Find Death Records in Bakersfield

Bakersfield death records are maintained by Kern County offices rather than the city itself. When a death occurs in Bakersfield, the certificate gets filed with the Kern County Assessor-Recorder. This county office handles all vital records for Bakersfield and the surrounding areas. The city government does not issue death certificates. Residents who need copies must contact Kern County directly. You can apply in person at the Hall of Records in Bakersfield, send a mail request, or order online through VitalChek. Each method has its own processing time and requirements.

Kern County Assessor-Recorder

Kern County handles all death certificates for people who died in Bakersfield. The Assessor-Recorder office is located at 1655 Chester Avenue in Bakersfield. This is the Hall of Records building. Their phone number is 661-868-6400. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. You can visit during these hours to request a death certificate in person.

The fee for a certified death certificate is $26 per copy as of January 2026. This price increased by $2 due to Assembly Bill 64. The fee applies whether you find the record or not. If Kern County cannot locate the certificate based on your information, they keep the search fee and provide a Certificate of No Public Record. Make sure you have accurate details before submitting your request.

Kern County maintains death records going back many decades. Their archives include certificates from the late 1800s in some cases. Recent deaths take about 2 to 4 weeks to become available after the date of event. This delay allows time for the local registrar to file the paperwork with the county.

How to Request a Death Certificate

Start by gathering information about the deceased person. You need the full legal name. Include the date of death or at least the year. State that the death occurred in Bakersfield or Kern County. Extra details help the office locate the record faster. These include the deceased person's age, birthdate, parents' names, and social security number if available.

Download an application form from the Kern County website or pick one up at the Hall of Records. Fill out all required fields. Sign the form. If you want an authorized copy for legal purposes, you must complete a sworn statement and have it notarized. Informational copies do not require notarization. Include your payment with the application. The county accepts checks, money orders, cash, and debit cards.

In-person requests often get processed the same day. Bring a valid photo ID with you. Staff will search the files while you wait if possible. Mail requests take longer, typically 1 to 3 weeks. Send your completed application and payment to the Hall of Records address. Online orders through VitalChek have a processing fee of about $12.95 plus shipping charges. VitalChek orders take 1 to 6 weeks depending on your chosen shipping method.

Authorized Requesters and Eligibility

Anyone can order an informational copy of a death certificate. These copies work for family history research and genealogy. They contain all the same data as authorized copies but have a stamp saying they cannot be used to establish identity. No special relationship to the deceased is required for informational copies.

Authorized copies go to specific people only. Immediate family members qualify. This includes parents, children, siblings, spouses, grandparents, and grandchildren. Legal representatives like attorneys, executors, and court-appointed agents can also request them. Government officials acting in their official capacity are eligible. Funeral home employees can get death records when handling arrangements for the deceased.

California law sets these rules in Health and Safety Code Section 103526. The law protects the privacy of vital records while allowing access to those who need them. If you qualify for an authorized copy, you must prove it with a notarized sworn statement. The notary public witnesses your signature and verifies your identity. Law enforcement, government agencies, and funeral establishments are exempt from the notary requirement for death records.

Fees and Wait Times

Kern County charges $26 per certified death certificate. Each additional copy of the same record also costs $26 if ordered at the same time. Payment must be made before they search for the record. The fee is not refundable even if they do not find a match.

Wait times vary by method. In-person visits may be completed in a few hours or the same day. Mail requests typically take 1 to 3 weeks from the time the county receives your application until they mail the certificate back to you. Online VitalChek orders take 1 to 6 weeks. Express shipping costs extra. Regular mail has no additional shipping fee but takes longer.

Recent deaths may not be available right away. Allow at least 2 weeks after the date of death before requesting a certificate. The local registrar needs time to complete and file the paperwork. If you order too soon, the record may not be in the system yet.

Order from California CDPH

You can also request death certificates from the California Department of Public Health Vital Records office. CDPH-VR has records for all deaths in California from July 1905 to present. Their fee is $26 per copy. Processing takes about 3 to 6 weeks for mail orders. You can reach them at P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento CA, 95899-7410, or call (916) 445-2684.

CDPH 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 instead of Kern County. Otherwise, local county service may be faster for Bakersfield deaths.