California Death Records: Are They Public + How to Get Them

California is a closed-record state for certified death certificates. Anyone may buy an informational copy that shows the fact of death, but only a legally authorized person (close family, a legal representative, or an entitled agency) can obtain an authorized certified copy that establishes identity. Both come from the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records, and each copy costs $26.

Are Death Records Public in California?

California death records are partially public. The state operates a closed-record system for certified copies, which means the certificate that can be used to establish a person's identity is restricted to authorized people.

The fact of a death, however, is public information. Anyone may request an informational certified copy, which contains the same data as the authorized copy but is stamped "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY." This rule is set by California Health and Safety Code section 103526.

So California sits between a fully open state and a fully sealed one. The death itself and its details are not secret, but only specific people can obtain the legally usable, identity-establishing version of the certificate.

For broader context on how states treat cause-of-death disclosure, see our guide on whether cause of death records are public.

Who Can Request a California Death Record?

Anyone can request an informational copy, but only an authorized person can request an authorized certified copy. The eligibility list comes directly from Health and Safety Code section 103526.

An authorized person for a death record includes:

• The decedent's spouse or registered domestic partner
• A parent or legal guardian of the decedent
• A child, grandparent, grandchild, brother, or sister of the decedent
• A party entitled to the record by a court order
• A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of a governmental agency conducting official business
• An attorney representing the decedent or the estate, and certain funeral establishment agents acting within their employment

To receive an authorized copy, the applicant must sign a sworn statement, under penalty of perjury, declaring they are an authorized person. When ordering by mail, that statement must be notarized. Applicants who do not qualify, or who do not want to sign the sworn statement, receive the informational copy instead.

You will also need a valid government-issued photo ID consistent with the application instructions. Requirements like notarization and the cause-of-death rules echo those for autopsy reports, which California also treats as sensitive.

How to Get a California Death Certificate

You obtain a California death certificate from the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR) or from the county recorder or county health department in the county where the death occurred. The state office (CDPH-VR) holds every death registered in California since July 1905.

Fee: As of January 1, 2026, a certified copy of a death record costs $26 per copy (raised from $24 under Assembly Bill 64). Pay by check or money order made out to CDPH-Vital Records; cash is not accepted by mail.

Methods to request:

• By mail: Complete the CDPH application form (VS 112), include the notarized sworn statement if you want an authorized copy, and mail it with payment to CDPH-VR in Sacramento.
• In person: Apply through the county recorder or county vital records office where the death was registered, which is usually the fastest route.
• Online or phone: CDPH-VR directs online and telephone orders through an independent authorized vendor; the state itself does not take orders online.

Processing time: State mail processing commonly takes several weeks, and can run longer during busy periods, so allow extra time for mail delivery both ways. County offices are generally faster, especially for in-person requests.

Is the Cause of Death Public in California?

The cause of death appears on the death certificate itself rather than being separated into a different restricted record, so it follows the same access rules as the certificate.

That means the cause of death is included on both authorized and informational copies. An informational copy, which any member of the public can buy, will display the cause of death along with the other certificate data; it simply cannot be used to establish identity.

The more sensitive underlying records, such as the full autopsy report or coroner's investigative file, are handled separately by county medical examiner and coroner offices and can be withheld during an active investigation. For more detail, see Are Cause of Death Records Public? and Are Autopsies Public Records?.

How Far Back Do California Death Records Go?

California's statewide death records begin in July 1905, when the state started centralized registration. CDPH-VR maintains a permanent record of every death registered since then, and deaths before July 1905 are found, if at all, in the county where the death occurred.

For genealogy and historical research, the California State Archives (part of the Secretary of State) holds vital records from a limited set of counties, and records more than 75 years old are open to the public without restriction. The State Archives is not the official repository for current vital records, so recent certificates still come from CDPH-VR or the county.

On a national level, there is no federal death-records database. The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) confirms that death records are filed and issued by the states, not the federal government. The Social Security Administration's public Death Master File can help locate older deaths, but under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 it excludes deaths that occurred within the most recent three calendar years. These records also relate to other vital documents like birth certificates.

California Death Records Quick Facts

Disclaimer: This page provides general legal information about public records access in California, not legal advice. Eligibility rules, fees, and processing times change, and county practices vary. Always confirm current requirements directly with the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records or the relevant county office before submitting a request.

Sources

This guide draws on the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records, the California Health and Safety Code, the California State Archives, and the CDC and Social Security Administration for the national framework. See the full citations below, and find more states on our Death Records by State hub.