Find Mono County Death Records

Mono County maintains death records for deaths occurring in the county. The County Clerk office handles these vital records. You can order certified copies for estate settlement, insurance, Social Security, and family history. Records date back many decades. Order by mail, online, or in person. Processing times vary by method. Recent deaths need time before certificates are ready to order.

Certificate Options

California issues two types of death certificates. An authorized certified copy is for legal and financial use. It proves identity. Banks, insurance companies, courts, and government agencies need this version. An informational certified copy contains the same information but says it can't establish identity. Use it for genealogy. It won't work for legal or money matters.

Only certain people can get authorized copies. Close family qualifies. Parents, children, spouses, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren can request them. Estate representatives like executors have access. Lawyers working for the family or estate can get them. Government employees on official business qualify. Funeral homes that handled the service can order them. Others get informational copies only.

You need a notarized sworn statement for an authorized copy. Sign the form under penalty of perjury. A notary public witnesses your signature and stamps the document. This proves you're entitled to the record. Without notarization, you receive the informational copy. This requirement helps prevent fraud and misuse.

The Mono County vital records page has information about ordering death certificates. You can find forms, fees, contact details, and instructions for submitting requests.

Ordering in Person

Visit the County Clerk office in Bridgeport during regular hours. Bring your photo ID and payment. Fill out the application form. Staff will search for the record. If it's in the digital system, you may get it while you wait. Older records in storage can take a day or two. You'll be told when to return if needed.

In-person service works well if you're in the area. You can ask questions right away. If something is missing from your application, staff will tell you. You can fix it on the spot. This saves time compared to mail. Pay with cash, check, or card depending on what the office accepts.

Mail Requests

Download the application form from the Mono County website or call to have one sent. Fill out all sections. Use the deceased's full legal name, not a nickname. Give the death date or at least the year. Write the place of death. It must be in Mono County. Attach a copy of your photo ID.

For an authorized copy, get the sworn statement section notarized. Go to a notary public with the form. Sign in front of them. They'll stamp and sign it. Notaries charge a few dollars for this service. Banks and shipping stores often have notaries available.

Include a check or money order for the fee. Make it payable to Mono County. Don't mail cash. Send everything to the address on the form. Processing takes several weeks. The certificate arrives by mail when ready. If the record doesn't exist, you'll get a letter and the fee is kept.

Online Ordering

VitalChek processes online orders for Mono County. Visit their website and choose California, then Mono County. Enter the death information. Upload a picture of your ID. Select the type of copy. Pay by credit card. VitalChek charges a processing fee plus the county fee. Shipping costs extra for express delivery. Regular mail is included in the processing fee.

Online ordering is convenient. You can do it from home any time. No printing or postage needed. You get an email confirmation. The certificate arrives by mail in a few weeks. The trade-off is extra cost. VitalChek's fees make it more expensive than mail or in-person.

Cost

The death certificate fee is $26 per copy as of January 2026. California state law sets this amount. It increased by $2 under Assembly Bill 64. Each copy costs the same. No discount for multiple copies. Authorized and informational versions have the same fee.

If the search finds no record, the fee is not returned. State law lets counties keep it to cover search costs. To avoid wasting money, verify your information before ordering. Make sure you have the right county and correct spellings.

Processing Time

Deaths must be registered within eight days in California. But the certificate takes longer to become available. Doctors or medical examiners complete the paperwork. The county reviews and files it. This process takes two to four weeks or more after the death.

In-person requests are often done same day for recent records. Older records may take longer. Mail orders take three to six weeks total. Online orders through VitalChek typically arrive within two to four weeks. Express shipping speeds delivery but not processing time.

Required Information

The application needs the deceased's full legal name. Don't use nicknames. Give the date of death. If you don't know it, provide the year or month and year. The place of death must be in Mono County. If the person died elsewhere, contact that location instead.

Additional details help locate the record. Birthdate and parents' names are useful. This is important if the name is common. You must also provide your own name, address, phone, and email. State your relationship to the deceased. This determines which type of copy you receive.

Old Records

Mono County has records from the 1800s. Not all survived. Fires, floods, and poor storage destroyed some files. What remains helps genealogists and historians. Before July 1905, only counties kept vital records. The state didn't collect them yet.

Old records may be handwritten with faded ink. Paper can be damaged. The clerk copies what is readable. Partial information is better than none for family research. The California State Archives has microfilm of some county records. Check if Mono County is included.

Common Uses

Life insurance companies need death certificates to pay benefits. Banks use them to close accounts. Social Security needs them to stop payments and pay survivors. Pension plans require them. Without this document, financial processes stall.

Probate courts need certified copies to open estates. Real estate can't be transferred without proof of death. Vehicle titles need them too. Many legal matters depend on death certificates. The authorized version is required. Informational copies don't work for legal or financial purposes.

For genealogy, death certificates provide valuable information. They list parents' names and birthplaces. They show occupation and residence. This helps build family trees. Informational copies work for research.

Privacy Laws

California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 limits access to authorized copies. This prevents fraud and identity theft. Close family and legal representatives get access. Others receive informational copies. To get an authorized copy, you must prove your relationship. The clerk checks ID and documents.

Contact Information

The Mono County Clerk office is in Bridgeport. Call for hours and directions. The website has forms and fee information. You can email with questions. Staff will help if you're unsure about the process.

Nearby Counties

• Inyo County
• Tuolumne County