Search Mono County Death Records

The Mono County Clerk's office in Bridgeport maintains death records for the county. You can search for and order certified copies of death certificates for deaths that took place in Mono County from 1872 to the present. The office accepts walk in requests, mail orders, and online orders through VitalChek. Each certified copy costs $33.00, which is higher than most California counties. Staff can help locate the record you need if you have basic information about the person who died and when the death occurred.

Mono County Clerk's Office

Death certificates are handled by the Mono County Clerk's office. The office is located in Bridgeport, the county seat. Staff maintain vital records for the entire county.

You can find details about death certificate applications on the Mono County death certificate application page. This page has information about fees, forms, and how to submit your request.

Walk in service is available during business hours. Bring identification and information about the death. Staff will search the records and make a certified copy for you. Most requests are completed while you wait.

Cost of Death Certificates

Mono County charges $33.00 per death certificate. This is one of the highest fees in California. Most counties charge $26.00. The higher fee reflects local costs.

Online orders through VitalChek add extra processing fees on top of the $33.00 base fee. These fees cover credit card processing, service charges, and shipping. The total cost varies based on delivery speed and payment method.

The county keeps the search fee even if they cannot find the record. Make sure your information is accurate before you order.

Order Death Certificates Online

Mono County uses VitalChek for online ordering. VitalChek is a private company that processes orders for counties across California. You can place orders at any time through their website.

The system charges the $33.00 certificate fee plus additional processing and service fees. You can pay with a credit card or debit card. Orders are submitted to the county for processing and then mailed to you. Processing takes about two to three weeks.

To get an authorized copy, you must be eligible under California law. Eligible persons include the spouse, parent, child, sibling, or other close relative of the deceased. You need to provide a notarized sworn statement with your order. Anyone can get an informational copy without the notarized statement. Informational copies have a stamp that says they cannot be used to establish identity.

Information Needed for Your Request

You need to provide basic facts about the death:

• Full name of the deceased person
• Date of death or approximate year
• Place of death in Mono County
• Your name and contact information
• Your relationship to the deceased

If you do not know the exact date, give as much information as you can. Staff will search the files based on what you provide. The more details you give, the easier it is to find the record.

For authorized copies, you also need a notarized sworn statement. This document must declare under penalty of perjury that you are eligible to receive the certificate. The statement must be signed in front of a notary public.

How Long It Takes to Get Your Certificate

In person requests are completed the same day in most cases. Walk in with your information and staff will search the files and print your copy while you wait.

Mail orders take about two to three weeks from the time the county receives your request. Add a few days for mail delivery each way. Total time is usually about four weeks from when you send your request to when you receive the certificate.

Online orders through VitalChek take about the same amount of time as mail orders. The county processes the request and mails the certificate to you. Expedited shipping options are available through VitalChek for an additional fee.

Death records become available about two weeks after the date of death. According to the California vital records page, you should wait at least two weeks before trying to order a certificate for a recent death.

Who Can Order Authorized Copies

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

You can get an authorized copy if you are the spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the deceased. Legal representatives, attorneys for the estate, and court appointees are also eligible. Funeral directors can order on behalf of eligible family members.

If you do not qualify, you can still get an informational copy. Anyone can order an informational copy. The price is the same. The difference is that informational copies have a stamp across them that says they are not valid for establishing identity. You can use them for genealogy research but not for legal purposes like settling estates or claiming benefits.

Ordering from the State Office

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

The state charges $24.00 per copy, which is less than Mono County's $33.00 fee. However, processing takes five to seven weeks at the state office. County offices are faster. If you know the death happened in Mono County, ordering from the county gives you quicker service despite the higher fee.

Older Death Records

Mono County has death records from 1872 to the present. For very old records or genealogy research, you may need to check additional sources.

The California State Archives in Sacramento has some pre-1905 vital records from select counties. Call them at 916-653-6814 to ask if they have Mono County records from your time period. Records more than 75 years old are open to the public without restriction.

Genealogy websites like FamilySearch and Ancestry may have indexed records for Mono County. These are not certified copies but can help with family history research.

Cities and Communities in Mono County

Mono County includes several small communities. The largest is Mammoth Lakes. Other communities include Bridgeport, June Lake, Lee Vining, and others. For deaths in any location within Mono County, contact the County Clerk in Bridgeport. Cities and towns do not issue death certificates. All vital records are maintained at the county level.

Neighboring Counties

If the death occurred in a neighboring county, you need to contact that county's office. Each county maintains its own vital records.

Nearby counties: Alpine County, Tuolumne County, Madera County, Fresno County, Inyo County, Nevada County