California Death Certificates

Ordering California Death Certificates Online

Order Death Certificates Here

General Information on Ordering California Death Certificates

Effective July 1, 2003, there are two types of certified copies of birth and death records:

1. Certified Copy: This is a regular certified copy identical to those issued prior to July 1, 2003. These will be issued only to authorized individuals as defined by Health and Safety Code 103526 (see list below). A Certified Copy can be used to establish the identity of the person named on the certificate.

2. Certified Informational Copy: This is also a regular certified copy, but it will have a legend across the face with the statement "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY." A Certified Informational Copy cannot be used to establish identity. Persons who are not eligible to receive a Certified Copy can receive a Certified Informational Copy.

California death certificates may be requested by the following persons:

• A parent or legal guardian of the registrant (person listed on the certificate).

• A party entitled to receive the record as a result of a court order.

• A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business. (Companies representing a government agency must provide authorization from the government agency.)

• A child, grandparent, grandchild, brother or sister, spouse, or domestic partner of the registrant.

• An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant's estate, or any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the registrant or the registrant's estate. (If you are requesting a Certified Copy under a power of attorney, please include a copy of the power of attorney with the application form.)

• Any agent or employee of a funeral establishment who acts within the course and scope of his or her employment and who orders certified copies of a death certificate on behalf of an individual specified in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (a) of Section 7100 of the Health and Safety Code.

Information for Genealogists

For assistance with your family history research, please do not contact the State of California. Instead please refer to the following websites for help:

• California Birth, Marriage and Death Records - online databases of primary records.

• California Adoption Registry - for help with locating adoptees and birth families from California.

• California Obituaries - find obituaries from California newspapers.

• Social Security Death Index - National database of deaths dating back to the 1940's.