Concord Death Records
Concord death certificates are processed through Contra Costa County. The city does not maintain a vital records office. Deaths that occur in Concord get filed with the county system. The Contra Costa County Vital Registration Office handles recent deaths from this year and last year. For older records, contact the County Clerk-Recorder. You cannot get death certificates from Concord City Hall. All requests go through county channels. You can apply in person at the Martinez office, mail an application, or order online through VitalChek.
Contra Costa County Vital Registration
Contra Costa County issues all death certificates for Concord. The Vital Registration Office is at 10 Douglas Drive, Suite 220 in Martinez. Their phone number is 925-313-1125. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm. You can visit during these hours to request a death certificate in person. Bring a valid photo ID and payment.
The fee for a certified death certificate is $30 per copy. This is higher than the state standard due to local fees. Payment must be made in advance. The fee covers a search and one certified copy. If the office cannot locate the record, they keep the search fee. They will issue a no record statement instead. Make sure you have accurate information before applying.
Contra Costa County keeps death certificates for the current year and prior year at the Vital Registration Office. For deaths that happened more than two years ago, contact the 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.
How to Request Records
Start by gathering facts 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 Concord or Contra Costa County. Additional details help the office find the record. These include age at death, birthdate, parents' names, and social security number if you have them.
Download an application form from the Contra Costa County website. Fill out all required fields completely. Sign the form. If you need an authorized copy for legal use, you must include a notarized sworn statement. This declares that you are authorized to receive the record. Sign it before a notary public. Informational copies do not need notarization.
Include your payment with the application. The county accepts checks and money orders payable to Contra Costa County. They also accept cash and debit cards for in-person visits. Credit cards are accepted for online orders through VitalChek. Mail your completed application and payment to the Martinez address. In-person visits may be processed faster.
Who Can Obtain Death Records
Any person can request an informational copy. No relationship to the deceased is required. Informational copies work for genealogy and family history. They have a stamp stating they cannot be used to establish identity. These copies contain the same information as authorized copies.
Authorized copies require proof of eligibility. You must be related to the deceased or have a legal reason. Eligible requesters include parents, children, siblings, spouses, grandparents, and grandchildren. Attorneys representing the deceased or the estate can request them. Executors and court-appointed agents qualify. Government officials acting in official capacity are eligible. Funeral home staff handling arrangements can get death records.
California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 sets these rules. The law protects privacy while allowing access to those with legitimate needs. To get an authorized copy, you must provide a notarized sworn statement unless exempt. Law enforcement, government agencies, and funeral establishments are exempt from notarization for death records.
Processing Times and Fees
Contra Costa County charges $30 per certified death certificate. Extra copies of the same record each cost $30. The fee is not refundable. If the office does not find a match, they keep the fee and provide a no record statement.
In-person requests usually get completed within a few hours. Mail requests take 2 to 4 weeks including delivery time. Online VitalChek orders take 1 to 6 weeks depending on shipping method. VitalChek charges a processing fee of about $12.95 plus the $30 certificate fee. Shipping costs extra for express delivery. Regular mail has no shipping charge.
Death records become available about 2 weeks after the date of event. The local registrar needs time to file the paperwork with the county. If you order too soon after a death, the record may not be in the system yet. Wait at least 2 weeks before requesting a certificate.
State Alternative
You can also order from the California Department of Public Health Vital Records office. CDPH-VR has records for all California deaths from July 1905 to present. Their fee is $26 per copy, which is lower than Contra Costa County's $30 fee. Processing takes about 3 to 6 weeks for mail orders. Their address is P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento CA, 95899-7410. Call (916) 445-2684 for information.
CDPH certificates include the state file number. Some agencies require this. County copies may not show it. If you need the state file number, order from CDPH. Otherwise, ordering from the county may be faster for Concord deaths.
Nearby Cities
Antioch and Richmond are other major cities in Contra Costa County. All use the same county vital records system. Each city directs residents to the Vital Registration Office in Martinez for death certificates.