Sutter County Death Certificate Access

Death certificates for Sutter County are maintained by the County Clerk-Recorder's Office in Yuba City. The office can search for and provide certified copies of death records for deaths that occurred in Sutter County. You can request records in person, by mail, or through the online ordering system. The fee is $26.00 per certificate. Staff can help locate records and explain what you need to get a certified copy. Online ordering is available through VitalChek for convenience.

Sutter County Clerk-Recorder

The Sutter County Clerk-Recorder keeps all death records for the county. Their office is in Yuba City. They handle requests for death certificates from deaths that took place in Sutter County.

You can visit the office in person or send a request by mail. The office is open during regular business hours Monday through Friday. When you visit, bring identification and be ready to provide details about the death record you need. Staff will search for the record and prepare a certified copy if they find it.

The official website is www.suttercounty.org/government/county-departments/clerk-recorder/how-to-order-copies. You can find ordering instructions and contact information on that page. Call ahead if you have questions about a specific record or what documents to bring.

Death Certificate Fees and Payment

Each death certificate costs $26.00. This is the standard fee set by state law for most California counties. The fee is the same whether you order in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek.

You pay the fee even if the office cannot find the record. The search fee is kept regardless of whether they locate what you requested. If you need multiple copies, you pay $26.00 for each one.

For in-person and mail orders, you can pay by check or money order made payable to Sutter County Clerk-Recorder. Some offices also accept cash in person. Online orders through VitalChek accept credit cards and debit cards but charge additional service fees. Check the VitalChek site for current processing fees.

Order Death Certificates Online

Sutter County uses VitalChek for online ordering. VitalChek is a third-party vendor authorized by the state to process vital record requests.

To order online, go to www.vitalchek.com and select California, then Sutter County. You can place your order any time of day. VitalChek charges a processing fee on top of the $26.00 certificate fee. The total cost depends on how fast you want delivery.

Online orders take about the same time as mail orders for processing, but you can choose expedited shipping to get the certificate faster once it is ready. You still need to meet California's legal requirements for who can get an authorized copy versus an informational copy.

Information Needed to Order

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

• Full name of the person who died
• Date of death or approximate year
• Place of death in Sutter County
• Your relationship to the person
• Your contact information and mailing address

The more information you provide, the easier it is for staff to find the record. If you do not know the exact date, give the year or a range of years. The clerk will search the files based on what you provide.

How Long It Takes

Processing times vary by how you order. In-person requests are usually handled the same day if the record is easy to find. Walk in service is fastest.

Mail orders take longer. Expect two to three weeks from when the office receives your request to when the certificate is mailed back to you. Online orders through VitalChek have similar processing times, but you can pay extra for faster shipping once the certificate is ready.

Death records become available about two weeks after the date of death. Do not try to order a certificate right away. The county needs time to file the record. If you order too soon, the record will not be in the system yet and you will still be charged the search fee. According to the California death records request page, you should wait at least two weeks after the death before ordering.

Who Can Get a Death Certificate

California law sets rules for who can get an authorized death certificate. The law is in Health and Safety Code Section 103526.

Authorized copies can be used for legal purposes like settling estates or claiming benefits. You can get an authorized copy if you are the spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the person who died. Legal representatives, attorneys, and court appointees can also get them. Funeral homes can order on behalf of family members.

If you do not qualify, you can still get an informational copy. Informational copies show the same information but have a stamp that says "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY." Anyone can order an informational copy without proving their relationship. These are fine for genealogy but not for legal use.

To get an authorized copy, you must include a notarized sworn statement under penalty of perjury declaring that you are authorized by law to receive the certificate. Informational copies do not require a notarized statement.

State-Level Death Records

If you cannot get a certificate from Sutter County, you can try the state. The California Department of Public Health Vital Records office maintains copies of all death records for the state since July 1905.

Contact CDPH-VR at P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410. The phone number is 916-445-2684. You can also order online through VitalChek for California state records. State processing takes longer than county processing, usually five to seven weeks.

The state charges $24.00 per certificate, which is slightly less than the county fee. However, county offices often process requests faster. Use the state office if you are not sure which county the death occurred in or if the county office cannot help you.

Nearby Counties

If the death occurred outside Sutter County, you need to contact the county where it took place. Each county maintains its own records.

Neighboring counties include Yuba County, Butte County, Colusa County, Placer County, and Yolo County. Each has its own clerk-recorder office with different contact information and hours.