Santa Barbara County Death Index
Santa Barbara County keeps death records from 1850 to present for deaths that occurred in the county. The Clerk-Recorder-Assessor office maintains these vital records. You can order certified copies for estates, insurance, Social Security, and family history. The county has offices in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria. Request certificates online, by mail, or in person. Processing times depend on your order method. Recent deaths need time before certificates are ready.
Santa Barbara County Quick Facts
- County Seat: Santa Barbara
- Population: 443,528
- Records Available: 1850 to present
- Main Office: Santa Barbara
Certificate Types
California issues two forms of death certificates. An authorized certified copy works for legal and financial use. Banks need it. Insurance companies require it. Courts use it. This version proves identity. An informational certified copy has the same data but cannot establish identity. Use it for genealogy but not for legal or money matters.
Only specific people can get authorized copies. 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 workers on duty can request them. Funeral homes that handled the service qualify. Others receive informational copies only. You need a notarized sworn statement for an authorized copy.
The Santa Barbara County vital records portal lets you order death certificates online. The system processes requests and mails certificates to you.
Two Office Locations
Santa Barbara County has offices in two cities. The Santa Barbara office is at 1100 Anacapa Street. Phone (805) 568-2250. The Santa Maria office is at 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, Suite 115. Phone (805) 346-8370. Both offices handle death certificate requests. Visit during business hours with photo ID and payment. Staff will search for the record and process your request.
Mail and Online Orders
Download the application from the Santa Barbara County website. 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 Santa Barbara County. Attach a copy of your ID. For an authorized copy, get the sworn statement notarized. Include a check or money order for the fee. Send to the address on the form.
The county has an online portal for ordering vital records. You can also use VitalChek. Both charge processing fees but offer convenience. Enter death details, upload ID, choose copy type, and pay by credit card. Certificates arrive by mail in a few weeks.
Fees Effective January 2026
The death certificate fee is $26 per copy as of January 1, 2026. California law sets this. Each copy costs the same. Multiple copies mean paying for each one. No bulk discount exists. Authorized and informational copies have the same price. If the search finds no record, the fee is not returned.
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. Mail orders take several weeks. Online orders typically arrive within two to four weeks.
Required Information
Write the deceased's full legal name. Don't use nicknames. Give the death date. If unknown, provide the year or month and year. The place of death must be in Santa Barbara County. Additional details help find 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.
Historical Records
Santa Barbara County has death records from 1850 to present. This is one of the oldest collections in California. Records before July 1905 are only available from the county. Old records may be handwritten with faded ink. The clerk copies what is readable. Partial information is better than none for genealogy.
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. Probate courts need certified copies. Real estate cannot be transferred without them. The authorized version is required for legal and financial matters. For genealogy, 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.
Contact Information
Santa Barbara office: 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, (805) 568-2250. Santa Maria office: 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, Suite 115, Santa Maria, CA 93454, (805) 346-8370. Check the website for hours and forms.
Cities in Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County includes several cities with populations over 50,000. Death certificates for people who died in these cities are handled by the county office.