How to Find California Death Records: Difference between revisions
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''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United States Vital Records|US Vital Records]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[How to Find United States Death Records|How to Find United States Deaths]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[California]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[California Vital Records|Vital Records]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]]'' '''California Deaths'''__NOTOC__ | |||
Statewide registration of deaths began in 1905 with general compliance by 1920. | Statewide registration of deaths began in 1905 with general compliance by 1920. | ||
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! width="35%" valign="middle" bgcolor="C0 C0 C0" align="center" scope="col" rowspan="2" | | ! width="35%" valign="middle" bgcolor="C0 C0 C0" align="center" scope="col" rowspan="2" | | ||
== '''Next Step: When did the death occur? ''' == | |||
| width="55%" bgcolor="DC DC DC" style="width: 300px;" | | | width="55%" bgcolor="DC DC DC" style="width: 300px;" | | ||
< | :<span style="font-size:120%">'''Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's death record:'''</span><br> | ||
< | |||
< | :*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find California Death Records#Deaths_before_1905|Deaths before 1905]]'''</span> | ||
< | :*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find California Death Records#Deaths_after_1905|Deaths after 1905]]''' </span> | ||
< | :*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Estimate United States Death Information|Death year unknown]]'''</span> | ||
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== '''Deaths before 1905''' == | == '''Deaths before 1905''' == | ||
Before 1905, some counties in California kept death records. Search | Before 1905, some counties in California kept death records. Search {{RecordSearch|2001287|California, County Births and Deaths Records, 1849-1994}} to see if your ancestor's death record was included. If not, you will need to search [[Substitute Records For United States Death Information|substitute records]] to locate your ancestor’s death date and place. | ||
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| align="center" colspan="3" | | | align="center" colspan="3" | '''Records that give death information:''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| width="35%" | | | width="35%" | | ||
:[[California Cemeteries|Cemetery Records]] | |||
:[[California Newspapers|Newspapers]] | |||
:[[California Probate Records|Probate (wills, etc)]] | |||
:[[California Taxation|Tax Records]] | |||
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:[[California Church Records|Church Records]] | |||
:[[California Census|Census]] | |||
:[[California Bible Records|Bible Records]] | |||
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Statewide registration of births began in 1905 with general compliance by 1920. The Vital Records office of the California Department of Public Health has copies of deaths from 1905 to present day. | Statewide registration of births began in 1905 with general compliance by 1920. The Vital Records office of the California Department of Public Health has copies of deaths from 1905 to present day. | ||
=== '''STEP ONE: Find Death Information''' === | ==== '''STEP ONE: Find Death Information''' ==== | ||
For deaths that exist during this time period, try the following database. <br> | For deaths that exist during this time period, try the following database. <br> | ||
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| {{RecordSearch|2001287| | | {{RecordSearch|2001287|1849 - 1994 - At FamilySearch.org}} | ||
| '''Free;''' images of county death indexes, certificates, registers, and coroner's inquests. | | '''Free;''' images of county death indexes, certificates, registers, and coroner's inquests. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| '' | | ''Next try:'' | ||
| | | | ||
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| {{RecordSearch|1932433|1905 - 1939 - At FamilySearch.org}} | | {{RecordSearch|1932433|1905 - 1939 - At FamilySearch.org}} | ||
| '''Free;''' images of an index of death records created by the Office of the State Register, Sacramento. | | '''Free;''' images of an index of death records created by the Office of the State Register, Sacramento. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| '' | | ''Then try:'' | ||
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| {{RecordSearch|2015582|1940 - 1997 - At FamilySearch.org}} | | {{RecordSearch|2015582|1940 - 1997 - At FamilySearch.org}} | ||
| '''Free;''' index of death records created by the California Department of Health Services. | | '''Free;''' index of death records created by the California Department of Health Services. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| align="left" colspan="2" | '''Can't find your ancestor in the online index?''' | | align="left" colspan="2" | '''Can't find your ancestor in the online index?''' | ||
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=== '''STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate''' === | ==== '''STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate''' ==== | ||
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| align="center" colspan="4" | '''To Order Death Certificates''' | | align="center" colspan="4" | '''To Order Death Certificates''' | ||
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| width="50%" align="center" colspan="2" | [ | | width="50%" align="center" colspan="2" | [http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/birthdeathmar/Pages/CountyRecorderOffice.aspx County Registrar and Recorder offices] | ||
| width="50%" align="center" colspan="2" | [ | | width="50%" align="center" colspan="2" | [http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/birthdeathmar/Pages/CertifiedCopiesofBirthDeathRecords.aspx Vital Records office of the California Dept of Public Health] | ||
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| width="25%" align="center" | '''Pros''' | | width="25%" align="center" | '''Pros''' | ||
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'''''Restrictions for death certificates:'''''<br> To obtain an authorized copy of the death certificate, you must be: | '''''Restrictions for death certificates:'''''<br> To obtain an authorized copy of the death certificate, you must be: | ||
*The decedent's spouse, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling | |||
*A legal party (attorney, law enforcement or representative of the government) with authorization or court order | :*The decedent's spouse, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling | ||
*The legal custodian, guardian, or authorized representative of the person named on the record | :*A legal party (attorney, law enforcement or representative of the government) with authorization or court order | ||
*An individual who orders the certificate in behalf of an individual in the above categories | :*The legal custodian, guardian, or authorized representative of the person named on the record | ||
:*An individual who orders the certificate in behalf of an individual in the above categories | |||
'''NOTE:''' An authorized copy of the death certificate cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above. If you cannot obtain an authorized copy, you may order an informational copy.<br> | '''NOTE:''' An authorized copy of the death certificate cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above. If you cannot obtain an authorized copy, you may order an informational copy.<br> | ||
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== Related Wiki Articles == | === Related Wiki Articles === | ||
:*[[How to Find United States Birth Records|How to Find United States Birth Records]] | |||
:*[[How to Find United States Death Records|Learn more about U.S. Death Records]] | |||
:*[[United States Record Selection Table|United States Record Selection Table ]] | |||
:*[[U.S. Vital Records Overview|U.S. Vital Records Overview]] | |||
:*[[United States Vital Records|United States Vital Records]] | |||
:*[[Locating United States Vital Records|Locating United States Vital Records]] | |||
:*[[United States Birth Records|United States Birth Records ]] | |||
:*[[United States Marriage Records|United States Marriage Records]] | |||
<br> {{california|california}} | |||
[[Category:California_Vital_Records]] [[Category:How-To Articles]] | [[Category:California_Vital_Records]] [[Category:How-To Articles]] | ||
Revision as of 20:31, 6 February 2016
United States 
US Vital Records How to Find United States Deaths California Vital Records California Deaths
Statewide registration of deaths began in 1905 with general compliance by 1920.
Next Step: When did the death occur? [edit | edit source] |
|
|---|
Deaths before 1905[edit | edit source]
Before 1905, some counties in California kept death records. Search California, County Births and Deaths Records, 1849-1994 to see if your ancestor's death record was included. If not, you will need to search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place.
| Records that give death information: | ||
Deaths after 1905[edit | edit source]
Statewide registration of births began in 1905 with general compliance by 1920. The Vital Records office of the California Department of Public Health has copies of deaths from 1905 to present day.
STEP ONE: Find Death Information[edit | edit source]
For deaths that exist during this time period, try the following database.
| California Death Databases - Includes Indexes and Images | ||
| Try 1st: | ||
| 1849 - 1994 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; images of county death indexes, certificates, registers, and coroner's inquests. | |
| Next try: | ||
| 1905 - 1939 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; images of an index of death records created by the Office of the State Register, Sacramento. | |
| Then try: | ||
| 1940 - 1997 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; index of death records created by the California Department of Health Services. | |
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |
STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate[edit | edit source]
| To Order Death Certificates | |||
| County Registrar and Recorder offices | Vital Records office of the California Dept of Public Health | ||
| Pros | Cons | Pros | Cons |
| May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state | County websites can be more difficult to use | Has an expedited service on Vital Chek | May be more expensive than ordering from the county |
Restrictions for death certificates:
To obtain an authorized copy of the death certificate, you must be:
- The decedent's spouse, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling
- A legal party (attorney, law enforcement or representative of the government) with authorization or court order
- The legal custodian, guardian, or authorized representative of the person named on the record
- An individual who orders the certificate in behalf of an individual in the above categories
NOTE: An authorized copy of the death certificate cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above. If you cannot obtain an authorized copy, you may order an informational copy.
If you do not want to order the death record, there are other records with death information you can search.
Related Wiki Articles[edit | edit source]