Get a Certified California Death Certificate

A certified copy of a death certificate is a permanent record of the fact of death for an individual. It provides important personal information about the decedent and about the circumstances and cause of death.

To order a death certificate, the vital statistics office will require the following information to fill the application:

• • Information of the decedent.
• • Information about the location where the death occurred.
• • Name and contact information of the person filing the application.
• • Relationship to the decedent.
• • Address where the death certificate will be sent.

We can facilitate the ordering of death certificate copies. First, you need to complete a simple online application. Second, you will need to pay the state fee and the service fee. Lastly, you will need to send the application package to the state Health Department, where afterwards you will receive the death certificate by mail. The entire process can be done without leaving home.

Get a certified copy of a death certificate online or by visiting the state vital records office. Ordering your death certificate online is the easiest way to order death records.

If you are looking for the nearest office in your city, visit OnlineVitals.com, the first of it’s kind public database to find vital records offices online.

Note: Due to the spread of the COVID-19, some vital record agencies are closed or they are only processing by mail or online applications. Check the current status here.

Certified death certificates are not free. If you need a copy of a death certificate, the state will charge you from a $5 fee and $5 per additional copy. You can check all states fees here.

Usually you should expect to wait for a death certificate copy between 5 business days to 20 business weeks. Check your state processing time here.

In order to complete the death certificate application, the Health Department requires applicants to prove their identity by including a photocopy of their ID. Usually, it can be used the following documents: driver’s license, state ID, passport. Some states require a notarized sworn statement. Check the acceptable IDs of the state you need your vital record here.

If you have lost all your IDs, we prepare a quick guide to know what to do in those cases.

Certified copies of death can be requested only by family members of the deceased, next of kin, attorneys representing the registrants estate, agents or employees of funeral establishments, court appointed individuals or agencies, can order death certificates as well. Check who can apply here.