Death Records in Contra Costa County

Contra Costa County keeps death records through both the Health Services Department and the County Clerk-Recorder's Office in Martinez. You can search for death certificates for anyone who died in Contra Costa County. The Health Department charges $30 per copy. Online ordering works through VitalChek. You can also request copies by mail or in person at the county offices. Both locations serve residents across the county with helpful staff and clear instructions. Processing times vary depending on how you order and how recent the death was. Most requests are filled within a few weeks.

Contra Costa Health Services Vital Records

The Contra Costa Health Services Department runs the main vital records office. They handle recent death certificates and offer online ordering through VitalChek. This is the office most people use when they need a death certificate quickly.

You can order online any time through their website. The system walks you through each step. You pay with a credit card or debit card. VitalChek adds a service fee on top of the county fee. Orders arrive by mail in about two to three weeks.

For recent deaths, wait at least two weeks before ordering. Records need time to be filed and entered into the system. If you try too early, the office will not find the record yet.

County Clerk-Recorder Office

The County Clerk-Recorder also handles death certificate requests. Their office is at www.contracostavote.gov. They maintain permanent records for all deaths in the county.

The Clerk-Recorder operates from the County Administration Building in Martinez. You can visit in person, send a request by mail, or use their online system. Staff can help you locate older records if you need certificates from many years ago. The Clerk-Recorder has records going back further than the Health Department.

Death Certificate Fees and Payment

Contra Costa County charges $30.00 per copy when you order through the Health Services Department. This is higher than most other California counties.

When you use VitalChek, you also pay their service fees. These fees vary based on how fast you want delivery and what payment method you use. The total can be $40 to $50 or more per copy with all fees included. If cost matters, consider ordering directly from the county by mail to avoid the extra charges.

The county accepts checks and money orders by mail. Make payments out to Contra Costa County. Online orders go through VitalChek and take credit cards or debit cards. In person orders accept cash, checks, and cards depending on the office.

How Long Processing Takes

Wait times depend on your ordering method. Online and mail orders take longer than in person visits.

VitalChek orders process in about two to three weeks. The county receives your request electronically, pulls the record, makes the certified copy, and mails it to you. Add a few more days for delivery. Total time is usually three to four weeks from when you order to when you get the certificate.

Mail requests take about the same time as online. The county needs to receive your letter, process it, and send back the certificate. Figure on three to four weeks total.

In person requests at the Clerk-Recorder can sometimes be done while you wait, depending on how busy they are and how old the record is. Call ahead to ask about current wait times. Recent records are faster. Old records may take a few days.

Order Death Certificates Online

Contra Costa County uses VitalChek for online orders. VitalChek is a private company that many California counties hire to run their web ordering systems.

Go to the VitalChek website and select California, then Contra Costa County. You fill out a form with the name of the person who died, the date of death, and your information. VitalChek checks with the county to see if the record exists. If found, you pay and VitalChek sends your order to the county. The county makes the certified copy and mails it.

VitalChek is open every day, all day. You can order at midnight if you want. Processing still takes a few weeks because the county works regular business hours.

Information Required for Your Order

Gather these facts before you start your request:

• Full name of the deceased person
• Date of death or range of dates
• City or location in Contra Costa County where death occurred
• Your name and address
• Your relationship to the deceased
• Type of copy you need (authorized or informational)

If you want an authorized copy, you need to prove you are legally allowed to get one. This means you must be a close family member. You also need to sign a notarized statement swearing you are who you say you are. If you cannot get an authorized copy, you can still order an informational copy. Anyone can get an informational copy without the notarized form.

The more details you give, the faster the county can find the record. Exact dates help. If you only know the year, that still works but may take longer.

Who Can Request a Death Certificate

California law decides who gets an authorized death certificate. The rules come from Health and Safety Code Section 103526. Authorized copies work for legal purposes like settling estates or claiming life insurance.

You qualify if you are a spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling. Domestic partners also qualify. Attorneys and people appointed by a court to handle the estate can get authorized copies. Funeral homes that are working for the family can order them too.

If you do not fit these categories, ask for an informational copy instead. Informational copies have a watermark that says they cannot be used to establish identity. These copies cost the same but do not require a notarized statement. They work fine for family history and genealogy.

Older Death Records

Contra Costa County has death records going back many decades. The Clerk-Recorder maintains the older records. For deaths before 1905, you need to contact the county directly because the state did not keep vital records before that year.

Very old records may be harder to find or may not exist at all. Early California counties did not always file death records the same way we do now. Some records were lost over time. The county will search for what you need, but they cannot guarantee they will find very old records. You still pay the search fee even if they come up empty.

For genealogy research, check the California State Archives as well. They have some county records from the 1800s.

FamilySearch and Ancestry also have some Contra Costa County death records digitized. Those are informational only and not certified copies.

California Statewide Death Records

If you do not know which county to contact, you can order from the state. The California Department of Public Health has death records for the whole state starting from July 1905.

Visit the CDPH death records page for more information. State processing is slower. They take five to seven weeks on average. County offices are faster. But the state can search all counties if you are not sure where the death happened.

The state charges $24 per copy, which is less than Contra Costa County charges. But you wait much longer.

Major Cities in Contra Costa County

Contra Costa County covers a large area in the East Bay. Several major cities are part of this county. All death records for these cities go through the county offices.

Cities with pages: Antioch, Concord, Richmond

Other cities in the county include Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Pittsburg, Brentwood, and Hercules. None of these cities issue death certificates themselves. You must go through the county.

Nearby Counties

If the death took place in a different county, contact that county's office. Each county only has records for deaths within its borders.

Neighboring counties: Alameda County, Solano County, Sacramento County, San Joaquin County, Marin County