Search Yolo County Genealogy Records

Yolo County genealogy records help researchers trace family history in California's Central Valley and Sacramento region. The Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder office maintains birth, death, and marriage records for events that occurred throughout the county. You can access vital records for ancestors who lived in Woodland, Davis, West Sacramento, and smaller Yolo County communities. Request records online through the county portal, mail applications to Woodland, or visit the office in person. Records span from county formation in 1850 through present day. Birth and death certificates provide core genealogy information, while marriage licenses and property records offer additional family details held at the recorder's office.

Yolo County Vital Records Office

The Yolo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder processes genealogy records requests. Birth and death certificates are available if the event took place in Yolo County. Marriage records exist for licenses issued by the county clerk. The office does not have records for events that occurred in other California counties.

Visit the office at 625 Court Street, Room 105, Woodland, CA 95695. Call 530-666-8130 for vital records questions. Office hours are Monday through Friday from eight in the morning to five in the afternoon. Plan your visit and bring photo identification if you go in person.

The county offers online ordering through a secure portal. Online requests add convenience fees but process faster than mail. The Yolo County online vital records portal lets you submit applications and pay with credit cards. Orders placed online typically ship within a few business days after approval.

Order Yolo County Genealogy Records

Birth certificates cost thirty one dollars per copy. Death records are twenty six dollars. Marriage certificates run nineteen dollars. These fees match California's 2026 statewide rates. Online orders add processing fees of about five dollars plus credit card charges.

Three ordering methods exist. Mail requests require completed applications with check or money order. Include exact names, dates, and locations for events. Allow two to three weeks for mail processing. In person visits to the Woodland office often provide same day service for records that are readily available. Online ordering through the county portal provides the fastest turnaround.

Genealogy researchers should request informational copies. These do not require notarized statements or sworn declarations. Informational copies cost the same as certified copies but have a legend stating they cannot establish identity. This does not matter for family history purposes. Only close relatives can obtain certified copies without restrictions under California Health and Safety Code Section 103526.

If no record is found, the office issues a Certificate of No Public Record. The search fee is retained as required by state law. This certificate confirms the office searched properly and found nothing under the details you provided.

Yolo County Historical Genealogy Records

Yolo County was formed in 1850 as one of California's original counties. Early settlers included Mexican land grant holders, American pioneers arriving during the Gold Rush, and immigrant farmers who developed the agricultural economy. County records reflect this diverse settlement history.

California did not require birth and death registration until 1915. Many events before that year went unrecorded. Voluntary registration began after 1905 when the state established its vital records system, but compliance remained low until the law changed. If you cannot find vital records for ancestors before 1915, check church records, cemetery files, newspaper archives, and probate records.

Marriage records exist from the 1850s forward since counties issued licenses from statehood. Pre-1905 vital records exist only at the county level. The state did not maintain centralized files before July 1, 1905. The California State Archives holds microfilm copies of some early Yolo County records as backup access if local records are unavailable.

Yolo County Genealogy Resources

The Yolo County Archives and Records Center maintains historical records beyond vital statistics. Property deeds, probate files, court records, and naturalization papers help trace family history. The archives welcome genealogy researchers by appointment. Call ahead to discuss your research needs and determine if relevant records exist.

Woodland Public Library and Davis Library both maintain local history collections. City directories, photographs, maps, and genealogy reference materials assist research. The Yolo County Historical Society preserves additional materials and can guide researchers to relevant sources. Their collections include family files, cemetery records, and biographical information on early settlers.

Davis is home to the University of California Davis Library which holds extensive California collections. Special Collections includes regional history materials, agricultural records, and manuscript collections. Some materials relate to Yolo County families and communities. Library staff assist with research questions during business hours.

California State Genealogy Archives

The California State Archives in Sacramento sits just across the county line from Yolo County. The archives hold genealogy collections from twenty eight counties. Census schedules from 1852, 1860, and 1880 list Yolo County residents with names, ages, occupations, and birthplaces. Military records include California militia units and Civil War volunteers.

Prison registers from San Quentin and Folsom contain entries for Yolo County residents. Supreme Court case files occasionally involve Yolo County property disputes or probate matters. The archives reading room at 1500 11th Street in Sacramento is open to the public. Call 916-653-6814 to ask about specific record holdings before visiting.

The California Department of Public Health maintains statewide vital records from 1905 forward. Order from the state if you do not know which county an event occurred in. State searches cover all California counties but take longer than county requests. Processing runs about fifteen business days for most birth and death records.

Free Online Genealogy Resources

FamilySearch offers free access to California vital record indexes. The California Birth Index 1905-1995 includes Yolo County entries. California Death Index covers 1905 to 1939. California Divorce Index spans 1966 to 1984. These databases provide index information only.

Index entries help confirm a record exists before you pay fees to order certificates. Search by name and approximate date to find relevant entries. Always verify index information by ordering official copies from the county recorder. Indexes contain errors and may not include all details found on certificates.

The California Digital Newspaper Collection at cdnc.ucr.edu has digitized Yolo County newspapers. Search for obituaries, marriage announcements, and local news about ancestors. The Woodland Daily Democrat and other papers provide family history context. Newspaper archives fill gaps when official records are missing or incomplete.

Tips for Yolo County Genealogy Research

Start with what you know. Write down full names, dates, and places. Work backward one generation at a time. Do not skip ahead to distant ancestors without solid connections through each generation. Yolo County's manageable record size makes thorough searches practical.

Order informational copies for genealogy purposes. These cost the same as certified copies but do not require notarized applications. Mail requests take longer than online or in person methods. The online portal provides fastest service but adds convenience fees. Choose the method that fits your timeline and budget.

Check multiple record types for each ancestor. Birth records list parents. Death certificates show birthplaces and parents' names. Marriage licenses name both sets of parents. Property records place families in specific locations. Probate files list heirs. Cross reference everything to build accurate family trees and identify errors.

Yolo County families often had ties to Sacramento County and other neighboring areas. Agricultural workers moved between counties following seasons. Check nearby counties if you hit dead ends. Chinese and Japanese farming families faced discrimination in record keeping. Cemetery records and newspaper archives sometimes provide better documentation than official vital records for these communities.

Yolo County Cities with Research Resources

Davis offers extensive library resources through the city library and UC Davis campus. The university archives hold regional history materials. West Sacramento grew more recently but sits on land with deep agricultural history. Woodland serves as county seat with the main recorder's office and county archives. Each community provides different genealogy research angles.

Neighboring California Counties

Genealogy research often requires searching multiple counties. Yolo County families had close connections to surrounding areas. Check these neighboring counties for additional records:

Sacramento County borders to the east and south. Solano County lies to the southwest. Napa County sits to the west. Colusa County extends to the north. Sutter County borders the northeast. Many Yolo County families moved between these counties for work, marriage, and land. Each county maintained separate vital records worth searching.