Butte County Death Records Search

How to Order Copies

You have three ways to get death certificates from Butte County. Walk into the Oroville office. Mail your request with proper forms and payment. Or order through VitalChek online.

In person requests work best when you need records fast. Bring a valid photo ID like a driver license or passport. Tell staff the full name of the deceased person, date of death, and city or location where the death occurred in Butte County. More details help them find the right record faster. Fill out their application form. Pay the $26 fee by cash, check, or money order. Staff will search their files and make a certified copy for you.

Mail requests take longer but work if you cannot visit Oroville. Get the application form from the county website or request one by phone or email. Complete all sections. Include a photocopy of your government issued photo ID. Write your check or money order for $26 to Butte County. Send everything to 155 Nelson Avenue, Oroville, CA 95965. Use a return envelope with enough postage. Allow two to three weeks for processing and mail delivery both ways.

VitalChek runs the state authorized online ordering system. Go to their California portal and select Butte County. Fill in the deceased person's information. Upload or enter your ID details. Pay by credit card. VitalChek adds service fees to the base $26 certificate cost. Processing typically takes one to two weeks. They mail the certificate to your address or you can pay extra for faster shipping.

Who Can Request Death Records

State law controls who gets full certified copies of death certificates. These are called authorized copies. They show complete information and work for legal uses like insurance claims and estate matters.

Family members qualify if they are the parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, spouse, or domestic partner of the dead person. Lawyers representing the deceased or their estate can get copies. Court appointed representatives handling estate affairs have access. Funeral home staff working on the case qualify too. Government workers and police officers doing official business may request records.

Authorized copies require a notarized sworn statement. You sign this under penalty of perjury saying you have a legal right to the record. A notary public must witness your signature and add their seal. The statement form usually comes with the death certificate application. Government agencies and funeral homes are exempt from notarization in certain situations.

Anyone else can get an informational copy. These look the same but have a stamp saying they cannot establish identity. Informational copies work for genealogy and family history. They do not need notarization. Just apply and pay the fee.

Old Death Records

The California State Archives in Sacramento has some Butte County death records on microfilm from 1888 to 1939. These records are over 75 years old so they are open to the public without restriction. If you need very old Butte County death information, check with the State Archives at 916-653-6814.

For deaths after 1905, both the county and the state keep records. The California Department of Public Health Vital Records office began collecting death certificates statewide in July 1905. You can request Butte County deaths from CDPH at P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410. Their phone is 916-445-2684.

Deaths before 1888 may not have official certificates. Church records, cemetery logs, newspaper obituaries, and family Bibles sometimes contain death dates for people who died before government vital records systems started. Local historical societies and libraries in Butte County may have these alternate sources.

Adjacent California Counties

Butte County neighbors several other Northern California counties. Glenn County sits to the west. Tehama County is northwest. Plumas County borders the east and north. Yuba County and Sutter County lie to the south.

Each county runs its own vital records office. Fees are $26 across California but office hours, procedures, and processing times differ. If a death happened in a different county, you must contact that county's office or use the state system.

Cities in Butte County

Butte County includes several cities and towns. The largest is Chico, which has a population over 100,000. Other communities include Oroville, Paradise, Gridley, and Biggs. Deaths occurring in any of these places get recorded with Butte County.

City clerks do not handle death certificates. All vital records go through the county Clerk-Recorder office. Even if someone died in Chico city limits, you request their death certificate from the Butte County office in Oroville.

Record Availability Timeline

New death certificates take about two weeks to become available after the date of death. California law requires funeral directors and medical professionals to file death information with the county within eight days. The county then processes and indexes the record before making it available for requests.

If you need a certificate for a very recent death, call the Clerk-Recorder office first. Staff can check if the record is in their system yet. Some deaths take longer to process, especially if a coroner or medical examiner investigates the cause.