Obtaining a death certificate in Riverside County is fairly straightforward when someone dies of natural causes. But if the decedent is the victim of an accident, they will need to be examined by the Riverside County Coroner’s Bureau. A medical examiner with the coroner’s office will conduct an investigation and issue a death certificate with the official cause of death. The investigation can take several weeks to a few months on average, depending on the details of the accident. You can check up on the status of the investigation by contacting the county coroner’s office.
Riverside County has two locations for their Coroner’s Bureau: Coroner’s West and Coroner’s East.
The address and contact information for Coroner’s West is:
800 S. Redlands
Perris, CA 92570
(951) 443-2300
If you need to contact the Coroner’s East office, they can be reached at:
47255 Oasis St
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 863-8311
Although the investigation into a death is conducted by the coroner’s office, you will need to contact a different agency to obtain a copy of a death certificate after an accident. We will go over the necessary procedures, along with related information such as:
- Will I have to pay for a copy of the death certificate?
- How many death certificates will I need?
- What if I can’t afford to pay for the death certificates?
If you have questions or concerns at any point during the reading of this article, don’t hesitate to give us a call at our office.
How can I get a Copy of a Death Certificate from the Coroner’s Office?
The Riverside County Coroner’s Office is not in charge of distributing death certificates to family members and loved ones. To obtain a copy, you will need to contact the Office of Vital Records or the County Clerk’s office, depending on the date of death. You may also have the option to order a death certificate online, which we will discuss in a later section.
Death Certificates from the Office of Vital Records
If your loved one’s death occurred within the past two years, you will need to request a copy of the death certificate from the Riverside County Office of Vital Records. To purchase a death certificate in person, you can visit the office at:
4065 County Circle Drive, Suite 102
Riverside, CA 92503
To ensure that the office is open and the death certificate is on file, you can call them ahead of time at (951) 358-5068. You can also reach them by email at vitalrecords@ruhealth.org.
To request copies of a death certificate by mail, you will need to download and complete the application forms from the Riverside County Office of Vital Records website. Please note that the Sworn Statement has to be notarized to confirm your identity, and payments must be in the form of a check or money order. Once you have all the necessary information, mail your request to:
Vital Records
P.O. Box 7600
Riverside, CA 92513-7600
Unfortunately, there is no online ordering option for death certificates with the Vital Records Office, though they are currently working on this feature. But progress is slow when it comes to government agencies, and it can be challenging to navigate the application process in person or through the mail. Our lawyers can assist you with this task and answer any questions you have regarding your legal rights. Please contact our office and schedule a free consultation.
Death Certificates from the Riverside Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Death certificates from 2020 or earlier can be ordered from the Riverside County Clerk’s office by mail or in person. You will need to complete the application form, which is available on the County Clerk’s office website and have it notarized in order to verify your identity. Then, mail the application with a check or money order for the applicable fee to the following address:
Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
P.O. Box 751
Riverside, CA 92502-0751
To purchase a copy of the death certificate in person, you will need to complete and submit the forms online, which will generate an order number. Make sure to keep this number, since you will need to provide it when you arrive at the office. An appointment is highly recommended to minimize wait times, which you can book online after you submit your application. If you need to contact the County Clerk’s office directly, you can reach them at (951) 955-6200 from Monday to Friday, between 8 AM to 5 PM.
How can I get a Copy of a Death Certificate Online?
Death records with the County Clerk’s office can be ordered online by clicking the “Obtaining Copies Online” link on the Riverside County Assessor- County Clerk- Recorder website. You will be taken to their Vital Records page, where you can choose the “Death Certificates” option. While this system is convenient, you will be charged a credit or debit card fee on top of the cost for each death certificate.
How long does it take to get a copy of a Death Certificate?
Fortunately, Riverside County is much faster than the majority of counties in California when it comes to processing death certificates. Online and mail-in requests are typically processed in about a week. If you appear at the office in person, you should be able to obtain a copy the same day.
If it’s been a few weeks and you still haven’t received a copy of the death certificate, contact the office at (951) 955-6200 to check on the status of your application.
Can the Funeral Director Give me a Copy of the Death Certificate?
The funeral home may be willing to provide you with a copy of the certificate they received from the coroner’s office. However, this will most likely be a “pending” certificate, which will not have an official cause of death. Funeral directors are given this document so that a burial or cremation can be arranged as soon as possible. The coroner’s office will continue their investigation in the meantime and issue a finalized death certificate once they determine the cause of death.
A pending death certificate can be used to initiate the probate process, but it’s unlikely to be of any use beyond that. Life insurance and mortgage lenders, for example, typically require an official cause of death. You will also need this information to claim wrongful death compensation if your loved one’s death was caused by someone else’s misconduct.
How much does it Cost to get a Copy of a Death Certificate?
Certified copies of death certificates are $24 each, no matter which office you order them from. There are no additional fees if you are requesting a death certificate in person or through the mail. However, online orders will be assessed a 2.28% credit or debit card fee, which is non-refundable. If you opt for 2-day express delivery, you will need to pay an additional charge of $8.75.
How many Copies do I need to Order?
Considering the procedures involved, it makes sense to order multiple copies of a death certificate at once, but how many copies you will need depends on the decedent’s assets. A lawyer can be helpful in this area, since they can advise you on the process for resolving or claiming each asset. Many institutions, such as banks and insurance companies, will require you to provide a certified death certificate. To be on the safe side, we recommend at least 10 certified copies if you’re the executor, but again, the number depends on the affairs you will need to resolve after your loved one’s death.
Can I get Financial Help in getting a Copy of a Death Certificate?
Many clients consider private loans to help with the costs of multiple death certificates, but these loans usually come with very high interest rates. One option we are asked about often is lawsuit funding companies, which advance you money that has to be paid back once you receive your settlement award. These loans sound like a good idea, but the interest rates can range from 30 to 60%.
To ensure that you keep as much of your settlement as possible, contact our law firm and schedule a time to speak with one of our attorneys. If you’re interested in retaining our services, we can pay for the death certificates as a part of the services that are needed for your wrongful death compensation claim. The costs will be deferred until we win your case, so there is no risk to your finances during or after the lawsuit.
Contact Normandie Law Firm
People often see lawyers as a last resort, but there are many things in life that can overwhelm you, especially when you’re dealing with the death of a loved one. As you can see, just getting the death certificate can be challenging when someone dies as a result of an accident. Our lawyers are here for you every step of the way, from obtaining a copy of the death certificate to recovering the compensation you’re entitled to.
As for our legal fees, you won’t have to worry about that since we work on contingency. Under our Zero fee guarantee, you will never pay upfront when you retain one of our attorneys. The only way we recover our fees is by wining your case. If we fail to bring you the settlement you deserve, you will not be responsible for a single penny of our legal fees.
To learn more about how we can assist you during this difficult time, please give us a call and speak with the wrongful death lawsuit attorneys of Normandie.
