California Death Records

In California, statewide registration of deaths started in July 1905, while the compilation of records began in 1920. However, some counties kept records of deaths that occurred within their jurisdictions before 1905. The state has a mortality rate of 676.9 per 100,000 residents, which implies a yearly average of 300,950 deaths. California's death rate is lower than the national average, which currently stands at 793.3 per 100,000 total population.

Death records are classified into two in California. They can either be original or certified:

• Original Death Certificate - This is the first death certificate issued by a healthcare agency's office of vital records upon the registration of a person's demise. They are typically kept by the county clerk/recorder.
• Certified Death Certificate - This is a certified copy of the original death certificate on file with the county clerk/recorder. Certified copies of death certificates are generally available after the original certificates have been registered. Under California law, the two types the certified death certificates are authorized certified copies and informational certified copies:
• Authorized Certified Copy - This is a certified copy that establishes the identity of the decedent named on the certificate. It is only available to authorized individuals.
• Informational Certified Copy - Although an informational certified copy of a death certificate contains the same information as an authorized copy, it is primarily for information purposes and may not be used to establish identity. Any individual can request and obtain an informational certified copy of a death certificate in California.

How Do I Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in California?

The Office of Vital Records under the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) maintains the state's death records and disseminates them upon request. You may request a certified copy of a California death certificate in any of the following ways:

• Mail Application to the Vital Records Office - To obtain a certified copy of a California death certificate, you need a completed Application for Certified Copy of Death Record Form (VS 112) and a notarized sworn statement (if applicable). Sworn statements are typically required when requesting authorized copies of death certificates. The completed application form, a sworn affidavit (if required), and the applicable fee should be mailed to the CDPH at:

  California Department of Public Health

  Vital Records - MS 5103

  P.O. Box 997410

  Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

  Phone: (916) 445-2684

• Submission at the County Clerk/Recorder Office - If a person knows the county where a death event occurred in California, they may contact the County Clerk/Recorder Office for inquiry. Typically, depending on the county, they will be able to submit their request by mail or in person.

The cost of obtaining a certified copy of a California death certificate is $24. Requesters should make their money order or check payable to CDPH Vital Records. It takes an average of 7 to 9 weeks for the CDPH to process requests for certified copies of death certificates.

Are California Death Records Public?

Yes, California death records are public documents. However, while anyone may get informational certified copies, only certain individuals may access or obtain authorized certified copies of death records in the state. Public access to California death records is governed by the California Public Records Act and Section 103526 of the California Health and Safety Code (HSC).

Who Can Request an Original Death Certificate in California?

Original death certificates in California are generally maintained by the county clerk/recorder in the county where such events occurred. Typically, they are kept permanently on file and are not issued to members of the public. However, interested and eligible persons may obtain copies of California death certificates. While anyone may request informational certified copies, only the following persons may request and obtain authorized certified copies of death certificates in the state:

• A parent, child, grandchild, grandparent, spouse, domestic partner, sibling, or legal guardian of the decedent (registrant) named on the death certificate.
• An attorney representing the decedent (registrant) or the registrant's estate.
• A law enforcement agent or a representative of another government agency in the conduct of an official business.
• Surviving next of kin.
• Any individual or agency appointed by a court to act on behalf of the decedent or their estate or empowered by statute.
• An employee, agent, or director of a funeral establishment functioning within the scope of employment and on behalf of individuals stated in Section 7100 (a)(1)-(8) of the California Health and Safety Code.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in California?

In California, a death certificate is usually available approximately 2 to 4 weeks after the date of the event, depending on the county. Nevertheless, it can take anywhere between 7 to 9 weeks for anyone requesting to obtain a certified copy of the record to get it. However, there may be a delay in the timeline to obtain a death certificate for any death that occurred under unusual circumstances and require an autopsy.

It could take anywhere between 3 to 6 months before a California death certificate is ready if an autopsy is required. This delay is usually caused by several factors, including the following:

• Jurisdiction Determination - This involves determining the case and circumstances around certain deaths and investigating them. For instance, Section 102850 of the HSC requires investigating deaths related to intoxication or any type of injury and deaths of a sudden and unexpected nature.
• Transportation - Sometimes, transporting a decedent's body to the office of the Medical Examiner may be required.
• Examination - This is the part where a physician specializing in forensic pathology examines the decedent's body to determine the case of death, and it is usually done within 3 days of receiving the body. Afterward, a death certificate will be completed.
• Pending Cases - In some cases, Medical Examiners are unable to record a manner of death and/or definitive case of death on a death certificate. When this happens, some other tests are conducted to determine the exact cause of death, and this may take between 4 to 6 months.

Can I View California Death Records online for free?

No. The California Department of Public Health does not directly accept online death records requests for recent death events. However, anyone looking to access digital copies of some of the state's historic death records for free online may do so through the California State Archives. In addition, anyone can access California's historical death records online through third-party sites like Familysearch.org, Ancestry.com, and Californiapublicrecords.us. However, a small fee may be charged if looking to find recent death records.

Other places to find California death records online for free include obituaries published on news websites and church records of deaths and burials published on church websites. A person may also use certain substitute records to find death information about their ancestor in the state. Such records include cemetery records, probate records, tax records, and Social Security death indexes.

When Would You Require A Death Certificate in California?

A death certificate is legal proof of a person's death, and it is required for several purposes in California, including the following:

• Obtaining death benefits.
• Notifying the Social Security Administration to update their records.
• Claiming insurance proceeds.
• Making funeral arrangements for a decedent
• Notifying other government agencies like the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to close a decedent's accounts.
• Obtaining certain benefits from Veteran's Affairs after the death of a veteran
• Obtaining retirement benefits, including pensions
• Transferring a decedent's assets
• Settling a decedent's estate
• Getting married (if the living spouse wishes to remarry)

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in California?

When a person passes away, their death certificate is generally required for several legal purposes. The number of copies anyone may obtain in California, however, depends on many factors and the intended legal use. These include the decedent's insurance policies, real estate titles, social security, income tax returns, attorneys, financial institutions, stocks and bonds, employer benefits, and credit life insurance. Generally, experts advise ordering between 8 and 12 death certificates for use in legal matters after the demise of a loved one in California.