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.
- 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.
Common questions
- 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.