Downey Death Certificates
Downey death records come from Los Angeles County government offices. The city does not maintain vital records. When someone dies in Downey, Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder handles the death certificate. You can get certified copies from their office in Norwalk or order them online. Death certificates contain vital facts about the deceased person including name, date of death, place of death, and cause. These records serve legal purposes like claiming insurance benefits, settling estates, and managing property transfers.
Downey Death Records Information
Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder
Los Angeles County maintains all Downey death records through the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk office. Their main location sits at 12400 Imperial Highway in Norwalk. The mailing address is P.O. Box 489, Norwalk, CA 90651-0489. Phone numbers are (562) 462-2137 locally or (800) 201-8999 toll free.
Los Angeles County has death records from 1892 to now. This covers the entire history of Downey and then some. The city incorporated in 1956, but county records go back much further.
Death certificates cost $23 per copy in Los Angeles County. This rate applies as of January 2026. The fee is not refunded if they cannot find the record you want. Instead, they issue a No Record Statement showing they searched but found nothing.
Records are not available until 90 days after the date of death. This wait time lets the county process paperwork from funeral homes and medical examiners. Trying to get a certificate before 90 days will fail because it has not entered the system yet.
Order Downey Death Records Online
Los Angeles County offers online ordering through their website at apps.lavote.net/bdm. This portal lets you request death certificates without visiting in person or mailing forms. The system walks you through each step.
You need basic information about the deceased. Full name, date of death, and place of death are essential. The system may ask for additional details like age or parent names to help locate the right record.
Payment happens online through the county system. Online orders get processed within 20 working days according to county estimates. They mail the certificate to your address once processing finishes.
VitalChek provides another online option. This third party vendor charges a $9.00 processing fee on top of the $23 certificate fee. They accept major credit cards and offer different shipping speeds.
Get Copies in Person
Walk-in service is available at the Norwalk office. Bring valid photo identification such as a driver license or passport. The office provides application forms. Fill out the form with the deceased person's information. Staff will help if you have questions.
Pay the $23 fee per copy at the counter. They accept cash, checks, and credit cards. If the record is on file and available, you may get your certified copy the same day. Some requests take longer if the record needs to be pulled from archives or requires additional verification.
Check the county website for current office hours before you visit. Some days have reduced hours or closures for holidays.
Request by Mail
Mail requests work well if you cannot visit in person. Download the death certificate application from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder website. The form asks for standard information about the deceased.
Complete every section of the application. Make a photocopy of your valid ID. Write a check or money order for $23 made payable to Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder. Some folks order multiple copies at once. Just multiply $23 by the number of copies you want.
Mail everything to P.O. Box 489, Norwalk, CA 90651-0489. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want to be sure about return postage. Processing time for mail requests varies but typically runs two to four weeks from when they receive your request.
Who Can Get Authorized Copies
California law limits who receives authorized certified copies of death certificates. Authorized copies work for legal matters. Informational copies show the same data but cannot be used to establish identity.
Authorized requesters include immediate family members. This means parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, spouses, and domestic partners of the deceased. Legal guardians with proper documentation qualify. Attorneys representing the estate can request copies. Court appointed representatives such as executors and conservators have access. Funeral establishment employees working on the case get copies. Law enforcement and government officials conducting official business may request them.
Most authorized requesters need a notarized sworn statement. You sign this form under penalty of perjury in front of a notary public. The statement says you fit one of the authorized categories. Law enforcement, government agencies, and funeral establishments do not need notarization for death records.
Anyone else gets an informational copy. These work fine for genealogy and family history. No notarized statement is needed.
Visit the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder vital records page for complete instructions on obtaining Downey death certificates.
The California Department of Public Health also maintains death records for all Downey deaths since 1905 and can provide statewide service from their Sacramento office.
Information Required for Requests
Applications ask for specific facts. The more you provide, the easier it is to find the right record.
Full legal name of the deceased comes first. Use their complete name as it appears on legal documents. First, middle, last. If they went by a different name or nickname, mention that too.
Date of death helps narrow the search. Give the exact day if possible. Month and year work if you lack the precise date.
Place of death goes in another field. List Downey as the city. Hospital name or street address helps if you have it.
Other helpful details include age at death, date of birth, parent names, and social security number. You do not need all of these, but each one makes the search faster and more accurate.
Fire Relief Program
Los Angeles County residents directly impacted by fires can request vital records at no cost. This program supports recovery efforts after natural disasters. If you lost important documents in a fire, the county waives fees for replacement copies of death certificates and other vital records.
Contact the Registrar-Recorder office to ask about fire relief eligibility. They will explain what documentation you need to prove your situation.
Other Los Angeles County Cities
Downey sits in a county with 88 cities total. Nearby cities include Norwalk where the county office is located. Long Beach lies to the south and maintains its own vital records for recent deaths. Los Angeles is the county seat to the northwest. Torrance sits southwest of Downey.
Most Los Angeles County cities use the same Registrar-Recorder system. Long Beach, Pasadena, and Berkeley are exceptions with their own local vital records offices for recent deaths.