The paperwork · California
Almost everything that comes after a death, from the bank to the life insurance company, asks for a certified copy. Here is what a copy costs in California, where to order it, and how many to get.
Order about 10 certified copies at the start. It costs less to buy them together than to come back for more later, and nearly every office will want an original, not a photocopy.
From the state vital records office
Cost of a certified copy: $24.00
Mail requests to: CA Department of Public Health – Vital Records MS: 5103 P.O. Box 997410 Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
The State Office has maintained vital event records since July 1905. For earlier records, contact the County Recorder in the county where the event occurred. A personal check or money order should be made payable to CDPH Vital Records. Please do not send cash. To verify current fees, the telephone number is (916) 445-2684. This is a recorded message, with an option to talk to a customer service representative. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the California Department of Public Health website. In order to obtain a Certified Copy you MUST complete the sworn statement included with the death certificate application form, sign the statement under penalty of perjury, and your sworn statement must be notarized. If your request indicates that you want a Certified Copy but does not include a notarized statement sworn under penalty of perjury, the request will be rejected as incomplete and returned to you without being processed. If you request a Certified Informational Copy of the record, a notarized sworn statement is not required. Please refer to the CDPH website for further information about Informational Copies. Since November 1, 2013, CDPH – Vital Records no longer embosses certified copies of records.
If the family cannot afford a funeral, call the county burial assistance program before signing anything with a funeral home. Find your county on the California help page, and see what else is owed to you in the first 48 hours checklist.
Questions families ask
The state vital records office lists the cost of a certified copy as: $24.00 Fees can change, so confirm on the official site before you send payment.
Most families need about 10. Banks, life insurance, Social Security, the vehicle title office, retirement accounts, and property transfers each tend to want an original certified copy, and many will not accept a photocopy.
Yes. Funeral homes file the death record for you and can usually order certified copies at the same time. If you are using a county burial program instead, ask the caseworker how copies are ordered.
Eligibility rules are set by California. Spouses, children, parents, and the executor named in the will are commonly eligible, and you may be asked for photo ID and proof of your relationship. The state office confirms the exact rules.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Costs and rules come from the official California vital records listing and can change; confirm with the office before you send payment.
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Reviewed by the Final Steps Help research team.
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