How to Find California Death Records

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?

Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's death record:

Deaths before 1905

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:
Cemetery Records Newspapers Probate (wills, etc) Tax Records	Church Records Census Bible Records

Deaths after 1905

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.

California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994. Images.
California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994 Index and images
California, Death and Burial Records from Select Counties, 1873-1987, ($). Images.
California, Death Index, 1905-1939 Index and images
California, Death Index, 1940-1997
California, Death Index, 1905-1939 ($)
California, Death Index, 1940-1997 ($)
United States Social Security Death Index
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, incomplete, ($).
U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 ($)
California, San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records, 1835-1979
San Francisco Area, California, Funeral Home Records, 1850-1931 ($)

STEP ONE: Find Death Information

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

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.

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