Riverside County Death Certificates

People who need death records from Riverside County can get them through the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder's Office. The office runs an online portal where you can search for death certificates and place orders any time. You can also use VitalChek, a state-approved vendor, or mail in a written request. Riverside County has kept vital records for many decades. The clerk can look up records from recent years or go back through historical files. Most people use online ordering because it is fast and works around the clock. Staff at the clerk's office can answer questions about fees, processing time, and what documents you need to provide.

Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder Office

Riverside County's vital records are handled by the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder's Office. According to the official Riverside County birth, death, and marriage certificates page, the county provides multiple ways to order death certificates.

The main office is in Riverside. This office keeps all death records for events that occurred anywhere in Riverside County. That includes deaths in Riverside city, Moreno Valley, Corona, and all other cities and unincorporated areas within county boundaries. No matter where in the county the death took place, you go through the county clerk for the certificate.

Staff at the clerk's office can help you locate records. They can tell you if they have the document you need and what information you must provide. If you are not sure about dates or exact spelling, they can search their database. The fee applies whether they find the record or not, as set by state law.

Two Online Ordering Options

Riverside County gives you two ways to order death certificates online. You can use the county's own portal or go through VitalChek.

The county portal is at vitalsonline.asrclkrec.com. This is the county-run system. You create an account, enter the details about the death record you need, and pay by credit or debit card. The system is open all day and night. Processing time is the same as mail orders, usually two to three weeks. Once they print your certificate, they mail it to the address you provide.

VitalChek is the other option. VitalChek is a third-party vendor authorized by the state. They process orders for many California counties. The base fee is the same either way, but VitalChek adds their own service charges. VitalChek may offer expedited shipping for an extra cost. If you are in no rush, the county portal saves you money on fees.

Both systems ask for the same information. You need the name of the person who died, the date of death, and where in Riverside County the death occurred. You also state your relationship to that person and why you need the certificate. For an authorized copy, you may need to upload or mail a notarized sworn statement.

Cost of Death Certificates

The base fee for a Riverside County death certificate is $26.00 per copy. This fee is set by state law and went into effect January 1, 2026. It applies no matter how you order.

If you use the county portal, you pay $26.00 per certificate plus any credit card processing fees. If you use VitalChek, you pay the same $26.00 base fee plus VitalChek's service charges. VitalChek fees vary based on shipping speed and payment method. Check their site for the full breakdown.

Mail orders cost just the $26.00 county fee with no extra charges. Send a check or money order made payable to Riverside County Clerk-Recorder. Do not mail cash. Include your payment with your written request and a copy of your ID.

If the county searches their files and cannot find the record you asked for, they keep the $26.00 search fee. This is true for all California counties and is required by law. Make sure you have the right county before you order.

Information You Must Provide

When you order a death certificate, gather these facts first:

• Full legal name of the person on the death record
• Date of death or approximate year
• City or area in Riverside County where death occurred
• Your full name and mailing address
• Your relationship to the person who died
• Reason you need the certificate

The more precise your details, the faster the office can find the record. If you are not sure of the exact date, give a range of years. The clerk will search that time frame. Vague information may slow down your order or lead to no match.

Who Can Get an Authorized Copy

California law controls who can get an authorized death certificate. The law is Health and Safety Code Section 103526. It applies to all counties, including Riverside.

Authorized copies go to the spouse, domestic partner, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the person who died. Attorneys handling the estate, court-appointed representatives, and funeral directors working for the family also qualify. Law enforcement officers and government employees on official business can get authorized copies too.

To prove you qualify, you must submit a sworn statement under penalty of perjury. The statement must be notarized. It says that you are one of the authorized people listed in the law. Without this notarized statement, you cannot get an authorized copy.

If you do not fit into one of those categories, you can still get an informational copy. Informational copies show the same data but have a stamp that says they cannot be used to prove identity. These work for genealogy and family history. The cost is the same as an authorized copy. You do not need a notarized statement for an informational copy.

How Long You Wait

Processing time depends on how you order. Mail and online orders through the county portal typically take two to three weeks from when the office receives your request. After processing, the certificate is mailed to you. Add a few days for postal delivery. Total time from request to receipt can be about four weeks.

VitalChek orders take about the same time unless you choose expedited service. Expedited options cost more but may reduce wait time to around one week. Check VitalChek for current processing and shipping times.

Death records are not available right away. The state says death records become available about two weeks after the date of death. Do not try to order immediately after someone dies. Wait at least two weeks so the county has time to file the record. If you order too soon, the office will not find it and you will lose your search fee.

Older Death Records in Riverside County

Riverside County has death records going back many decades. The county was formed in 1893, and vital records were kept sporadically before 1915. In 1915, California law began requiring counties to register all vital events. Records from 1915 forward are more complete and easier to find.

For very old records, especially those from before 1905, the county may not have them. In that case, check with the California State Archives in Sacramento. They have some early vital records from select counties. Call them at 916-653-6814 to ask if they have Riverside County death records from your time period.

Records more than 75 years old are open to the public. You do not need to prove a relationship to access these historical documents. The State Archives can assist with genealogy research and provide copies if they have what you need.

Cities in Riverside County

Riverside County includes many incorporated cities. All death records for these cities are kept by the county clerk, not by the cities themselves.

Cities with pages: Riverside, Moreno Valley, Corona, Murrieta, Temecula, Indio

Other cities in Riverside County include Palm Desert, Lake Elsinore, Hemet, Menifee, Perris, Cathedral City, Palm Springs, Eastvale, Beaumont, and many more. For deaths in any of these cities, contact the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder.

Nearby Counties

If the death occurred outside Riverside County, contact the county where it happened.

Neighboring counties: San Bernardino County, Orange County, San Diego County, Imperial County