Nevada County Death Records Search

Nevada County keeps death records for people who died in the county. The Clerk-Recorder office maintains these vital records. You can order certified copies for legal needs and family research. Records date back to the 1800s. Request them online, by mail, or in person. Wait times vary by method. Recent deaths take time to process before certificates are ready.

Two Copy Types

California issues two forms of death certificates. An authorized certified copy serves legal and financial purposes. Use it to settle estates, claim insurance, and handle bank accounts. It proves identity. An informational certified copy contains the same facts but says it cannot establish identity. Use this for genealogy but not for legal or money matters.

Only specific people can get authorized copies. Close family members qualify including parents, children, spouses, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. Estate representatives have access. Lawyers for the family or estate can get them. Government employees on official business qualify. Funeral homes that handled the service can order them. Others receive informational copies only.

Authorized copies need a notarized sworn statement. Sign under penalty of perjury that you're entitled to the record. A notary public witnesses and stamps it. Without notarization, you get the informational copy. This helps prevent fraud.

The Nevada County death certificate page provides information about ordering. You can find forms, fees, and instructions for submitting requests.

Ordering in Person

Visit the Clerk-Recorder office in Nevada City during business hours. Bring photo ID and payment. Fill out an application. Staff will search for the record. Recent files may be ready the same day. Older records in storage take longer. You'll be told when to return if needed.

In-person service works well for local residents. You can ask questions and get answers right away. If your application has issues, staff tells you how to fix them. This saves time compared to mail. Pay with cash, check, or card depending on what the office accepts.

Mail Requests

Get the application form from the Nevada County website or call to request one. Fill out all sections. Use the deceased's full legal name. Give the death date or at least the year. Note the place of death. It must be in Nevada County. Attach a copy of your ID.

For an authorized copy, get the sworn statement notarized. Visit a notary public. Sign in front of them. They stamp and sign it. Notaries charge a few dollars. Banks and shipping stores often have notaries.

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

Online Ordering

VitalChek processes online orders for Nevada County. Visit their site and choose California, then Nevada County. Enter death details. Upload an ID photo. Select the copy type. Pay with a credit card. VitalChek charges a processing fee plus the county fee. Shipping costs extra for rush service. Standard mail is included.

Online ordering is convenient. You can do it any time. No printing or postage needed. You get an email confirmation. The certificate arrives by mail in a few weeks. The downside is extra cost. VitalChek's fees add up.

Cost

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

If the search finds nothing, the fee is not returned. State law allows counties to keep it for search costs. Verify 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 paperwork. The county reviews and files it. This takes two to four weeks or more after 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.

Required Information

Write the deceased's full legal name on the application. Don't use nicknames. Give the death date. If unknown, provide the year or month and year. The place of death must be in Nevada County. If elsewhere, contact that location.

Additional details help locate the record. Include birthdate and parents' names if known. You must also give your own name, address, phone, and email. State your relationship to the deceased. This determines which copy type you receive.

Historical Records

Nevada County has records from Gold Rush days. Not all old files survived. Fires and poor storage destroyed some. What remains helps genealogists. Before July 1905, only counties kept vital records. The state didn't collect them yet.

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

Common Uses

Life insurance needs death certificates to pay. Banks use them to close accounts. Social Security needs them for survivor benefits. Pension plans require them. These processes cannot proceed without proof of death.

Probate courts need certified copies. Real estate cannot be transferred without them. Vehicle titles need them too. The authorized version is required for legal and financial matters. Informational copies don't work.

For genealogy, death certificates list parents' names and birthplaces. They show occupation and residence. Informational copies work for research.

Privacy Laws

California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 controls access to authorized copies. This prevents fraud. Close family and legal representatives get access. Others receive informational copies. The clerk checks ID and documents.

Contact Information

The Nevada County Clerk-Recorder office is in Nevada City. Call for hours and location. The website has forms and fees. You can email with questions.

Nearby Counties

• Placer County
• Yuba County
• Sierra County