Yolo Clerk/Recorder

Vital Records:
Death Records

Fees:

Due to the increased occurrence of identity theft, new laws were passed to protect death records from misuse. (H&S 103526)

California law permits certain individuals to receive authorized certified copies of death certificates.

Persons NOT authorized by law to receive an authorized certified copy will receive an informational certified copy marked “INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY”.

The law describes authorized individuals as:

• The registrant or a parent or legal guardian of the registrant.
• A party entitled to receive the record as a result of a court order, or an attorney or a licensed adoption agency seeking the birth record in order to comply with the requirements of Section 3140 or 7603 of the Family Code.
• A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business.
• A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of the registrant.
• An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant’s estate, or any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the registrant or the registrant’s estate.
• Any agent or employee of a funeral establishment acting within the scope of employment who orders certified copies of a death certificate on behalf of any individual specific in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (a) of Family Code Section 7100.

To receive a certified copy of a death record an application needs to be completed. The death records held in the Yolo County Clerk/Recorder's Office begin in the year 1878.

Applicants for an authorized copy are required to read and sign the sworn statement, under penalty of perjury.

Applicants requesting an "INFORMATIONAL" only copy are not required to sign the statement nor have it notarized.

Any application sent by mail must also be notarized.

Incomplete applications will be returned to sender for correction.