Death certificate · California
How to get a death certificate in California
In California, certified death certificates are issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Vital Records — or the county recorder. The first certified copy costs $26 (as of 2026), with additional copies at $26 each. Order by mail from CDPH (Form VS 112), from the county recorder where the death occurred, or online via the state's authorized vendor VitalChek.
Last verified July 2, 2026 · Sources: CDPH — Obtaining Certified Copies of Death Records, CDPH — Authorized vs. Informational Copy
- Where to order
- California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Vital Records — or the county recorder — official site
- Cost
- $26 (as of 2026) first copy; $26 each.
- How to order
- Order by mail from CDPH (Form VS 112), from the county recorder where the death occurred, or online via the state's authorized vendor VitalChek.
- Good to know
- An authorized certified copy requires a notarized sworn statement; funeral homes are exempt from the notary requirement.
Authorized copy vs. informational copy
California issues two kinds of certified copies. An authorized copy — the one banks, insurers, and agencies want — is limited to close family (spouse or domestic partner, parent or legal guardian, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling), the attorney or funeral establishment acting for the estate, and government agencies. Everyone else can get a certified informational copy: identical content, but overprinted 'INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY.'
The notarized sworn statement
Mail orders for an authorized copy must include a sworn statement (Form VS 20) signed under penalty of perjury and notarized. Law enforcement, government agencies, and funeral establishments are exempt from the notarization requirement, which is one reason letting the funeral home order copies is the easiest route. Informational copies need no sworn statement.
Where to order — the county is usually faster
Order by mail from CDPH Vital Records in Sacramento (Form VS 112, $26 per copy, payable to CDPH-VR), electronically through the state's approved vendor, or in person from the county recorder or registrar where the death was registered. County offices typically issue copies much faster than the state office.
Fixing an error on a California death certificate
Corrections use the Affidavit to Amend a Death Record (Form VS 24), filed with CDPH. Amendments are attached to the original record rather than replacing it, so order corrected copies after the amendment is registered.
Common questions about death certificates in California
- How much is a death certificate in California?
- The first certified copy is $26 (as of 2026), and additional copies ordered at the same time are $26 each. Third-party online vendors add a service fee.
- How many death certificates do I need?
- Most families order 10 or more certified copies. Each bank, insurer, brokerage, and government agency typically wants its own certified original, not a photocopy, so it's better to over-order than to wait for more later.
- Who can order a death certificate?
- Usually the next of kin, the executor, or someone with a documented legal or financial interest. The funeral home can order certified copies on the family's behalf when it files the death certificate.
General guidance, not legal advice. Fees and procedures change — confirm with the California vital-records office.