Death Records in Modoc County

Modoc County keeps vital records at the County Recorder's office in Alturas. You can request certified copies of death certificates for deaths in Modoc County. The office has records from the 1870s to now. Walk in service is available during business hours. You can also order by mail or online through the Permitium system. Each certified copy costs $26.00. Staff can help you find the record if you provide basic information about the person who died and the approximate date of death.

Modoc County Recorder's Office

The County Recorder in Alturas handles death certificates for Modoc County. The office maintains records for all deaths registered in the county. You can visit in person or contact them by phone or mail.

For more details about vital records requests, visit the Modoc County vital request forms page. This page has information about what documents you need and how to submit your request.

Staff can assist with your request during regular office hours. Bring your identification and details about the death you are researching.

Online Ordering with Permitium

Modoc County uses the Permitium online system. This service allows you to order death certificates any time of day or night. The portal is at modoccav.permitium.com/rod.

The system charges the $26.00 certificate fee plus additional service fees. These extra fees cover credit card processing, online service, and a Vital Verify fee. The total cost varies but is typically around $32 to $35 per certificate.

You need to create an account and enter information about the death. The system walks you through the process step by step. Your order is submitted to the county for processing. Once processed, the certificate is mailed to you.

For authorized copies, you must upload a notarized sworn statement. This document must declare under penalty of perjury that you are eligible to receive the certificate under California law. Informational copies do not require a notarized statement.

Fees for Death Certificates

The base fee is $26.00 per copy. This is set by state law.

Online orders through Permitium include extra charges. You pay about $5.00 for service fees, plus credit card processing, plus a Vital Verify fee of about $0.75 to $1.00. The exact total depends on your order.

In person and mail orders only charge the $26.00 base fee. If you want to avoid extra fees, visit the office in person or send your request by mail.

The office keeps the search fee whether or not they find your record. Make sure you have accurate information before ordering.

Information You Need

Gather these details before you order:

• Full name of the deceased
• Date of death or approximate year
• Place of death in Modoc County
• Your name and address
• Your relationship to the deceased

If you do not know the exact date, give as much detail as you can. The office will search based on what you provide. The more accurate your information, the better your chances of a successful search.

How Long Processing Takes

Walk in requests are usually completed the same day. Staff can search the files and print a copy for you while you wait. This is the fastest option if you live near Alturas.

Mail and online orders take longer. Expect about two to three weeks for the county to process your request and mail the certificate to you. Add a few days for mail delivery each way. Total time from request to receipt is usually about four weeks.

Keep in mind that death records become available about two weeks after the date of death. Do not order too soon. The official California vital records page has more information about when records are filed.

Who Can Get an Authorized Copy

California law restricts who can get authorized death certificates. The law is in Health and Safety Code Section 103526.

Eligible persons include the spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the deceased. Legal representatives, court appointees, and attorneys for the estate can also get authorized copies. Funeral directors acting on behalf of family members are eligible as well.

To prove your eligibility, you must submit a notarized sworn statement with your request. This statement must be signed in front of a notary public and declare under penalty of perjury that you are authorized to receive the certificate.

Anyone can get an informational copy without proving eligibility. Informational copies show the same data but have a stamp that says they cannot be used to establish identity. They work for genealogy but not for legal purposes.

California State Office

You can also order from the California Department of Public Health in Sacramento. The state office has death records from July 1905 forward.

The state charges $24.00 per copy. Processing takes five to seven weeks. County offices are faster. If you know the death happened in Modoc County, order from the county to get your certificate sooner.

Older Death Records

Modoc County has records from the 1870s to the present. For very old records, you may need to check additional sources.

The California State Archives has some pre-1905 vital records from select counties. Call 916-653-6814 to ask about Modoc County holdings. Records more than 75 years old are open without restriction.

Genealogy websites may have indexed records for research purposes. These are not certified copies.

Nearby Counties

If the death occurred outside Modoc County, contact the appropriate county office. Each county maintains its own records.

Neighboring counties: Siskiyou County, Shasta County, Lassen County