Sacramento County Death Index Search
Sacramento County has death records from 1850 to the present day. The County Clerk-Recorder office keeps all death certificates for events in Sacramento County. You can get certified copies for insurance, estates, Social Security, and family history. The county only issues certificates for deaths that happened within Sacramento County. If the death was in a different county, you must order from that county instead. Death certificates are available about four weeks after the date of death. You can order online, by mail, or in person. The fee is $26 per copy as of January 2026.
Sacramento County Quick Facts
- County Seat: Sacramento
- Population: 1,567,975
- Records Available: 1850 to present
- Wait Period: 4 weeks after death
How to Order Death Certificates
The County Clerk-Recorder handles all death certificate requests. The main office is at 3636 American River Drive, Suite 110 in Sacramento. They're open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. You can call (916) 874-6334 or toll-free (800) 313-7133 for information. The staff can answer questions about fees, processing times, and what you need to bring. They can also check if a record has been filed yet.
The Sacramento County death certificates page has details about ordering. You can read about the fees and processing times. The page explains the two types of certified copies and who can get each type. It also has contact information and office hours.
In-Person Requests
Walk-in service is the fastest way to get a death certificate. Go to the main office with your photo ID and payment. Fill out an application form. You can download it from the website ahead of time or get one at the office. The staff can help you fill it out if you're not sure what to write. Allow 20 minutes from the time you hand in your completed form and payment. That's the typical processing time for in-person requests.
Bring a valid driver's license or state ID card. Passports work too. For authorized copies, you need a notarized sworn statement. The form has a section for this. You sign it in front of a notary public who stamps and signs it. Without the notary, you only get an informational copy. You can pay with cash, check, money order, or credit card. Ask when you visit to confirm what payment types they accept.
Mail Requests
To order by mail, download the application form or call and ask for one. Fill it out completely and sign it. Include a copy of your photo ID. Send a check or money order for $26 made out to Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder. Don't send cash. It can get lost and you have no proof. Mail everything to the address on the form. Processing takes five to seven business days from the time they receive it. That's faster than many other counties. They mail the certificate back to you when it's ready.
Make sure your return address is clear. Include your phone number in case they need to reach you with questions. If you want the certificate sent to a different address, say so on the form. Some people have it sent to their lawyer or another family member. That's allowed as long as you're the one who ordered it.
Online Ordering
Sacramento County works with third-party vendors like VitalChek for online orders. You go to the VitalChek website and select California, then Sacramento County. Fill out a form with the name, date, and place of death. Upload a copy of your ID. Pay with a credit card. VitalChek charges extra fees for this service. The processing fee and shipping costs add to the base $26 county fee. Compare the total cost before you decide if online ordering is worth it for you.
The advantage of online ordering is convenience. You can do it from home any time of day. You don't have to mail forms or visit an office. The certificate is mailed to you within a few weeks. Some people find it's worth the extra cost. Others prefer to save money by ordering in person or by mail.
Fees and Costs
Each death certificate costs $26. That's the state fee as of January 2026. It went up by $2 from the old price. The fee is the same whether you order in person, by mail, or online through the county. If you use VitalChek or another third-party service, they add their own charges. The search fee is non-refundable. If they look for the record and can't find it, you don't get your money back. They give you a certificate that says no record was found.
If you need multiple copies of the same record, you pay $26 for each one. Some counties offer a discount on extra copies ordered at the same time, but Sacramento County charges the full fee for each. Order all the copies you need at once to save yourself the trouble of ordering again later.
Wait Period for Recent Deaths
Death certificates are available about four weeks after the date of death. It takes time for the doctor, funeral home, and medical examiner to complete the paperwork. Then the county has to review it and enter it into the database. If you try to order before four weeks, they may tell you the record isn't filed yet. Call the clerk's office to check if you're not sure. They can look it up without charging you a fee.
Types of Certified Copies
An authorized certified copy can be used for all legal purposes. Insurance companies, banks, Social Security, and courts require this type. An informational certified copy is for genealogy and family history. It's stamped to show it can't be used to establish identity. The fee is the same for both. The difference is who can get them and how they can be used.
To get an authorized copy, you must be a close family member or legal representative. Parents, children, siblings, spouses, domestic partners, grandparents, and grandchildren qualify. Lawyers, conservators, and court-appointed agents can get them. Law enforcement and government workers can too for official business. Everyone else gets the informational copy.
Notarized Sworn Statement
For authorized copies, you need a notarized form. The application has a section where you sign under penalty of perjury. You do this in front of a notary public. The notary checks your ID and watches you sign. Then they stamp and sign the form. That proves you swore you're entitled to the record. Without the notary, you only get the informational copy.
Notary services are available at banks, UPS stores, and government offices. There's usually a small fee, often $10 to $15. Bring the completed application and your ID. Don't sign it until the notary tells you to. They have to watch you sign for it to be valid.
What Information to Provide
The application asks for the full name of the deceased. Use their legal name. The date of death helps them search. If you don't know the exact date, give the month and year or just the year. The place of death should be in Sacramento County. Your own name and address go on the form. So does your relationship to the person who died. Include a copy of your photo ID. The more detail you give, the easier it is for them to find the record.
Processing Times
In-person requests take about 20 minutes if the record is easy to find. Mail orders take five to seven business days from the time they receive your request. That's one of the faster mail processing times in California. Online orders through VitalChek usually take two to three weeks. If you need it urgently, in-person service is your best bet.
Uses for Death Certificates
Life insurance companies need death certificates to pay benefits. Social Security requires them to stop payments and process survivor benefits. Banks need them to close accounts or release funds. Probate courts need them to settle estates. Real estate deals need them if the owner died. Some states require them to transfer car titles. Pension funds and retirement accounts need proof of death.
Genealogy researchers use death certificates to build family trees. The certificates show where the person was born, who their parents were, and what they did for work. The informational copy works fine for research. You only need the authorized version for legal matters.
Historical Death Records
Sacramento County has death records from 1850. That's before California started keeping statewide vital records in July 1905. For deaths before 1905, you must order from Sacramento County. The state office won't have them. Some very old records may be on microfilm or in bound volumes. The staff can search them but it takes longer than looking up recent records in the computer system.
Privacy and Access Laws
California law limits who can get authorized copies. The rules protect privacy and prevent fraud. The clerk checks your ID and relationship before releasing an authorized copy. If you claim to be family, they may ask for proof. A birth certificate or marriage certificate can show the relationship.
Contact Information
Phone: (916) 874-6334 or toll-free (800) 313-7133. Address: 3636 American River Drive, Suite 110, Sacramento, CA 95864. Hours: Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Check the county website for holiday closures and updated hours.