California Death Records

The office of vital record, California Department of Public Health is the responsible body to trace the record of birth and death in the State of California and to issue the birth and death certificates required by the citizens upon certain procedure and conditions. This office is the issuing authority of birth and death certificates of the citizens of the State of California from 1905 up to present. The death records of only those may be found which have been registered by the county health Department and the data have been recorded in the County’s recorder’s office in the county where death took place. The processing time of the death certificate takes 12 weeks an average after completion of the required documents with application.

The information in death certificate are primary data which can be added, amended or changed by contacting the State Office of Vital Records after completing the legal formalities. After completion the legal formalities, a request may be forwarded to obtain the death certificate, and in case the record of the deceased does not found, a certificate of “No Public Record” will be issued to the applicant and fee will be retained as a search fees prescribed the State.

A certified copy of the death certificate after completion of all procedure, formalities and conditions may be obtained from the office of the Vitale record at a cost of $9 for Fetal death certificate and $20 for the Affidavit to Amend a death certificate, and $20 Court Order Delayed Registration of Death.

The death certificate is a confidential document and can be obtained by the mother, father, brother, sister, spouse, child, grandparent, grandchild or the domestic partner of the registrant or any person entitled to receive the record as result of order of the court or any attorney who has a legal proof of registrant of the estate of Deceased.

For more Information, please Contact:
Office of Vital Records – MS 5103
California Department of Public Health
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Telephone:    (916) 445-2684