How to Get a Death Certificate in California

Getting a death certificate is one of the first practical steps after a death in California, and the details of who issues it and what it costs are specific to California.

Who issues death certificates in California?

Certified copies come from the California Department of Public Health’s Vital Records office in Sacramento, which holds death records for the whole state, and the county recorder or clerk offices, which issue copies for deaths in their own county. In practice, the funeral home usually files the certificate and orders an initial batch of certified copies for you.

How much does a certified copy cost in California?

California raised the fee on January 1, 2026 under Assembly Bill 64: a certified copy of a death record now costs $26, up from $24, and every copy costs the same. Third-party ordering websites add their own processing fees on top. If the state has no record yet, the fee is kept and a Certificate of No Public Record is issued.

Who can order a copy in California?

California issues two kinds of certified copy. An authorized certified copy, which can establish identity, goes only to authorized people, including next of kin as defined in Health and Safety Code 7100 and parties entitled by court order (Health and Safety Code 103526), who sign a sworn statement; when you order by mail, that statement must be notarized. Anyone else can get a certified informational copy, stamped “INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY.”

How do I order more copies in California?

• At the county recorder or clerk’s office: in the county where the death occurred, in person, by mail, or online. Counties issue copies only for deaths in their own county, and timing varies; Los Angeles County, for example, makes certificates available about 10 days after registration.
• By mail from the state: CDPH Vital Records, MS 5103, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410, with application VS 112, a check or money order payable to “CDPH-Vital Records” (no cash), and the sworn statement for an authorized copy. Phone (916) 445-2684.
• Online: the state has no online portal of its own. Third-party companies pass your order to the state or a county and charge their own processing fee on top.

What else should I know before I order?

Some county fee tables list a $0 certified copy in specific situations, such as a veteran’s claim under Government Code 6107, so ask the office if one applies.

What should I do next?

Confirm with the funeral home how many copies it is ordering for you, then decide how many more you need; see how many death certificates you need in California and our general guide to death certificates.

Add this to your Final Day Plan: your Social Security number, birthplace, and parents’ full names - the death certificate application asks for these, and they’re often surprisingly hard for a family to track down under pressure.

Fees and rules change - confirm current details with the California Department of Public Health or your county recorder before you send payment.