San Diego County Death Records

San Diego County keeps death records at the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk's Office in downtown San Diego. You can request death certificates for any death that occurred within San Diego County boundaries. The office provides online ordering through VitalChek, accepts mail requests, and offers in-person service at their public counter. Death records date back to when the county first began keeping vital statistics. The county charges a standard fee per copy, set by state law. Processing time is usually a few weeks for mail and online orders. Many people choose VitalChek for around the clock access and credit card payment. Staff can help you if you call with questions about what information you need or how to find a specific record.

Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk Office

The San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk handles all death certificates for the county. According to the official San Diego County death certificate page, you can order vital records online, by mail, or in person.

The main office is in downtown San Diego. This office keeps all death records for events that occurred anywhere in San Diego County. That includes deaths in San Diego city, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Carlsbad, and all other cities and unincorporated areas within county boundaries. No matter where in the county the death took place, you request the certificate from this office.

Staff at the county 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.

Order Death Certificates Through VitalChek

San Diego County uses VitalChek for online ordering. VitalChek is a state-approved third-party vendor. You can place your order at any time and pay by credit card. The system guides you through the steps and asks for all the facts they need to look up the record.

VitalChek charges the base county fee of $26.00 per certificate plus their own service fees. These fees vary based on how you want it shipped and how fast you need it. Standard processing takes a few weeks. Expedited options cost more but get you the document faster. All charges show up before you finish your order so you can see the full cost.

To use VitalChek, you must provide the name of the person who died, the date of death, and where in San Diego County the death occurred. You also need to state your relationship and why you need the certificate. For an authorized copy, you may need to upload a notarized statement proving you have the legal right to get it.

The VitalChek system is available through the county website or by going directly to the VitalChek portal. Both routes lead to the same ordering system.

Death Certificate Fees

Each death certificate from San Diego County costs $26.00. This is the base fee set by state law and went into effect on January 1, 2026. It applies whether you order online, by mail, or in person.

Online orders through VitalChek include the $26.00 county fee plus VitalChek's service charges. These charges cover credit card processing, the online system, and shipping. The exact total is shown before you complete your purchase.

If you order by mail or in person, you pay just the $26.00 county fee with no extra charges. Mail payments can be made by check or money order payable to San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk. Do not send cash through the mail. Include your payment with a written request and a copy of your photo 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 Required for Your Request

When you order a death certificate, have these facts ready:

• Full legal name of the person on the death record
• Date of death or approximate year
• City or area in San Diego 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 San Diego.

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 for Your Certificate

Processing time depends on how you order. Mail and online orders through VitalChek 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 offers expedited service for an extra cost. Expedited options may reduce wait time to around one week. Check VitalChek for current processing and shipping times.

In-person requests at the county clerk's office in San Diego may be faster. If you go to their public counter, they can look up the record and print it for you the same day in some cases. Call ahead to confirm hours and ask if they have the record you need.

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 San Diego County

San Diego County has death records going back many decades. The county was formed in 1850, 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 San Diego 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 San Diego County

San Diego 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: San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Carlsbad, El Cajon, Vista, San Marcos, Encinitas, Escondido, National City, La Mesa, Santee

Other cities in San Diego County include Poway, Coronado, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, and many more. For deaths in any of these cities, contact the San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk.

Nearby Counties

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

Neighboring counties: Orange County, Riverside County, Imperial County