Marin County Death Records

Marin County death records are managed by the Health and Human Services Department in San Rafael. The vital statistics section maintains certificates for deaths throughout Marin County going back many decades. You can request certified copies in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek. Each certificate costs $26. Processing time ranges from same day for walk in service to about two weeks for mail and online orders. Marin County sits just north of San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge. San Rafael is the county seat. The health department handles all vital records including births, deaths, and fetal deaths for the county.

Health and Human Services Office

Marin County Health and Human Services handles death records for the county. The vital statistics office is at 3240 Kerner Boulevard, San Rafael, CA 94901. Staff process death certificate requests along with other vital records. Walk in service is available during business hours.

Office hours run Monday through Friday, typically 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Call ahead to verify hours at 415-473-4163. You can visit without an appointment. Bring valid photo ID and information about the death. Staff will search files and print certified copies. Recent deaths usually process same day. Older records may take a few days if stored in archives.

Visit www.marinhhs.org/vital-statistics-birth-death-records for more information about ordering death certificates from Marin County.

Order Online with VitalChek

Marin County uses VitalChek for online death certificate orders. VitalChek is a third party service that processes requests for many California counties. Go to www.vitalchek.com and select Marin County.

The VitalChek site guides you through the order form. Enter the deceased person's name, date of death, place of death in Marin County, and your information. Select whether you need an authorized or informational copy. Provide your relationship if ordering an authorized copy.

Payment goes by credit card or debit card. VitalChek charges the $26 county fee plus a service fee of about $7 to $13 and shipping costs. Total price depends on delivery speed you choose. Standard shipping is cheapest. Express options cost more but deliver faster.

Processing takes about two weeks after VitalChek forwards your order to the county. You can track status online with your confirmation number.

Certificate Fees

Marin County charges $26 per death certificate. This fee matches most California counties after the January 2026 increase under Assembly Bill 64.

Walk in orders can pay by cash, check, or money order. Mail orders require check or money order payable to Marin County Health and Human Services. Online orders through VitalChek use credit or debit cards and add VitalChek's service fees on top of the $26 base price.

If staff cannot locate the record, you still pay the $26 search fee. They issue a letter stating no record was found. Make sure your information is accurate before ordering.

Wait Times for Certificates

In person service at the San Rafael office is fastest. Most recent records print the same day. Staff can search, verify eligibility, and make a certified copy within a short time if the death is on file.

Older records from many decades ago may take a few days to retrieve from archives. The office will tell you when to return or they can mail the certificate once ready.

Mail orders take about two weeks from when the office receives your request to when they mail the certificate back. Add postal time on both ends for total wait of three to four weeks.

VitalChek online orders also take about two weeks for processing, then shipping time. If you select expedited shipping, you get it faster after the county processes it. Regular mail adds another week.

Death records become available roughly two weeks after the date of death. The California Department of Public Health recommends waiting at least two weeks before requesting a certificate for a very recent death.

Who Can Get Death Certificates

California law divides death certificates into authorized and informational types. Authorized copies go to immediate family and legal representatives. Informational copies are available to anyone.

Eligible people for authorized copies include spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, domestic partner, legal guardian, estate attorney, and court appointee. Funeral homes can order on behalf of eligible family members. You must provide a notarized sworn statement declaring eligibility under penalty of perjury.

If you do not qualify for an authorized copy, you can get an informational copy. These display the same information but have a stamp reading "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY." Informational copies work for genealogy but not for legal or financial use. Anyone can order them without proving relationship or providing notarization.

The law is California Health and Safety Code Section 103526. It took effect in 2003 to reduce identity theft involving vital records.

California State Vital Records

You can order Marin County death records from the California Department of Public Health in Sacramento. The state office keeps copies of all death certificates from July 1905 forward. That covers most Marin County records since mandatory registration began.

The state charges $24 per copy, two dollars less than the county. Processing takes five to seven weeks though. Mail to California Department of Public Health, Vital Records MS 5103, P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410. Call 916-445-2684 for questions.

Use form VS 112, available at cdph.ca.gov. Most people order from Marin County directly because it is faster.

Details Needed for Orders

Include these details in your request:

• Full name of deceased person
• Date of death or approximate year
• Place of death in Marin County
• Your name and mailing address
• Your relationship to deceased
• Number of copies
• Payment

More detail helps staff find the record faster. If you do not know exact dates, give a range. They will search indexes.

Historic Marin County Death Records

Marin County has death records dating back to the mid 1800s when the county formed in 1850. California did not require statewide death registration until 1905, so earlier records may be incomplete. Some deaths were voluntarily registered before then.

For very old records or if the county cannot find what you need, check the California State Archives in Sacramento. They have microfilmed pre-1905 vital records from select counties. Call 916-653-6814 to ask what they have for Marin County.

Genealogy websites like FamilySearch and Ancestry may have indexed Marin County death records. These are not certified but help with research.

Cities in Marin County

Marin County has several incorporated cities and towns. Death records for all of them are handled by the Marin County Health and Human Services Department. Cities do not maintain their own vital records offices.

Major cities include San Rafael, Novato, San Anselmo, Mill Valley, and Sausalito. None meet the population threshold for individual pages on this site. For deaths in any Marin County city, contact the Health and Human Services office in San Rafael.

Neighboring Counties

If the death occurred outside Marin County, contact the appropriate county office. Marin County borders several Bay Area counties.

Nearby counties: Sonoma County to the north and San Francisco County to the south. For deaths in other Bay Area counties, see Contra Costa County, Alameda County, and San Mateo County.