Amador County Death Records

The Amador County Recorder office in Jackson handles death certificates for anyone who died in this county. Records start in 1872 and go to the present. Amador County was formed in 1854, but there was no law in California requiring the registration of a birth or death until 1915. That means records before 1915 are incomplete. From 1915 forward, records are more consistent. The office is at 810 Court Street in Jackson. You can request copies by mail or in person. The county does not accept online orders. Payment must be by check, money order, or cash. No debit or credit cards are accepted. Certificates are usually mailed within one to two business days from the date they receive your request.

County Recorder Office Location

The Amador County Recorder is at 810 Court Street in Jackson, California 95642. This is the only office location for vital records in the county. Staff handle all requests for death certificates at this address.

You can call the office at 209-223-6468 during regular business hours. If you need to send a fax, use 209-223-6204. The office can answer questions about whether they have a specific record on file. Calling ahead saves time. They will tell you what documents you need and what payment methods they accept.

Visit the official vital records page at amadorgov.org/government/recorder-clerk/vital-records for more information. That page explains how to order birth and death certificates from Amador County. It lists the fees and requirements.

Death Certificate Costs and Payment

Each death certificate costs $26.00. This is the standard fee set by California law.

Amador County only accepts check, money order, or cash. They do not take debit cards or credit cards. This is important. If you mail an order, send a check or money order made payable to Amador County Recorder. Do not send cash through the mail. If you visit in person, you can pay cash.

The search fee is non-refundable. If the office cannot find the record, they keep the $26.00. Make sure you have the right county and the right details before you order. Call ahead to confirm they have the record.

How Long It Takes

Amador County processes mail requests fast. Certificates are usually mailed within one to two business days from the date they receive your order. This is faster than many California counties.

Walk in service may be same day or next business day, depending on how busy the office is. If you need a certificate right away, visit in person. Bring your identification and payment. Staff will help you complete the request form.

Death records become available about two weeks after the death occurs. Do not order immediately. Wait at least two weeks for the county to file the record. The California Department of Public Health death records page explains this waiting period. It applies to all California counties.

Information Required for Requests

You need these facts to order a death certificate:

• Full name of the person who died
• Date of death or year
• Place of death in Amador County
• Your name and mailing address
• Your relationship to the deceased
• How many copies you want

If you do not know the exact date, give the year or a range of years. The office will search their files. The more details you provide, the easier it is for them to find the record. Incomplete information can slow down the search or lead to a failed search.

Who Can Get Authorized Copies

California law controls who can get an authorized death certificate. The law is in Health and Safety Code Section 103526. Authorized persons include the spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the deceased.

Legal representatives, attorneys for the estate, and court appointees can also get authorized copies. Funeral homes can order on behalf of authorized family members. To get an authorized copy, you must complete a notarized sworn statement under penalty of perjury. This statement declares that you are an authorized person under California law.

If you do not qualify for an authorized copy, you can still get an informational copy. Informational copies show the same information but have a stamp across them that says "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY." Anyone can order an informational copy without proving their relationship. These are useful for genealogy but not for legal use. The fee is the same for both types.

Older Death Records

Amador County has death records from 1872 forward. The county was formed in 1854, but death registration was not required by California law until 1915. Records before 1915 may be incomplete or missing. From 1915 to the present, records are more complete.

For very old records or records before 1872, check with the California State Archives in Sacramento. The State Archives maintains some pre-1905 vital records from select California counties. Call them at 916-653-6814 to ask if they have Amador 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. They also have microfilmed records available. Some old Amador County death records may be available through FamilySearch or Ancestry websites. These are informational copies only and cannot be certified.

Nearby Counties

If the death occurred outside Amador County, you need to contact the county where it took place. Amador County can only issue death certificates for deaths that happened within its borders.

Neighboring counties include El Dorado County, Calaveras County, Sacramento County, and San Joaquin County. Each county maintains its own death records. If you are not sure where the death occurred, start with the county where the person lived or where the hospital was located.