Application for Certified Copy of Death Record (VS 112)
Official state formForm VS 112Free downloadLast verified November 5, 2026
The California Department of Public Health application to order a certified copy of a California death certificate by mail.
Who can use this form
- A parent, legal guardian, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or domestic partner of the person who died
- Surviving next of kin, a funeral establishment acting for the family, or an attorney or court-appointed representative of the estate
- A law enforcement or government agency on official business
- Anyone else can order a certified informational copy, marked "not a valid document to establish identity"
What to send with it
- This application, one per death record
- The sworn statement on page 5, signed in front of a notary public, for an authorized copy
- A check or money order for $26 per copy, payable to CDPH-Vital Records (no cash)
Where to send it
- Mail to
- California Department of Public Health Vital Records – MS 5103 P.O. Box 997410 Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
- State fee
- $26 per certified copy. Kept as a search fee if no record is found.
- Typical processing
- About 4 to 6 weeks after CDPH receives the request; the county of death is often faster
- Source
- Official government page