California Death Records Search Online

By Claire Dowell


California death records are generated when a person dies in within the state. California has allowed its residents to retrieve their personal documents which include the death certificates of their loved ones. This was made possible after the Freedom of Information Act has been implemented in the state.

Death certificates are an important document used in a number of ways in California. Genealogy research is only one of the many reasons for the retrieval of such document. People would be able to know about the whereabouts of their family members by checking out the family records. The death of an individual has to be updated on the family records to avoid confusion. Death certificates are also used in a number of government transactions. The relatives of the deceased person would be required to present a proof of death when they claim the insurance. Requests may not be processed without the said document. Another use of the certificate is to marry again. If the spouse of the deceased plans to marry again, he/she would have to secure the death certificate to proceed with the marriage.

The death certificate of an individual would contain the person's full name and birth details. The document highlights the details about the death if the individual. One would know when and where the person died. The document also indicates the cause of death of the deceased. Other relevant information that can be found the record includes the personal details about the person who died like the address of residence.

The state of California only releases copies of death certificate which have been registered since 1905. One should pay the processing fee of $14 to get a copy of the certificate. The death certificate is only given to the immediate family members of the person who died. The request form has to be completely filled out with the correct information about the record that is being requested. This can help avoid problems in the retrieval process. The one who filed the request is also required to indicate their contact details which will be used by the government for documentation reasons only.

One should know where to go to when requesting for a copy of a death certificate in California. The first place that one should check is the office of the Vital Records Section. Such office manages all of the public documents of the state which includes the death certificate. One can also go to the county where the person died and see if the county clerk has the record. This can be a little faster than going to the state office. If one cannot go to any office at all, a mail order can be sent to the state office. One should include all the requirements to have the request processed. Although, sending a mail order is convenient, it may take days before the result of the request to be sent to the return address. To avoid delay and hassle in getting a copy of a death certificate, requesting it online addresses this issue.

Online retrieval of death records in the state of California is becoming popular. Because it is online, going to any office just to file the request has been eliminated, thus one can save energy and hassle. Another good reason to go for the online search is that it is faster. With just a few clicks on the mouse, the record is displayed in just seconds. There is no need to wait for several days unlike the old ways.




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