Death Records for Placer County

Placer County maintains death records at the Clerk-Recorder's office in Auburn. You can search for and request certified copies of death certificates for deaths that took place anywhere in Placer County. The office has records from 1872 to the present. Walk in service is available during business hours. You can also order by mail or online through VitalChek. Each certified copy costs $26.00. Staff can help you locate the record if you provide basic information about the person who died and the approximate date of death.

Placer County Clerk-Recorder Office

The Placer County Clerk-Recorder in Auburn handles all death certificates for the county. This office maintains vital records for the entire county. Staff can search the files and make certified copies for you.

For more information, visit the Placer County death certificate copies page. This page has details about fees, forms, and how to submit your request.

Walk in service is available during regular business hours. Bring your identification and information about the death. Staff will look up the record and print a certified copy for you. Most requests are completed while you wait.

Order Death Certificates Online

Placer County uses 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.

Death Certificate Fees

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

Online orders through VitalChek include extra charges. These fees vary based on shipping speed and payment method. If you want to avoid extra fees, 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 person
• Date of death or approximate year
• Place of death in Placer County
• Your name and mailing address
• 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 accurate your details, the better your chances of finding the record.

How Long It Takes to Get Your Certificate

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 if you live near Auburn.

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 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.

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 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.

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 Placer County, order from the county to get your certificate sooner.

Older Death Records

Placer 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 Placer 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 Placer County. These are not certified copies but can help with family history research.

Cities in Placer County

Placer County includes several cities and communities. For deaths in any city within the county, contact the Placer County Clerk-Recorder in Auburn. Cities do not issue death certificates. All vital records are maintained at the county level.

Cities with pages: Roseville

Other cities in Placer County include Rocklin, Lincoln, Auburn, Colfax, 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: Sacramento County, Nevada County, El Dorado County, Sutter County, Yuba County