Orange County Death Certificates

Orange County maintains death records through two offices. The County Clerk-Recorder in Santa Ana has all death records from the 1880s to the present. The Health Care Agency Office of Vital Records has recent records from the past few years. You can order certified copies from either office. Each copy costs $26.00. Walk in service is available at both locations. You can also order by mail or online through VitalChek. Staff can help you locate the record if you have basic information about the person who died and when the death occurred.

Two Offices Handle Death Certificates

Orange County has two offices that issue death certificates. The choice depends on how old the record is.

The County Clerk-Recorder has all death records from the 1880s to the present. This office is the main repository for vital records. For any death that happened more than a few years ago, contact the Clerk-Recorder.

The Health Care Agency Office of Vital Records has death records from recent years only, typically the current year and the past two to three years. This office can issue copies for recent deaths.

Both offices charge $26.00 per copy. The fee is the same regardless of which office you use.

Orange County Clerk-Recorder

The Clerk-Recorder office in Santa Ana is the primary source for death certificates. This office maintains records for all years. You can visit in person, order by mail, or use the VitalChek online system.

For more information, visit the Orange County Clerk vital records page. This page has details about fees, forms, and office locations.

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

Orange County Health Care Agency

The Health Care Agency Office of Vital Records handles recent death records. This office has records from the past few years. If the death was recent, you can get a copy from this office.

For more information, visit the Orange County Health Care Agency Office of Vital Records page. This page has contact details and instructions for ordering.

You can order in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek. Processing times are similar to the Clerk-Recorder office.

Order Death Certificates Online

Both offices use VitalChek for online ordering. 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 total cost varies based on delivery speed and payment method.

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

You need to provide these details when you order:

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

If you do not know the exact date, provide as much information as you can. Staff will search the files based on what you give them. The more accurate your details, the better your chances of finding the record.

How Long It Takes

In person requests are usually completed the same day. 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 office receives your request. Add a few days for mail delivery each way. Total time is usually about four weeks.

Online orders through VitalChek take about the same time as mail orders. The office 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.

Who Can Order 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, you can still get an informational copy. Anyone can order an informational copy. 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.

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

Older Death Records

Orange County has death records from the 1880s 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 Orange 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 Orange County. These are not certified copies but can help with family history research.

Major Cities in Orange County

Orange County includes many major California cities. For deaths in any city within the county, contact the Orange County Clerk-Recorder or Health Care Agency. Cities do not issue death certificates. All vital records are maintained at the county level.

Cities with pages: Anaheim, Irvine, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach

Other cities in Orange County include Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Orange, Garden Grove, Westminster, Newport Beach, Buena Park, Lake Forest, Tustin, and many others. All death records for these cities are handled by the county offices.

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: Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, San Diego County