Search Antioch Death Records
Antioch death certificates are processed through Contra Costa County. If someone died in Antioch, the death record gets filed with county offices, not the city. The Contra Costa County Vital Registration Office handles recent deaths from this year and last year. For older records, you need the County Clerk-Recorder. Antioch City Hall does not maintain a vital records office. All death certificate requests must go through county channels. You can apply in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek.
Contra Costa County Death Certificates
Contra Costa County is the office that issues death certificates for Antioch. When a death occurs in Antioch, the local registrar files it with the county system. You cannot get a death certificate from the city. Antioch's municipal offices handle city business but not vital records.
The Contra Costa County Vital Registration Office is at 10 Douglas Drive, Suite 220 in Martinez. They keep death certificates for the current year and the prior year. Their fee is $30 per certified copy as of 2026. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm. You can call them at 925-313-1125 with questions.
For deaths that happened more than two years ago, contact the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder. Older records are stored in their archives. You may need to provide extra details to help them locate records from many years back. The Clerk-Recorder's office has records going back over a century in some cases.
How to Request Records
You have three ways to get a death certificate. First, visit the Vital Registration Office in person during business hours. Bring a valid ID and payment. They can process your request the same day in most cases. Second, mail your application with a check or money order. Processing by mail takes longer, usually 2 to 4 weeks. Third, order online through VitalChek with a credit card. Online orders have extra fees for processing and shipping.
Your application needs specific facts. Write down the full name of the deceased person. Include the date of death or the year if you do not know the exact date. State that the death took place in Antioch or Contra Costa County. Adding the deceased person's age, birthdate, or parents' names helps the office find the right record. If the office cannot locate the record, they keep your search fee and issue a Certificate of No Public Record instead.
Authorized copies require a notarized sworn statement. This applies if you need the certificate for legal use like claiming insurance. If you just want an informational copy for family history, you do not need notarization. Informational copies cost the same but have a legend stating they cannot establish identity.
Eligibility to Obtain Death Records
Any person can request an informational copy. No relationship to the deceased is required. These copies work for genealogy research or personal records. They have the same information as authorized copies but cannot be used for official purposes.
Authorized copies go only to certain people. Family members like parents, children, siblings, spouses, grandparents, and grandchildren qualify. Legal representatives such as attorneys, court-appointed agents, and estate executors can also request them. Government employees and law enforcement acting in official capacity are eligible. Funeral home staff can get death records if they are handling the deceased's arrangements. You must prove your eligibility with a sworn statement signed before a notary public.
Fees and Processing Times
Contra Costa County charges $30 per certified death certificate. This fee covers a search of the files and one copy. Extra copies of the same record ordered at the same time each cost $30. Payment must be made in advance. The county accepts cash and checks in person. Mail orders need a check or money order payable to Contra Costa County. Online VitalChek orders require a credit card and add a $12.95 processing fee plus optional shipping fees.
In-person requests usually get completed within a few hours. Mail requests take 2 to 4 weeks including delivery time. Online orders take 1 to 6 weeks depending on the shipping method you choose. Recent deaths may not be available right away. The county needs about 2 weeks after a death to file and index the certificate. If you try to order a certificate too soon, the office may not find it yet.
California State Death Records
The California Department of Public Health Vital Records office also has death certificates. CDPH-VR maintains records for all deaths in California from July 1905 to present. You can order from them instead of the county if you prefer. Their fee is $26 per copy. CDPH processing takes about 3 to 6 weeks by mail. Their address is P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento CA, 95899-7410. Call them at (916) 445-2684.
CDPH death certificates include the state file number. Some agencies require this number. County copies may not show it. If you need the state file number, order from CDPH. Otherwise, ordering from Contra Costa County may be faster.
Other Cities in Contra Costa County
Several nearby cities also use Contra Costa County for death certificates. Concord and Richmond are two large cities in the same county. All follow the same procedures through the county Vital Registration Office. Each city in Contra Costa County directs residents to the same Martinez office for death records. No city maintains its own vital records system.