Obtaining Certified Copies of āāDeath Certificates
The California Department of Public Health ā Vital Records (CDPH-VR) maintains a permanent, public record of every death that has occurred in California since July 1905.
Requesting a Certified Copy
Fees
Certified death records are $24 per copy.
Please view our current
Fees. Requests received without the appropriate fee will be returned to the sender. Make your check or money order payable to CDPH Vital Records. Checks must be drawn on a United States bank. Money orders must be drawn on a United States bank or issued by the United States Postal Service.
Please do not send cash by mail. CDPH cannot be held responsible for fees paid that are lost, misdirected, or undelivered.
Processing Times
Please view our current Processing Times. The processing time begins when CDPH-VR receives your request.