Fresno County Death Records

Fresno County maintains death records through the County Recorder's Office and the Public Health Department in Fresno. You can search for death certificates for anyone who died in the county from the late 1800s to the present. The Recorder handles older records and offers in person service. The Public Health Department uses the Permitium online system for recent deaths. Each certified copy costs $26. VitalChek is also available as an online ordering option. Staff at both offices can help you find the record you need and explain the requirements. Processing times vary from same day for walk in service to a few weeks for online and mail orders.

Fresno County Recorder's Office

The County Recorder handles all vital records including death certificates. Their office is in downtown Fresno at the County Hall of Records. This is the main office for obtaining certified copies of death records.

You can visit the Recorder in person during regular business hours. Staff can look up the record and make a certified copy for you while you wait in most cases. Recent records are fastest. Older records might take a bit longer to retrieve from storage. The Recorder has death records dating back to the 1800s.

Check the Recorder's homepage for current office hours and contact information. Call ahead if you have questions about a specific record or need to confirm they have what you are looking for.

The Recorder accepts walk in customers without appointments. Bring valid identification and know the name and date of death for the person you need. Payment can be made with cash, check, or card depending on current accepted methods.

Fresno County Public Health Department

The Public Health Department also handles death certificate requests, especially for recent deaths. They use the Permitium online ordering system. This makes it easy to order from home at any time of day.

Go to fresnocav.permitium.com/rod to access the Permitium portal. You create an account or log in, then search for the death record by name and date. If the system finds a match, you add it to your cart and pay with a credit card or debit card.

Permitium charges a service fee on top of the county fee. The total is usually around $32 to $35 per copy. Your order goes to the Public Health Department electronically. They process it and mail the certified copy to you. This takes about two to three weeks from order to delivery.

VitalChek Online Ordering

Fresno County also works with VitalChek for online death certificate orders. VitalChek is a third party company that runs online ordering for many California counties.

Visit www.vitalchek.com and select California, then Fresno County. Follow the steps to enter the information about the death and your contact details. VitalChek searches the county records. If they find the record, you pay and VitalChek forwards your request to the county.

VitalChek adds service fees similar to Permitium. The total cost is usually $35 to $45 per copy depending on shipping options. Processing time is about the same as Permitium, around two to three weeks. You can use either system. They both work the same way and have similar fees.

Death Certificate Costs

Each certified death certificate in Fresno County costs $26.00. This is the standard fee under California law.

When you order online through Permitium or VitalChek, you pay the $26 county fee plus their service fees. Service fees are usually $5 to $10 per order, plus credit card processing fees. Shipping can add more cost if you choose expedited delivery. The total for an online order is often $35 to $45.

In person and mail orders cost just $26 with no extra fees. You can save money by avoiding the online systems. But online is more convenient if you live far from Fresno or cannot visit during business hours.

The county accepts cash, checks, and money orders in person. Online orders require a credit card or debit card. Make checks payable to Fresno County Recorder.

If you order multiple copies at once, you pay $26 for each copy. The search fee is included. If the county looks and cannot find the record, they keep the $26 for the search.

How Long It Takes to Get Your Certificate

Processing time varies based on how you order. Walk in service is fastest. Online and mail take longer.

In person requests at the Recorder's Office can often be completed the same day. Staff pulls the record and makes a certified copy while you wait. This works best for recent deaths. Older records from decades ago may require you to come back the next day if they are in deep storage. Call ahead to check availability.

Online orders through Permitium or VitalChek take two to three weeks on average. The county receives the request, locates the record, certifies a copy, and mails it to you. Delivery time adds a few more days. Total time from order to arrival is usually three weeks or so.

Mail requests take about the same time as online orders. You send a written request with payment. The county processes it when it arrives and mails back the certificate. Expect three to four weeks total for mail orders.

Death records become available about two weeks after the date of death. Do not try to order a certificate right away. Wait at least two weeks for the county to file and index the record. This is standard across California.

Information Required to Order

Have these details ready when you place your order:

• Full name of the person who died
• Date of death or approximate year
• City or area in Fresno County where death took place
• Your relationship to the deceased
• Your name and current mailing address

The more specific you can be, the easier it is for the county to locate the record. Exact dates are best. If you only know the year, provide that along with other details like the person's age or last known address. The county will search based on the information you give.

For an authorized copy, you need to show you qualify under California law. This means being a spouse, child, parent, or other close relative. You must provide a notarized sworn statement declaring your relationship. For an informational copy, anyone can order without the notarized statement. Both types cost the same $26.

Who Can Get a Death Certificate

California law controls who can receive an authorized death certificate. The statute is Health and Safety Code Section 103526.

Authorized copies go to the spouse, domestic partner, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings of the deceased. Attorneys representing the estate, court-appointed administrators, and funeral directors also qualify. The law lists exactly who can get an authorized copy.

Authorized copies can be used for legal purposes like settling estates, claiming benefits, or closing accounts. If you do not qualify for an authorized copy, you can still get an informational copy. Informational copies show the same facts but have a watermark stating "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY." These work for genealogy but not for legal use. Anyone can order an informational copy.

Older Fresno County Death Records

Fresno County has death records dating back to the late 1800s. The County Recorder maintains these older records in their archives. Not all early deaths were recorded. California did not require vital records registration until 1915. Before that, record keeping was less consistent.

For deaths before July 1905, you must contact the county. The state did not keep vital records before that date. The Recorder's Office is your only source for pre-1905 deaths in Fresno County. Very old records may be incomplete or missing. The county will search for what you need, but they cannot guarantee they will find records from the 1800s. You pay the search fee whether they find it or not.

The California State Archives may also have some Fresno County death records. Call them at 916-653-6814 to ask. Records more than 75 years old are open to the public without restrictions.

Genealogy websites like FamilySearch and Ancestry have digitized many old Fresno County records. These are informational copies only and cannot be certified.

California State Death Records

If you are not sure which county to contact, you can order from the California Department of Public Health. The state keeps copies of death records from all California counties starting July 1905.

Visit the CDPH death records page for instructions. The state charges $24 per copy, which is $2 less than Fresno County. But state processing takes much longer. State orders average five to seven weeks. County orders are faster.

Use the state if you do not know the county. If you know the death occurred in Fresno County, order directly from the county for quicker service.

Major Cities in Fresno County

Fresno County includes several major cities in the Central Valley. Fresno is the county seat and largest city. All death records for cities in the county are handled by the Recorder or Public Health Department.

Cities with pages: Fresno, Clovis

Other cities and communities in Fresno County include Coalinga, Reedley, Sanger, Selma, Kingsburg, Fowler, Parlier, Mendota, Huron, and Orange Cove. Deaths in any of these areas are recorded with Fresno County. Cities do not issue death certificates. Only the county has that authority.

Nearby Counties

If the death occurred outside Fresno County, you need to contact the county where it took place. Each county maintains its own vital records.

Neighboring counties: Madera County, Kings County, Tulare County, Inyo County, Mono County, Mariposa County, Merced County