California Death Records Search
In California, the California Department of Public Health is responsible for maintaining and issuing the official record of all deaths that occur in the state of California. The California Department of Public health maintains California Death Records of 1905-present. If you make a request for post 1970 death records, your request will take about three weeks to process. On the other hand, if you make a request for pre-1970 records, your request will take about seven weeks to provide. Whether you want pre-1970 or post-1970 California death records, you will receive the records only if you’re eligible for them. You can however lookup California death records online for reference only.
People who can request for certified death records in California include the immediate family members of the deceased and people with a financial interest in the record. There are two types of death records that you can request for in California: certified records and uncertified records. The fee for the certified death record is different from the fee for the uncertified death record. There are three ways for you to request for and obtain death records in California: in person, by mail and online. Following is how you can obtain the death record you need through each way.
Where Do I Get a Death Certificate in California?
The first way to make a request for and obtain the California death record you need is in person. To make an in person request for the record, go to the local California Department of Public health office, submit a completed Application for Certified Copy of Death Record, and pay the required fee. Also, you may need to provide a sworn statement. Generally, a sworn statement is required when you’re ordering copy of the California death record. The fee for California death records is $21.
How Do I Get California Death Records By Mail?
Another way for you to make and request for and obtain the California death record you need is by mail. To make a mail request for the record you need, complete and send the aforementioned application along with a sworn statement, a self-addressed envelope, and a pay order or check for the fee to:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Generally, mail requests for California Death Records take fifteen days to process.
Online Access To California Death Records
The easiest and quickest way to make a request for the California death record you need is online. How can you make an online request for death records in California? The California Department of Public health provides death records online through Vitalcheck, an independent company that the State of California has partnered with to make the records available online. To make an online request for the death record you need, go to the website of Vitalcheck and follow the instructions stated there.
Another way to request for California Death Records is through online public databases. To find out more about the aforementioned records, call the California Department of Public health at 916-445-2684.
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Trying to find the date of my fathers death. July 17 or 18 2020 in CA. Earl Ray Orum was his name.
William, we ran a California death record search for your father and only have a CA death record for an Early Orum that passed away in 1964. That being said, since this was a recent death it is probably not posted on many public record websites. You can reach out to the California Department of Public Health to get a CA death verification. You can call them directly @ 916-552-9700
How To Get a California Death Verification
There are a couple of options to get a death verification in California. First you can try looking up California death records on public record websites, since death records are public information. A second option is to contact the California Department of Public Health as they archive all death records in California
looking for a death certificate for my sister who was stillborn? no name was given to her. I found some information at the cemetery where she’s buried. she was a twin. My other sister who survived was born 8-17-1955. Not sure if the other twin was stillborn or died shortly thereafter. I want to get a headstone for her but need a death certificate for the cemetery office.
Thank you~
To obtain the record of your sister’s death you will want to contact the California Department of Health and request to obtain a vital death record. Follow the instructions below to obtain a certified copy of a California Death Record.
Get a Copy of a California Death Certificate
1. Request an authorized death record
2. Fill out the death record request form
3. Complete the sworn statement form
4. Have your request form notarized
5. Pay the fee for a certified copy
6. Mail in your form, processing takes 3-4 weeks
California Deparment of Health Address
Vital Records – MS 5103
1501 Capitol Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95814
I’m trying to find out the date of my friend’s death. Chase Putnam DOB: 10/04/1995 San Diego, CA. His death may have occurred in Nov of 2020. Please help, I’m trying to get some type of closure. Thank you.
Trying to find the date of my nieces death. She was born on July 18,1979 in CA. Last I knew she was homeless but still in CA. I think the year she passed was 2019 or 2020. Christi Ann Leahy was her name.
Carol, we ran a search for you in our CA death record index and could not find anything active for your niece. You can also check with the CA Dept of State Health as they also archive these types of vital records
I need to get a death certificate for my Step-father because a trust account needs it to complete a transaction my mother and he had.
I am looking for death record for my husband Gary A. Winters, born April 26, 1973.
Died on or around May 21st, 2022
I would like to obtain a copy of my Father’s California Death Certificate. His name was Marion Andrews Campbell. He died on Feb 16, 1994. He is buried at the Riverside National Cemetery. He was a WW II Veteran.
I am looking for the 2005 California Statutory Will of Lee Wayne Tracey
Robert, unfortunately we do not have access to any information about any California Statutory Will. You may want to reach out to the California State Bar for more information
I am trying to find the date of my brother death in Inglewood Ca, Ronald Blade was his name.
Shirley, we are happy to run a CA death record search for you but we’ll also need to know you brother’s middle name and date of birth to process your request
I’m looking for a death certificate for Gordon Cummings New. Born April 19, 1886, in Kanas and died April 9, 1958 in Riverside California
I am looking for a death record of my father.He died June 2013 our house burnt down 11/17/2021. The solar Co wants a copy of Kenneth Haynes my father. It seems impossible to get one. I am in a wheelchair and have great problems getting anywhere.
Pamela, you can obtain a certified copy of your fathers CA death certificate by calling the California Department of Public Health @ 916-558-1784
I am trying to find out if my friend has died in Santa Cruz County, California. Her name was Deborah Renae Buchanan, born in 1954. Her only child is my niece, Amber Buchanan Taylor. Amber was adopted by my sister, but we were able to find Amber’s biological mother, and she was able to meet her in Santa Cruz. She was homeless at the time. Amber and her mother kept in touch by phone until all of a sudden her mother’s phone got disconnected. Amber and I have been unable to contact her since early 2021. She was very ill, and we think she must have been put in a care center, where she died. She was legally blind, and was unable to take care of herself. We were unable to get any information from any of the care centers in Santa Cruz. Is there any way you can look at your indexes and see if she has died? If she has died, can Amber get a copy of the death certificate? Amber has no documents stating that she is the daughter of Debra Buchanan. The adoption records are sealed. My sister, her adoptive mother met Debra Buchanan while she was Amber’s foster mother. My sister knew her name and all the particulars about the adoption. California online birth indexes do show Amber’s birth to her biological mother in Santa Clara County, California. Can you help Amber find closure if her mother has died? The only other living relative of Debra Buchanan is her nephew, Anthony Whitaker, a musician, living somewhere in Santa Cruz. We have been unable to locate him.
Laurel, unfortunately we cannot assist you with your request for a California death certificate copy. You may want to reach out and consult with an attorney about this CA death certificate request since only immediate family can make this request and Amber does not have any documentation to support this
I’m looking to see who Richard Paul Ernst Jr was married to at the time of his deat
Jeanette, we’ll need some more information to complete our CA death record search for you. Can you let us know his date of birth or age at death so we can filter our results. There are multiple people with the same first and last name that you’ve supplied us with and we’ll need the additional info to confirm the California recorded death information you’re interested in
My name is Louise Pitts I am going by my maiden name now I married William Raymond Buckius in Philadelphia New York by the Justice of the Peace he has very big in a several times since I am requesting information on how he died I know he died June 1st 1996 I met him in California and we had a common law marriage to begin with I am still legally married to him
Seeking info on Mary G. Adkins who died Jan. 1, 1935, at Stockton, CA. DOB: Dec.14, 1861, Clinton, WI. Fathers name Preston William Smith. Mothers name:
Francis Schofield. Spouse name John C. Adkins. Previous residence Hays, KS. My relationship; 2d great grand nephew. Purpose is family research. Thanks.
Jason Fredrick Gordon DOB 10/31/68
DOD 09/25/21
Chico, Ca.He was born Jason Fredrick Mueller but was adopted by one of his step fathers.
I can not locate an official death notice. Nor can I locate any family. We were not married so I\’m having trouble getting any kind of answers.Please help.
Trying to find an official death notice for jason f gordon. I was told he died Sept. 25,2021 at his home in Chico, Ca. I found a notice on a website but nothing official from the coroner in Butte County.
ShirleyConley
William, are you looking to verify a death record for a Shirley Conley? If so we’ll also need her middle name and date of birth to verify this California vital record for you
We don’t show the date of the California death record in our database. A good option to obtain this California death record information is to contact the California Department of Public Health as they are the managing state agency for death records in California.
How to Order a CA Certified Death Certificate
1. Visit the California Department of Public Health website
2. Download the Death Certificate Pamphlet and fill out form
3. Have your California Death Certificate request notarized
4. Pay the fee for a Certified Death Certificate copy
5. Processing may take 3-4 weeks by mail
I am trying to see if there is a death record for Tamara Lindley Brown in the state of CA. I’ve looked every where. A link keeps coming up from ancestry regarding her death as December 25, 2005, but thats all the information it will give me. I’ve gone to Obituaries.com and it takes me back to ancestory and the same death notice. I want to be certain it is her. Last I heard from her, she was living in a community in Crescent City. She was born in 1960.
Mary Caldwell Graham, born: Mary Elizabeth Sleadd 05/19/1944