California Death Records

To understand why it is important for people to be aware of when a death happened and the importance of death records like California Death Records, one must first understand what civil effect death has. Usually, death is the end, and this does not only mean the life of the person who had died, but also any contract or obligation that he had entered into in his life. Such may include debts, any obligation due to the decedent, even the fact of marriage to a particular person. When one understands and takes into consideration that such would have effects that would involve not only the person who had died but even those who are not even related to him, then one could glimpse into the importance of death records.

California Death Notices are public records, and because they are public records, they are supposed to be available to the general public. This is the first advantage of a public record, their general availability. Take note that the record that would actually be made available to the person who would request for them is not the original, but a copy of the original. The reason that the original is kept by the custodian has something to do with the second advantage of public records, the advantage that public records are presumed to be correct at all times, hence, the reason why the original should be with the custodian so that the same could be copies for any person who would request for the records.

Copies of California Death Certificates are available from two sources, the local or county level source and the national or state level source. Usually, the best place to search for death records would be at the local level because the local level is the entity that would be most aware of the event and there would be fewer records there, however, one must note that if the search would be done at the local level, then the person who is making the search should be aware of where the death occurred. This is because the local level sources are limited in their territorial jurisdictions when it comes to making records, thus, a death that occurred across the county line would not have records in another county as they do not have jurisdiction there. Nevertheless, it is faster to search for death records at the local level.

In the state of California, Death Records are also available at the state level through the California Department of Public Health. At this level, there are two types of records that may be requested for, informational and certified copies, with the former being easier to obtain, but would have limited uses, while the latter is limited only to a few people specifically provided for by law, but could be used in official government proceedings. Both would have the usual fee of twenty one dollars, but a request for certified copies would require the person who wishes to obtain the record to first execute a notarized statement showing that he is one of the people allowed by the law to request for certified copies.

Of course, it is possible to request for death records online through the use of online databases. Faster and more efficient, these databases do provide substantially the same information as the various government databases, but they could be accessed from just about anywhere because they are internet-based.

When requesting for copies of death records, it is important to follow the procedure given below

• – Determine if you require either an informational copy or a certified copy.
• – Obtain the request form either for an informational copy or a certified copy.
• – Fill up the request form.
• – Make a money order or check to answer for the required fee.
• – If you are request for a certified copy, make a notarized sworn statement detailing that you are amongst those who are allowed to request for a certified copy.
• – Send all the requirements to the California Department of Public Health for processing.
• – Wait for the department to process your request and send you the records.

California Death Certificates

The following links should be of further assistance in case of questions and other queries

• – State of California
• – California Department of Public Health
• – Office of Vital Records
• – List of County Recorders Offices
• – Applying for a Death Certificate
• – Alameda County Clerk-Recorder
• – Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder
• – Del Norte County Clerk-Recorder
• – Fresno County Clerk-Recorder
• – Monterey County Clerk-Recorder
• – Orange County Clerk-Recorder
• – Center for Disease Control