How to Order a Death Certificate in California

To order a death certificate in California, you can apply by mail through the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR), in person at the county recorder or vital records office where the death occurred, or online through VitalChek. As of January 2026, each certified copy costs $26, whether you order from the state or a county.¹ Most families end up needing several copies, so decide how many you want before you submit the application.

Who Can Request a Certified Copy

California law limits authorized certified copies to a defined set of requesters. Under Health and Safety Code Section 103526, you qualify if you are:

A spouse, domestic partner, child, parent, legal guardian, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the deceased.
An attorney representing the deceased or the estate, or someone appointed by a court or empowered by statute to act on the deceased’s behalf.
A law enforcement officer or government agency representative on official business.
An agent or employee of a funeral establishment acting within the scope of employment on behalf of the family.

If you’re not on that list, you can still order an informational copy. It contains the same information but carries the legend “Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity” across the face and is not accepted by banks or insurers.³ Certified copies are what you need for insurance claims, closing bank accounts, transferring property, and probate.

How Many Copies to Order

Order more than you think you need. Most families use somewhere between 10 and 15 certified copies. Each life insurance policy typically requires its own, and banks, pension administrators, the Social Security Administration, title companies, the DMV, credit card companies, and the probate court will each ask for a copy, some of which they keep. Ordering extra copies upfront is cheaper and faster than coming back later, especially through CDPH-VR, where processing takes weeks.

What You Need Before You Apply

Gather the following information about the deceased:

Full legal name (first, middle, last)
Date of death, or an approximate date
County where the death occurred
Date of birth
Social Security number
Name of spouse or domestic partner
Mother’s or parent’s name

You’ll also give your own full name, mailing address, phone number, and relationship to the deceased, and you’ll need a valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport.

For a certified copy, you must sign a sworn statement declaring under penalty of perjury that you are an authorized person under Section 103526.² If you’re mailing the application, that sworn statement has to be notarized by a U.S. Notary Public. If you apply in person, you sign it in front of vital records staff and no notary is needed.⁴ Funeral establishments, law enforcement, and government agencies are exempt from the notary requirement but still complete the top of the sworn statement.¹

Ways to Order

You have three main channels, plus a funeral home shortcut. County offices can only issue records for deaths that occurred in that county; CDPH-VR can issue records for deaths anywhere in California.¹

By Mail Through CDPH-VR

Download and complete the Application for Certified Copy of a Death Record (Form VS 112) from the CDPH website. Mail the completed application, your notarized sworn statement if you’re requesting a certified copy, and a check or money order for $26 per copy made out to “CDPH – Vital Records” to:¹

California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

⁵

CDPH-VR does not accept cash. State processing is the slowest option, so if you need the certificate quickly, use a county office or VitalChek.

In Person at a County Office

The county recorder or county vital records office handles walk-in requests. You fill out the application on site, sign the sworn statement in front of staff, present your ID, and pay the $26 fee per copy. Some counties issue the certificate the same day; others may take up to 20 business days. Call ahead to confirm hours, accepted payment methods, and turnaround time for the county where the death occurred.

Online Through VitalChek

Many California counties and CDPH-VR use VitalChek, a third-party vendor, for online orders. The $26 certificate fee still applies, and VitalChek adds its own processing fee and shipping charges on top.⁶ The total runs noticeably higher than mail, but expedited processing and priority shipping can deliver a certificate within a few business days.

Through a Funeral Home

If you’re already working with a funeral home, ask them to order copies for you. California law authorizes funeral establishment employees to request death certificates for the families they serve,² and they don’t need the sworn statement notarized.¹ This is often the easiest route in the weeks right after a death. The funeral home adds the certificate fees to your bill.

Correcting Errors on the Certificate

Check the first copy carefully. Corrections split into two tracks.

Misspelled names, wrong dates, and other factual or typographical errors get fixed with an Affidavit to Amend a Record (Form VS 24), signed under penalty of perjury by two people with personal knowledge of the correct information.⁷ The form must be typed or printed in black ink with no erasures or white-out, and you have to submit the original. If you file within one year of the date of death there’s no processing fee, though certified copies of the amended record still cost $26 each. After one year, a $26 registration fee applies and includes one certified copy, with additional copies at $26.⁸ Mail amendments to CDPH Vital Records – Amendments – MS 5105, P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410.

Changes to the cause of death or other medical information use a different form, the VS 24A, and only the certifying physician or coroner can sign it.⁹ Family members can’t initiate a medical amendment directly; you’ll need to contact the physician’s office or the coroner.

Older Records for Genealogy

If you’re researching family history rather than settling an estate, an informational copy from CDPH-VR or the county office is usually enough, and anyone can order one without proving a relationship. The California State Archives also holds a limited collection of vital records from 28 counties covering 1850 to 1987, but it isn’t the official repository and coverage varies by county and year.¹⁰

1
California Department of Public Health. How to Obtain a Certified Copy of a Death Record
2
California Legislative Information. California Code HSC 103526 – Certified Copy and Verification of Records
3
San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections. Death Certificates
4
California Department of Public Health. Sworn Statement
5
California Department of Public Health. Contact CDPH Vital Records
6
Orange County Health Care Agency. How to Obtain a Birth or Death Certificate
7
California Department of Public Health. Affidavit to Amend a Record
8
California Department of Public Health. Affidavit to Amend a Death Record
9
California Department of Public Health. Medical Amendment FAQ
10
California Secretary of State. Genealogical and Family History Resources