El Cajon Death Records Access

El Cajon death certificates are kept by San Diego County, not the city itself. The Office of Vital Records and Statistics maintains these records for all deaths that occur in El Cajon. You can request certified copies to use for legal work like settling estates or claiming life insurance. The county has death records going back to 1870. Recent records take a few weeks to become available after someone dies. Older records can be accessed through the county recorder or state archives.

San Diego County Vital Records Office

San Diego County handles all El Cajon death records through the Office of Vital Records and Statistics, also called OVRS. As of June 23, 2025, their new location is 5530 Overland Avenue, Suite 170 in San Diego, CA 92123. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Call OVRS at (619) 692-5733 if you have questions about death certificates. For records older than what OVRS has on file, contact the Recorder/County Clerk at (619) 237-0502. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 121750, San Diego, CA 92112-1750.

Each certified copy of a death certificate costs $26. This fee is set by state law and went into effect in January 2026. The fee pays for one copy and the search. If the office cannot find the record, the fee is not refunded. They issue a no record statement instead.

Order El Cajon Death Certificates Online

San Diego County partners with VitalChek for online ordering. VitalChek is a third party website that processes requests electronically. Visit their California portal to submit an order.

The certificate fee is $26.00 per copy. VitalChek adds a $12.95 processing fee. Shipping is free for regular mail or $19.00 for Express UPS delivery. Total cost runs $38.95 for regular mail or $57.95 for express.

You pay online with a credit card. VitalChek forwards your order to OVRS. The county processes it and mails the certificate. Processing time is similar to mail requests, usually two to four weeks from order date to delivery.

Walk-In Service at OVRS

In person requests happen at the OVRS office in San Diego. Bring a valid government photo ID like a driver license or passport. The office provides application forms. Fill out the form with details about the deceased person.

Staff will ask for the full name, date of death, and place of death. More details help them find the right record faster. Age at death, parent names, or social security number all help narrow the search.

Pay the $26 fee per copy. They accept cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards. If the record is on file, you might get your certificate that same day. Some records take longer if they need to be retrieved from storage.

Mail-In Requests

Download the death certificate application from the San Diego County website. Fill it out completely with all the information you have. Make a copy of your photo ID. Write a check or money order for $26 payable to OVRS or San Diego County.

Mail everything to P.O. Box 121750, San Diego, CA 92112-1750. Include a return address so they know where to send the certificate. Processing takes two to four weeks from the day they receive your envelope. Add more time for mail transit both ways.

Authorized Copies vs Informational Copies

California law controls who can get an authorized certified copy of a death certificate. Per state law, only authorized individuals with a notarized sworn statement may receive an authorized certified copy. All other individuals get an informational certified copy.

Authorized persons include close family members such as parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, spouses, and domestic partners. Legal guardians with documentation qualify. Attorneys representing the estate can order copies. Court appointed representatives and conservators have access. Funeral directors working on the case get copies. Law enforcement and government staff doing official work can request them.

Authorized copy requests need a notarized sworn statement under penalty of perjury. A notary public watches you sign and stamps the form. This proves your identity and relationship. Law enforcement, government agencies, and funeral establishments do not need notarization.

Informational copies go to anyone who asks. These copies show the same facts but have a stamp saying they cannot be used to establish identity. Genealogists use these for family history research. No notarized statement is required.

Free Copies for Veterans Administration

State law has one exception to the fee requirement. If a copy is needed for the Veterans Administration, the copy is free. The county sends it directly to the VA office. This helps veterans' families get burial benefits and other VA services without paying for certificates.

Contact OVRS and explain you need a copy for VA purposes. They will handle the paperwork and send it to the right VA office at no charge.

How Long It Takes

In person requests at OVRS often get processed the same day if the record is readily available. Wait times vary based on how busy the office is. Going early in the day or mid-week usually means shorter waits.

Mail requests take two to four weeks from when OVRS receives your application to when they mail back your certificate. Add another week or two for mail transit each way. Total time runs four to six weeks on average.

Online orders through VitalChek take similar time as mail orders. The county processing time stays the same whether you mail a form or submit it online. Express shipping from VitalChek speeds up final delivery but does not make the county work faster.

Older El Cajon Death Records

El Cajon incorporated as a city in 1912. Death records before that date would show San Diego County but might list different place names or unincorporated areas. The county has records back to 1870.

Very old records may have gaps or missing information. The California State Archives in Sacramento holds microfilm copies of some county records. Local libraries and historical societies sometimes have death indexes, cemetery records, or old newspapers with obituaries.

Online databases like FamilySearch and Ancestry have searchable California death indexes. Some are free. Others need a paid subscription.

Other San Diego County Cities

El Cajon is part of San Diego County, which has many cities. San Diego is the county seat where OVRS is located. Chula Vista lies to the southwest. Oceanside sits along the coast to the north. Escondido is northeast of San Diego.

All San Diego County cities use the same vital records system. Fees and forms stay the same. Only the city name on the certificate differs.