Find California Death Records
California death records give proof of death for legal use and family history research. These records are kept by county offices and the state health department. You can search for death certificates from July 1905 to the present through county clerk offices or the California Department of Public Health. Each county maintains its own death records, and many offer online search tools to help you find the documents you need. Death certificates show the name of the person who died, the date and place of death, and other key facts.
California Death Records Quick Facts
California Death Certificate Access
Two main offices handle death records in California. County clerk offices keep records for deaths that took place in their county. The state health department has copies of all death records from July 1905 to now. Both can give you certified copies.
The California Department of Public Health Vital Records office is the state agency for death certificates. They keep a permanent public record of every death in California since July 1905. You can order from them by mail, through VitalChek online, or at a county office. The state office takes longer to process requests than most county offices do. Average wait time is five to seven weeks for mail orders sent to the state office in Sacramento.
County clerk offices work faster for most people. Each of California's 58 counties maintains death records for events in that county. You can walk in and get same day service in many counties. Some counties let you order online through their own website or through third party systems like VitalChek or Permitium. Fees range from $23 to $33 per copy, with most counties charging $26.
The official death records request page from the state health department shows you how to apply. You need to fill out Form VS 112 and mail it with payment. The form asks for the name of the person, date of death, and place of death. If you want an authorized copy, you must get your signature notarized on the sworn statement.
Death records become available about two weeks after the date of death. The county files the record first. Then the state gets a copy. If you need a certificate right away, go to the county where the death took place.
Authorized vs Informational Copies
California law sets two types of death certificates. An authorized copy has full legal use. An informational copy is for research only. The difference matters when you order.
Authorized copies work for settling estates, claiming insurance, closing accounts, and other legal tasks. Only certain people can get an authorized copy under California Health and Safety Code Section 103526. That includes the spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the person who died. Legal representatives, court appointees, and law enforcement can also get authorized copies. You must sign a notarized sworn statement to prove you qualify. Funeral homes can order authorized copies on behalf of family members.
Informational copies are open to anyone. They show the same facts but have a stamp that says "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY" across the page. These work fine for genealogy or personal records. You do not need a notarized statement to get an informational copy. Just fill out the form and pay the fee.
The fee is the same for both types. Most counties charge $26 per copy. The state charges $26 through VitalChek or $24 by mail. You pay whether the record is found or not.
How Long It Takes
Wait times depend on where you order and how you order. In person service is fastest. Mail orders take longer.
County offices offer same day service for walk in requests in most cases. Records from 1960 to now can be printed while you wait. Older records from 1905 to 1959 may take a few business days. Some small counties need up to a week for very old records. Call ahead if you need a record from before 1960.
The state health department in Sacramento processes mail requests in five to seven weeks on average according to the official processing times page. Amendment requests take nine to eleven weeks. The state office handles a large volume of mail. County offices are usually much faster even for mail orders.
Online orders through VitalChek get processed by the county or state office that handles that record. The actual processing time is the same as a mail order. You just skip mailing the form. VitalChek charges extra service fees on top of the certificate cost. Expedited shipping costs more but does not speed up how long the office takes to process your order.
Order Death Certificates Online
Many California counties let you order death certificates through the web. This saves you a trip to the office. You still have to wait for the certificate to arrive by mail.
VitalChek is the main online vendor used by over 50 California counties. You can visit VitalChek's California page to order from the state or from counties that use their system. The site charges a processing fee of around $10 to $13 per order plus the certificate cost. You also pay for shipping. Credit cards and debit cards are accepted.
Some counties run their own online systems. Permitium is used by about a dozen counties including Sacramento, San Bernardino, and Fresno. Tyler Technologies hosts portals for a few counties. These county systems often charge lower fees than VitalChek. Check your county's clerk website to see what options they offer.
Online orders still require you to prove who you are and why you need the record. For an authorized copy, you will need to upload a notarized sworn statement or use electronic identity verification. For an informational copy, you just fill out the form and pay.
Old Death Records and Archives
Deaths before July 1905 are not at the state office. You must contact the county where the death took place.
The California State Archives has some pre-1905 death records from 28 counties. These are available for research if the record is more than 75 years old. The State Archives is located in Sacramento at 1500 11th Street. Call them at 916-653-6814 to ask if they have the record you need. Not all counties sent records to the archives, so you may need to go to the county directly.
Many old California death records have been microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah. You can view these films through LDS Family History Centers. Some are also on Ancestry and FamilySearch websites. These are informational copies only and not certified.
County recorder offices may have death records going back to the 1850s or 1860s depending on when the county was formed. Fees and access rules vary. Some counties keep very old records in storage and need extra time to pull them.
California Death Record Laws
State law controls who can get death records and what type they can get. The main statute is Health and Safety Code Section 103526. It took effect July 1, 2003 and set up the two tier system of authorized and informational copies.
The law requires a notarized sworn statement signed under penalty of perjury for authorized copies. You must declare that you are one of the people allowed to get the record. Law enforcement and government agencies are exempt from the notary rule. Funeral establishments are also exempt when ordering on behalf of authorized family members.
If you request an authorized copy but do not qualify, the office will send you an informational copy instead. The fee is not refunded. Senate Bill 1614 bars the state from putting birth and death indexes on the internet. This protects against identity theft. Indexes are available to government agencies and some other parties but not to the general public online.
All certified copies must be printed on special security paper with watermarks, color shifting ink, and other anti fraud features. These standards are set in Health and Safety Code Section 103526.5. Some counties now offer blockchain verified certificates as an option.
Research Resources in California
The California State Archives offers help for family history research. Their FAQ page answers common questions about vital records. Staff can tell you if they have records from your county and time period. You can visit in person or call for help.
If you know where the death took place, contact that county's clerk office first. They will have the fastest service. If you do not know the county, you can order from the state office. The state has copies of all deaths since July 1905. Just provide as much information as you have. The more details you give, the better chance they find the record.
For deaths after July 1905 with an unknown county, write to California Department of Public Health, Vital Records, MS 5103, PO Box 997410, Sacramento CA 95899-7410. Include the full name, approximate date of death, and any other facts you know. The search fee is $24 and is kept even if no record is found.
Browse California Death Records by Location
By County
Each California county maintains death records for events in that county. Browse by county to find contact information, fees, online ordering options, and office locations for the county where the death occurred.
Popular counties: Los Angeles County, San Diego County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Santa Clara County
View All 58 California Counties
By City
City pages help you find the county office that handles death records for your city. California cities do not issue death certificates themselves. All certificates come from county offices.
Major cities: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno