Search Butte County Death Records

Butte County keeps death records through two separate offices. The Clerk-Recorder maintains historical records and handles most walk in requests. The Public Health Department holds recent death records, typically the current year and the prior year. Both offices can issue certified copies for deaths that took place in Butte County. You can order online through VitalChek or the county's own web portal. Mail and in person requests are also accepted. Each death certificate costs $26.00. The county has online ordering systems that work around the clock for people who need to request records after business hours. Processing times vary by how you order and which office you use.

Butte County Clerk-Recorder

The Clerk-Recorder office handles death certificates for all years. They maintain the permanent historical record of all deaths in Butte County. This office is your main contact for older records and walk in service.

The official death certificates page from the Clerk-Recorder is at buttevotes.net/197/Death-Certificates. That page explains how to request copies and what documents you need. It also links to the county's online ordering portal.

The Clerk-Recorder offers an online self-service portal for ordering vital records. You can access it at recorder.buttecounty.net/web/action/ACTIONGROUP201S1. This system lets you order death certificates, pay with a credit card, and have the certificate mailed to you. Service fees apply for online orders.

Butte County Public Health Department

The Public Health Department maintains recent death records. They usually have records for the current year and the prior year. If you need a certificate for a very recent death, start with Public Health. They may be able to process it faster than the Clerk-Recorder.

The Public Health vital records page is at buttecounty.net/677/Death-Certificates. That page provides details on how to order from the Health Department. It explains which records they have and how to submit a request.

Public Health also uses VitalChek for online ordering. VitalChek is a third party vendor authorized by many California counties. You can order death certificates through VitalChek and have them mailed to you. Processing fees apply in addition to the $26.00 certificate fee.

Cost of Death Certificates

Death certificates cost $26.00 per copy in Butte County. This is the standard fee set by California law.

Online orders through VitalChek or the county portal include additional service fees. These fees vary depending on which system you use and which payment method you choose. VitalChek charges a processing fee per transaction plus credit card fees if applicable. The county portal has its own service fees. The base certificate cost stays at $26.00, but the total can be higher once fees are added.

Mail and in person orders avoid online fees. You can pay by check, money order, or cash at the office. Make checks payable to Butte County Clerk-Recorder or Butte County Public Health, depending on which office you use. The search fee is non-refundable. If the office cannot locate the record, they keep the fee.

Processing Times for Requests

Walk in requests at the Clerk-Recorder office may be processed the same day or within a few business days. It depends on how old the record is and how busy the office is. Recent records print faster. Older records take more time to retrieve.

Mail orders typically take one to three weeks from the date the office receives your request. After processing, delivery takes several more days. Online orders through VitalChek or the county portal take about the same time as mail orders. You are paying for convenience, not speed.

Death records become available about two weeks after the date of death. Do not try to order a certificate immediately after someone dies. Wait at least two weeks for the county to file the record. The official California death records request page explains this waiting period. It applies to all California counties, including Butte.

Details Required to Order

Have this information ready when you request a death certificate:

• Full name of the person who died
• Date of death or approximate year
• Place of death in Butte County
• Your name and current mailing address
• Your relationship to the deceased
• Number of copies you need

If you do not know the exact date, provide the year or a range of years. The office will search their files. Accurate information helps them find the record faster. Incomplete or incorrect details can delay the search or lead to a failed search. The search fee is non-refundable, so make sure you have the right county and the right details before you order.

Who Can Get Certified Copies

California law sets rules for 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. Informational copies do not need a notarized statement. Anyone can order an informational copy without proving a relationship. Informational copies have a stamp that says they cannot be used to establish identity. They work for genealogy but not for legal use. The fee is the same for both types.

Older Death 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 California counties.

Call them at 916-653-6814 to ask if they have Butte 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 include microfilmed copies and original records from 28 California counties.

Neighboring Counties

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

Nearby counties include Glenn County, Tehama County, Plumas County, Yuba County, and Sutter 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.