hospitals or licensed birth centers, not home births.

Example

A baby is born at 3 AM in a hospital, and the doctor who delivered the baby has already left for the day.

The hospital manager or someone they choose can sign the birth certificate instead of waiting for the doctor to come back. They also have to send the certificate to the right office quickly, just like the doctor would have.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 102405 Birth Certificate Signing Authority

For live births that occur in a hospital, or a state-licensed alternative birth center, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 1204, the administrator of the hospital or center or a representative designated by the administrator in writing may sign the birth certificate certifying the fact of birth instead of the attending physician and surgeon, certified nurse midwife, or principal attendant if the physician and surgeon, certified nurse midwife, or principal attendant is not available to sign the certificate; and shall be responsible for registering the certificate with the local registrar within the time specified in Section 102400. (Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 64, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2001.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

live birthshospitalstate-licensed alternative birth centeradministratorbirth certificateattending physiciancertified nurse midwifeprincipal attendantlocal registrar

Related Statutes

  • § 102415 Home Birth Certificate Requirements
  • § 102410 Newborn Footprint Requirement
  • § 105100 Aging Population Health Trends
  • § 128135 Health Workforce Pilot Projects
  • § 1797.120 Ambulance Patient Offload Standards

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 102405.
View Official Source