Los Angeles Death Records Lookup

Death records for Los Angeles are maintained through Los Angeles County vital records offices. The city provides these records for legal purposes including estate settlement, insurance claims, and property transfers. Each death certificate contains essential facts like the deceased person's name, date of death, place of death, and cause of death. Records dating back to 1892 are available through county offices. Recent deaths require processing time before certificates become available.

Los Angeles County Death Certificate Office

Los Angeles County processes all death certificates for Los Angeles. The county vital records office handles public requests. You can visit in person, submit by mail, or order online.

The fee for each certified death certificate is $23. This rate is set by California state law. It took effect in January 2026. The cost includes one certified copy and the search fee. If the office cannot locate the record, they keep the fee but issue a no record statement.

Death certificates typically become available two to four weeks after a person dies. This delay allows funeral homes to file paperwork and medical examiners to complete reports. The county then processes the information and adds it to their database. Requesting a certificate before this processing completes will not work.

Request Methods

Three options exist for requesting death certificates. Visit the county vital records office. Mail your application and payment. Or use online ordering through approved vendors.

In person requests require valid government photo ID such as a driver license, state ID card, or passport. The office provides application forms. Complete the form with the deceased person's information. Include full name, date of death, and place of death. Additional details like age or parent names help locate the correct record. Pay the fee at the counter. Many recent records are available same day. Older records may need retrieval from archives.

Mail requests need a completed application form, a photocopy of your ID, and payment. Download the form from the county website or call to request one. Fill out all sections. Write Los Angeles as the place of death. Include a check or money order for $23 made payable to the county. Mail to the vital records office. Processing takes two to four weeks after they receive your request.

Online ordering through VitalChek or county portals adds convenience but costs more. VitalChek charges a processing fee beyond the certificate fee. You pay with a credit card and choose your shipping speed. The county processing time remains the same regardless of submission method. Express shipping only speeds up the final delivery step.

Authorized vs Informational Copies

California law restricts who may receive authorized certified copies of death certificates. Authorized copies serve legal purposes like probate, insurance claims, and benefits. Informational copies contain the same data but have a stamp stating they cannot establish identity.

Authorized requesters include immediate family members. Parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, spouses, and domestic partners qualify. Legal guardians with documentation can request copies. Attorneys representing the estate may order them. Court appointed representatives including executors and conservators have access. Funeral home employees working on the case can get copies. Law enforcement officers and government officials conducting official business may request them.

Most authorized requesters must provide a notarized sworn statement under penalty of perjury. This document declares your relationship to the deceased. A notary public verifies your identity and witnesses your signature. Law enforcement, government agencies, and funeral establishments are exempt from notarization for death records.

Anyone may request an informational copy without proving a relationship. These copies work well for genealogy and family history research. No notarized statement is required.

Information Required

Applications request specific details about the deceased person. More information leads to faster and more accurate searches.

Provide the full legal name. First name, middle name, and last name as shown on legal documents. List any nicknames or alternative spellings used.

Give the date of death if known. An exact day, month, and year works best. Month and year alone still helps. Even just the year narrows the search considerably.

List the place of death. Write Los Angeles as the city. Include the specific location if known such as a hospital name or street address.

Other helpful details include age at death, date of birth, parents' names, and social security number. Not all details are required, but each one increases search accuracy.

Processing Times

In person requests may get processed same day when the record is readily available and the office is not busy. Wait times vary by day and time. Mid-morning weekday visits usually have shorter waits.

Mail requests require two to four weeks from when the county receives your application until they mail back your certificate. Add transit time for both mail legs. Total time typically runs four to six weeks.

Online orders take similar time as mail requests. The county processing period stays the same. You skip the initial mail leg. Express shipping speeds up final delivery but not county processing.

Historical Records

Older death records may be harder to locate. Los Angeles County offices have records from 1892 onward. Records before that date may not exist or may be stored elsewhere.

The California State Archives in Sacramento holds microfilm copies of some county records. Check their catalog for Los Angeles County holdings. Records more than 75 years old are generally open to public access.

Alternative sources include local libraries, historical societies, cemeteries, and churches. Online genealogy websites like FamilySearch and Ancestry provide searchable databases. Some features are free while others require subscriptions.

Other Los Angeles County Cities

Los Angeles shares Los Angeles County with other cities. All use the same vital records system. Fees, forms, and procedures remain consistent throughout the county.