Monterey County Death Certificates

Monterey County maintains death records through the County Assessor's office in Salinas. You can search for and order certified copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred anywhere in Monterey County. The office has records from the 1870s to the present. Walk in service is available during business hours. You can also order by mail or online through VitalChek or the Tyler Technologies portal. Each certified copy costs $26.00. Staff can help you locate the record if you provide information about the person who died and the approximate date of death.

Monterey County Assessor-Recorder Office

The Monterey County Assessor handles death certificates for the county. The office is located in Salinas. Staff maintain vital records for all deaths registered in Monterey County.

For more information about death certificates, visit the Monterey County death certificates page. This page provides details about fees, forms, and how to submit your request.

Walk in service is available during regular business hours. Bring your identification and details about the death you are researching. Staff will search the files and make a certified copy for you. Most in person requests are completed while you wait.

Order Death Certificates Online

Monterey County offers two online ordering options. You can use VitalChek or the Tyler Technologies portal.

VitalChek is a private company that processes orders for counties across California. You can place orders any time through their website. VitalChek charges the $26.00 certificate fee plus additional processing and service fees. These extra fees cover credit card processing, online service, and shipping options.

The Tyler Technologies system is another option. This portal connects directly to the county's records system. It may have lower fees than VitalChek depending on your payment method and delivery choice.

Both systems require you to create an account and enter information about the death. Your order is submitted to the county for processing. Once processed, the certificate is mailed to you. Processing takes about two to three weeks.

Eligibility for Authorized Copies

California law defines who can get an authorized death certificate. The rules are 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, court appointees, and attorneys for the estate are also eligible. Funeral directors can order on behalf of eligible family members.

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

If you do not qualify for an authorized copy, you can get an informational copy. Anyone can order an informational copy without proving their relationship. The fee is the same. Informational copies have a stamp that says they cannot be used to establish identity. They work for genealogy but not for legal purposes.

Cost and Payment Methods

Each death certificate costs $26.00 in Monterey County. This is the base fee set by California state law.

Online orders include extra charges. VitalChek adds processing fees that vary based on shipping speed and payment method. The Tyler system may have different fees. Check each system to compare costs.

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

The county keeps the search fee whether or not they find the record. Make sure your information is accurate before ordering.

Information Required

You need to provide these details:

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

If you do not know the exact date, provide as much information as you can. Staff will search based on what you give them. The more accurate your details, 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 your copy while you wait. This is the fastest option.

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 from request to receipt is usually about four weeks.

Online orders through VitalChek or Tyler take about the same time as mail orders. The county processes the request and mails the certificate to you. Expedited shipping options are available for an extra 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 ordering a certificate for a recent death.

Ordering from the State

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. Processing takes five to seven weeks. County offices are faster. If you know the death happened in Monterey County, order from the county to get your certificate sooner.

Older Death Records

Monterey County has death records from the 1870s 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 Monterey 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 Monterey County. These are not certified copies but can help with family history research.

Major Cities in Monterey County

Monterey County includes several major cities. For deaths in any city within the county, contact the Monterey County Assessor in Salinas. Cities do not issue death certificates. All vital records are maintained at the county level.

Cities with pages: Salinas

Other cities in Monterey County include Monterey, Seaside, Marina, King City, Pacific Grove, Gonzales, Greenfield, Soledad, and others. All death records for these cities are handled by the county office.

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: Santa Cruz County, San Benito County, Fresno County, Kings County, San Luis Obispo County