Someone died in California. Start here.
The first 24 hours, in order, then the first week and the first month, with California's actual rules for death certificates, cremation, and probate. This page is free. No account required.
Sources: official California statutes and agencies, linked below. Last updated: October 2026.
Start with safety, the required local response, and the people who can help. The exact process depends on where and how the death occurred.
These figures come from the same data as our full California guide, built from state statutes and official agencies.
Death certificate
Filed within 8 days
The window runs from the death. The funeral provider or another authorized filer usually handles it. Ask each institution whether it needs a certified copy, then order an initial quantity based on those actual needs. Confirm the current fee with the issuing office; the guide's last-reviewed first-copy or search fee starts at $26. Additional-copy, vendor, and expedited fees may differ.
Source: Cal. Health & Safety Code § 102775 (2025) (opens in a new tab)Cremation
No fixed statutory wait
California doesn’t set a fixed minimum wait in the source reviewed. Release, authorization, permit, death-record, or investigation requirements may still delay cremation. The person legally authorized under state law completes any required authorization; the provider handles its filing process.
Source: Cal. Health & Safety Code §§ 7000 to 7100, 8340 to 8360 (2024) (opens in a new tab)Probate
$208,850 listed amount
The amount alone doesn’t establish eligibility. Confirm which property counts, how it’s valued, the waiting period, ownership, any pending court case, and every other state condition.
Source: Cal. Probate Code §§ 13006, 13100 to 13116 (AB 2016, eff. April 1, 2025) (opens in a new tab)Estate tax
None in this state
California has no state estate or inheritance tax. The federal basic exclusion amount is $15 million for deaths in 2026; other Form 706 filing reasons can still apply.
Source 1: California State Controller's Office: California Estate Tax (opens in a new tab)Source 2: IRS: 2026 estate tax basic exclusion amount (opens in a new tab)Days 2 to 7 · 1 to 7 days
These tasks often begin during the first week, but local requirements and the family's circumstances may change the order.
Weeks 2 to 4 · 1 to 4 weeks
The immediate calls may slow down. Estate, account, benefit, property, and tax work often continues for months.
The Long Game · 1 month+
Estate administration may take months or longer. The timing depends on the assets, claims, disputes, tax work, court schedule, and state procedure.
Have the death officially pronounced. For an expected hospice death, call the hospice nurse and follow the hospice instructions. For an unexpected death, call 911 and don’t move the body until you’re told you can. Then notify the closest people and, after the body is released, contact the funeral, cremation, burial, or donation provider the person chose.
In California, the death certificate must be filed within 8 days of the death. The funeral provider or another authorized filer usually handles it. Ask each institution whether it needs a certified copy, then order an initial quantity based on those actual needs.
An authorized copy goes to a parent, legal guardian, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or domestic partner of the person, someone with a court order, an attorney or a person appointed to act for the person or the estate (with the power of attorney or executor papers), a funeral establishment employee acting for those people, or the surviving next of kin under Health and Safety Code 7100, with a notarized sworn statement. Anyone else can get an informational copy marked not valid to establish identity. Certified copies come from California's California Department of Public Health, Vital Records (CDPH-VR), in Sacramento; the county recorder where the death was registered issues copies in person.
$26 for a certified copy from the state office, per the fee page linked on this page. Raised on January 1, 2026. $26 per copy with no discount for extras. The state office handles mail and electronic orders only; counter service is at the county registrar, which sets its own price.
From California's California Department of Public Health, Vital Records (CDPH-VR), in Sacramento; the county recorder where the death was registered issues copies in person, by mail to CDPH-VR with form VS 112 and the notarized sworn statement, or in person at the county recorder; from July 1, 2026 the state office no longer accepts applications sent through online third-party vendors. The official order page is linked on this page. The funeral home usually orders the first copies for you.
California doesn’t set a fixed minimum wait in the source reviewed. Release, authorization, permit, death-record, or investigation requirements may still delay cremation. The person legally authorized under state law completes any required authorization; the provider handles its filing process.
California's stated small-estate threshold is $208,850. Value alone doesn’t establish eligibility. Ownership, asset type, timing, beneficiaries, debts, and other state requirements can affect whether a simplified procedure is available.
No. California has no state estate or inheritance tax. The federal basic exclusion amount is $15 million for deaths in 2026, and Form 706 may also be relevant for certain elections.
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