Death Certificates
Last verified: January 1, 2025
Source: Cal. Health & Safety Code § 102775 (2025) ↗At a Glance
after death
confidential
copy fee
File within 8 days · Restricted for 25 years · Then public
The 8-day rule.
In California, a death certificate must be registered with the local registrar within 8 days of death and before the body is buried, cremated, or otherwise disposed of. The funeral home typically handles this.
Order at least 10–15 certified copies. Banks, insurance companies, courts, and government agencies all require originals. Getting more copies later is a hassle and costs more.
Who files it.
The funeral director or person in charge of the disposition of the body is responsible for filing the death certificate. The attending physician or coroner must certify the cause of death within 15 days.
Who can order copies.
Authorized parties include: the registrant's spouse, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or domestic partner; the registrant's legal guardian or representative; or any person who can demonstrate a direct and tangible interest in the record.
- –California Department of Public Health (CDPH): cdph.ca.gov/vital-records
- –Cost: $24 per certified copy (CDPH); county offices vary
- –Expedited service available through VitalChek
- –Allow 3–4 weeks for mail; county offices are often faster
How do I get a death certificate in California?
Order certified copies from California's vital records office; this section's source link is the official process. The funeral home or cremation provider usually orders the first copies for you. Order at least 10: banks, insurers, and agencies each want their own certified copy.
How much does a death certificate cost in California?
$24 per certified copy in California, as shown above. Additional-copy pricing varies; the official source linked in this section has the current fee schedule.
Need Help in California?
Some of this requires a California attorney.
Wills, trusts, advance directives, and probate all benefit from a licensed professional. We have compiled a directory of funeral directors, grief counselors, hospice providers, and financial advisors. Sorted by state. Before a listing appears, we check the provider's phone and address against the provider's own website.
Find Help in California →From The MORTL Edit
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12 min read →Sources: California Probate Code and Health & Safety Code (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov), California Department of Public Health (cdph.ca.gov), California Franchise Tax Board (ftb.ca.gov), Donate Life California, California Bar Association. This guide is reviewed periodically and updated when laws change. Last full review: June 2026.
Common questions