Humboldt County Death Index
Humboldt County death certificates provide official documentation for deaths in this North Coast redwood region. The Clerk-Recorder office in Eureka maintains these vital records and issues certified copies for $26 each. You can request death records in person, by mail, or through VitalChek online. The office keeps death certificates for Humboldt County from historical records through current registrations. Staff process requests from immediate family members, attorneys, funeral directors, and other authorized persons under California law. Both authorized certified copies for legal use and informational copies for research purposes are available based on your qualifications.
Humboldt County Death Records Overview
Humboldt County Clerk Recorder
The Clerk-Recorder office in Eureka handles vital records for Humboldt County. Staff maintain death certificates, birth records, and marriage licenses for county events. You can find their office in the county seat. Visit humboldtgov.org for contact details and office hours.
Death certificates cost $26 per certified copy. This follows California state law under Health and Safety Code Section 103625. Assembly Bill 64 raised the fee by $2 effective January 1, 2026. The previous fee was $24. The fee covers staff time to search files and produce a certified document with the county seal. You pay this amount whether staff find your record or issue a no record statement.
Humboldt County provides information about requesting death certificates through their official county website.
The website includes instructions, forms, fees, and contact information for obtaining certified death records from Humboldt County.
Ways to Request Records
You can get Humboldt County death certificates three ways. Visit the Eureka office. Mail a request. Or order online via VitalChek.
In person visits work best for quick service. Bring valid photo ID. Fill out the death certificate application. Provide the deceased person's name, death date, and death location in Humboldt County. Pay $26 by cash, check, or money order. Staff will search and produce a copy if found.
Mail requests need a completed application, ID photocopy, and check for $26 to Humboldt County. Send to the Clerk-Recorder in Eureka. Allow two to four weeks total.
VitalChek processes online orders. Select Humboldt County, enter details, upload ID, and pay by credit card. Service fees apply. Processing takes one to three weeks.
Authorized vs Informational Copies
California law defines two types of death certificates. Authorized copies go to family and legal reps for legal use. Informational copies are for anyone but have limited use.
Authorized copies require immediate family relationship or legal status. Parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, spouses, domestic partners, attorneys, court reps, funeral directors, and government officials qualify. You must submit a notarized sworn statement proving your relationship.
Informational copies are available to anyone without notarization. They work for genealogy but have a stamp limiting legal use.
Death Record Retention and Availability
The Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder keeps death certificates on file from the earliest records through the present. Older records may need extra search time. Staff maintain files in secure storage to protect privacy.
Death records become public after 50 years under California law. Recent death certificates have restricted access. Only authorized family members or legal representatives can request records for deaths within the past 50 years. This rule protects privacy during sensitive times. Genealogists can request older records without relationship proof if they use informational copies.
If the office cannot locate a record, they will issue a statement saying no record exists. This "no record" statement has official value for legal purposes. You can use it to show that a death record could not be found. Keep this document for your records. Many offices use microfilm or digital scans for older records. Newer records are in current database systems. The age of the record affects search time and retrieval method.
State Death Records
The California Department of Public Health maintains statewide death records since July 1905. You can request Humboldt County deaths from CDPH at P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410. Phone 916-445-2684. They charge $26 like the county.
Surrounding Counties
Del Norte County borders north. Siskiyou County and Trinity County are east. Mendocino County lies south. The Pacific Ocean forms the western boundary.