When there are circumstances that indicate an unnatural death in Contra County, such as homicide or an accident, the cause of death must be determined by the County Coroner’s Division, located at:
1960 Muir Road
Martinez, CA 94553
(925) 313-2850
A county coroner’s investigation can take up to several months based on the complications that are involved. In the meantime, family members have many questions they need answers to, including “How do I get a copy of a death certificate from Contra Costa County coroner’s office?”
Unfortunately, you cannot obtain a death certificate directly from the county coroner. Instead, you will need to contact either the Contra Costa County Vital Registration Office or the Clerk-Recorder’s Office, depending on the date of death. We know how important it is to obtain this document and resolve your loved one’s affairs as soon as possible. In this article, we will go over the steps to order a copy of a death certificate from Contra Costa County after an accident. However, it’s likely that you will need more specific information based on the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death. For a free consultation with an experienced wrongful death lawsuit attorney, contact our office at your earliest convenience.
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How to Order a Death Certificate from Contra Costa County
In this section, we will advise you on how to get a certified copy of a death certificate from Contra County in person or through the mail. For deaths that occurred within this year and the previous year, you can visit the Contra Costa County Vital Records Office at 10 Douglas Drive, Ste #220, Martinez, CA 94553 during 8AM to 4 PM from Monday to Friday. We recommend calling the office ahead of time at 925-313-1125, as they can provide answers to important questions, such as:
- Can a family member get a copy of a death certificate from Contra Costa County?
- What is the fee for obtaining a copy of a death certificate?
- How long will it take to process my request for a death certificate?
The other option is to get a copy of a death certificate from Contra Costa County by mail. You can do this by printing out the Death Record Application Form from the County Vital Statistics website at https://cchealth.org/ and mailing the application to the office along with a check or money order. Please note that the forms need to be notarized, meaning that you will need to sign the application in front of a notary public. How long it will take to receive a copy of a Contra Costa County death certificate depends on the order method and how fast the office can locate the record of your loved one’s death. More information on this topic is available in a later section titled “How Long Does it Take to Get a Death Certificate from Contra Costa County?”
How Much Does it Cost to get a Contra County Death Certificate after an Accident?
Considering that most families will need multiple certified copies of a death certificate, it’s essential to know how much it will cost to obtain a death certificate following your loved one’s death. As of the writing of this article, Contra Costa County charges $28.00 per each certified copy of a death certificate. To make sure that you have the most updated information, it’s a good idea to verify the fee by calling 925-313-1125 or checking the fee schedule on the county’s Vital Statistics website.
How to Order a Copy of a Death Certificate Online from Contra Costa County
You may have the option to order a copy of the death certificate online by using the VitalChek system, which is an online platform that’s used by many county agencies throughout California. As long as the record you’re looking for is in their system, you can place an order easily with any major credit or debit card. But it can still take up to 3 weeks to process and mail out the certificate, so this method is not necessarily faster than ordering a death certificate by mail or in person. However, you can speed up the process if you’re willing to pay for an expedited mailing service.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Death Certificate from Contra Costa County?
It takes anywhere from one to 3 months on average to receive a certified copy of a death certificate from Contra Costa County. The fastest turnaround times are for death records that are available from the Contra Costa County Vital Records Office, which you can request by visiting the office in person. If you are placing an order online through VitalChek, you have the option to pay for expedited shipping, such as overnight delivery through FedEx or UPS.
Waiting for these documents is one of the more frustrating aspects of trying to settle your loved one’s estate. Unfortunately, many other complications can hold up the process of obtaining the funds you are entitled to. Representation from a lawyer with experience in accidental deaths can help you resolve these issues as quickly as possible, so please give us a call to speak with an attorney at our law firm.
Can I get a Free Copy of the Death Certificate from the Funeral Director?
Yes, funeral directors can provide you with a copy of the death certificate, which they will need in order to cremate or bury someone that’s passed away. However, these are usually interim death certificates, meaning they will not list an official cause of death. As we’ve mentioned, accidental deaths must be investigated by the county coroner, and that process can take up to several months.
The certificate you receive from the funeral director will have limited uses – mainly, it will allow you to file for probate if you are the executor of the decedent’s estate. But life insurance companies, pension fund administrators, and other important entities will require a finalized copy of the death certificate with the official cause of death. Furthermore, you may have grounds to file a wrongful death lawsuit if your loved one died from someone else’s careless or dangerous conduct. Such legal actions also require a cause of death as established by the coroner’s office.
The need for a certified copy of a death certificate can be a big source of stress for surviving family members, considering they may need to obtain 10 or more copies. If you are facing this dilemma, you are most likely wondering, “How can I get a death certificate for free from Contra Costa County?”
How can I Get a Free Death Certificate from Contra Costa County?
Many people look into options for how to get a copy of a death certificate from Contra Costa County if they’re struggling with their finances. This is very common after an untimely death, when you are faced with medical costs, funeral expenses, and debts left behind by your loved one. If someone else (individual, company, government entity, etc.) can be blamed for your loved one death, our law firm can possibly get the death certificate for free as part of a legal action against the negligent party. This is known as a wrongful death lawsuit, which we can discuss with you during a free case evaluation.
As there is no cost for meeting with us, please take the chance of contacting our office and learning about the legal options that are available to you. Our phone lines are open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, so call us any time if you need help obtaining a Contra Costa County accident death certificate.
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Records of your loved one’s death should not be difficult to obtain, but that may be the case if your family member died from suspicious or accidental causes. In these situations, getting one or multiple copies of a certified death certificate can be very challenging. As a result, it can be difficult to settle your loved one’s estate and move forward from this painful chapter in your life.
If this is the problem you are facing, please take the chance of reaching out to one of our attorneys. We can provide guidance on how to get a certified copy of a Contra Costa County death certificate. In addition, we can educate you on your rights and legal options, which may include monetary compensation from a wrongful death lawsuit. We do not charge for an initial consultation, and if you decide to hire us, you won’t be billed for any legal fees under the
Zero Fee Guarantee. Under this agreement, the only way we get paid is by winning your case and recovering the settlement you deserve.
Our legal team is available to help you with any aspect of your case, from investigating your loved one’s accident to ensuring that you receive justice from the responsible party. To schedule a free case review with a lawyer experienced in accidental death cases, please contact our law firm.
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How to get a Death Certificate from the Fresno County Coroner’s Office
How to get a Copy of a Death Certificate in Ventura County
How to get a Death Certificate from the Orange County Coroner’s Office
