Find Alpine County Death Records

Alpine County maintains death records through the Assessor/Recorder's Office in Markleeville. This small mountain county serves residents with a single office location at 99 Water Street. The office handles death certificates for anyone who passed away in Alpine County. You can request copies in person, by mail, or through an online system. Staff recommend calling ahead at 530-694-2283 to verify they have the record on file before you place an order. This saves time and helps avoid rejections or delays. Records are usually mailed within two business days of receipt. The county uses Permitium for web based ordering around the clock.

Alpine County Assessor and Recorder

The Assessor/Recorder office sits in Markleeville at 99 Water Street. The physical address and mailing address differ. If you send mail, use PO Box 155, Markleeville, CA 96120. Walk in visitors use the Water Street location.

Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Staff can help you request death records during those hours. Call 530-694-2283 before you visit or order. The county recommends this step to minimize rejection or delays. They will tell you if the record exists in their files. You can also send email questions to jmillar@alpinecountyca.gov or fax requests to 530-694-2285.

The official vital records page from Alpine County is at alpinecountyca.gov/349/Birth-Death-Marriage-Certificates. That page explains how to order birth, death, and marriage certificates. It links to forms and the online system.

Cost for Death Certificates

Death certificates cost $26.00 per copy in Alpine County. This matches the standard fee for most California counties. You pay the same price whether you order online, by mail, or in person.

Online orders through Permitium include additional service fees. These fees cover credit card processing and the online portal. The base certificate fee stays at $26.00, but the total cost goes up once you add the online fees. If you want to avoid extra charges, order in person or by mail.

The county keeps the fee even if they cannot locate the record. That search fee is non-refundable. Make sure you have accurate information before you order. Calling ahead helps confirm the record exists.

Order Death Records Online

Alpine County uses Permitium for online death certificate orders. The portal is at alpinecav.permitium.com/rod. You can place orders any time of day or night.

The system accepts credit cards. You enter the details about the death and the person who died. The portal guides you through each step. Processing time is the same as mail orders. Your certificate arrives by mail within a few business days after processing. Service fees apply for online orders.

You still need to meet California law requirements for authorized copies. Permitium collects information about your relationship to the deceased. If you qualify as an authorized person, you get a certified copy that can be used for legal purposes. If not, you receive an informational copy marked as not valid for establishing identity.

Details Needed to Request Records

Have this information ready when you order:

• Full name of the person who died
• Date of death or approximate year
• Place of death in Alpine County
• Your name and current address
• Your relationship to the deceased

The more accurate your information, the faster the search goes. If you do not know the exact date, provide a range or the year. The office will search their files. Call ahead to verify the record exists before you send payment. That saves time and prevents rejected requests.

You can download a death certificate request form from the county website. Fill it out completely and mail it with your payment. The form asks for all the details the office needs to find the record.

How Long Requests Take

Alpine County processes requests quickly. In most cases, certificates are mailed within two business days from the date they receive your order. This applies to both mail and online requests.

Walk in requests may be completed the same day or within one business day, depending on how busy the office is. Calling ahead helps you know what to expect. If you need the certificate right away, visiting in person is your best option.

Keep in mind that death records become available about two weeks after the date of death. Do not try to order immediately. Wait at least two weeks for the record to be filed with the county. The official California death records request page explains this waiting period. It applies to all California counties, including Alpine.

Who Can Get Certified Copies

California law sets rules for who can get an authorized death certificate. These rules are in Health and Safety Code Section 103526. Authorized persons include the spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the person who died. Legal representatives and attorneys for the estate can also get authorized copies.

If you do not qualify, you can still request an informational copy. Informational copies show the same facts but have a stamp that says they cannot be used to establish identity. Anyone can order an informational copy without proving a relationship. These work for genealogy research but not for legal matters.

Authorized copies need a notarized sworn statement signed under penalty of perjury. You must declare that you are an authorized person under California law. Funeral establishments and government agencies are exempt from the notary requirement. Informational copies do not need a notarized statement.

Historical Records and State Resources

For very old death records or records before 1905, check with the California State Archives in Sacramento. The State Archives holds some pre-1905 vital records from select counties.

Call them at 916-653-6814 to ask if they have Alpine County death records from the time period you need. Records more than 75 years old are open for research without restriction. You can visit the archives at 1500 11th Street in Sacramento. Their collections contain microfilmed copies and original records from 28 California counties.

Neighboring Counties

If the death took place outside Alpine County, you need to contact the county where it occurred. Alpine County borders several other counties. Each county maintains its own death records.

Nearby counties include El Dorado County, Mono County, and Tuolumne County. If you are not sure where the death occurred, start with the county where the person lived or where the hospital was located. County lines can be confusing in mountain areas.