Death Records and Death Certificates in California

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California Death Records

Population of California was recorded 39,368,078 on July 1, 2020, a 5.67% increase since the 2010 United States Census. According to the United States Census Bureau in 2018 the population self-identifies as 72.1% White (including Hispanic Whites), 36.8% Non-Hispanic whites, 15.3% Asian, 6.5% Black or African American, 1.6% Native American and Alaska Native, 0.5% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and 3.9% Two or more races.

This page is created to provide genealogists and researchers an ultimate guide to the state of California death records. Use the links and the tips below for California death records, certificates, online tools and databases. Additional information on how to obtain California death certificates is available below.

How to Find a Death Record in California

California death records search

This webpage gives you access to all of the online databases containing California death records, California death certificates, California death notices, California death indexes, and other related California genealogy records.

California death records free

Below are some of the most comprehensive resource for death records in California.

California Death Index

California death records database

Links to California death and burial indexes and databases are as below:

California social security death index

The Social Security Death Index contains information on millions of deceased individuals in California with social security numbers whose deaths were reported to the Social Security Administration. Try the links below to search the index:

Public Death Record California

In addition to the indexes and databases above, there are some other resources that gives to almost the same or might even more information about a deceased individual. Here are some to check out:

California Death Certificates

How to get a death certificate in California

California vital records prior to July 1st, 1905 are found within the county where the event occurred. Records thereafter were kept by the State Registrar of Vital Statistics. No statewide index is available for records prior to 1905. For birth, marriage and death records prior to 1905, write to the clerk of the county in question. For birth, marriage and death records after 1905, write:

Office of Vital Records and Statistics
Department of Health Services
304 S Street
P.O. Box 730241
Sacramento, CA 94244-0241
Fax: 800-858-5553

California death certificates online

Use the links below to get death certificates and vital records in California.

California Death Notices

Check local newspapers and local online news websites which frequently publish notices. Use the link below for more information on California news agencies.

California counties for death record research

Alameda County
Alpine County
Amador County
Butte County
Calaveras County
Colusa County
Contra Costa County
Del Norte County
El Dorado County
Fresno County
Glenn County
Humboldt County
Imperial County
Inyo County
Kern County
Kings County
Lake County
Lassen County
Los Angeles County
Madera County
Marin County
Mariposa County
Mendocino County
Merced County
Modoc County
Mono County
Monterey County
Napa County
Nevada County
Orange County
Placer County
Plumas County
Riverside County
Sacramento County
San Benito County
San Bernardino County
San Diego County
San Francisco County
San Joaquin County
San Luis Obispo County
San Mateo County
Santa Barbara County
Santa Clara County
Santa Cruz County
Shasta County
Sierra County
Siskiyou County
Solano County
Sonoma County
Stanislaus County
Sutter County
Tehama County
Trinity County
Tulare County
Tuolumne County
Ventura County
Yolo County
Yuba County