Did you lose a loved one to an accidental death in Placer County, California? If so, your loved one’s remains are most likely with the Placer County Coroner’s Unit, as all cases of violent or unnatural deaths must be investigated by a medical examiner. Once the coroner finishes their investigation, they will issue an official death certificate listing the cause of death.
The coroner’s office for Placer County is located at 10951 Veterans Drive, Rocklin, CA 95765. If you have any questions or need updates on a pending investigation, you can contact the office at (916) 409-8253. Most people that contact the office have questions about when they can receive a copy of the death certificate, which is necessary to take care of the decedent’s assets and financial affairs. Unfortunately, surviving family members are not able to get a copy of a death certificate from Placer County coroner’s office.
So, where do you go to in order to obtain a certified copy of a Placer County accident death certificate? How much does it cost to purchase copies of a death certificate, and how long will it take to receive them? Keep reading for answers to these and other questions that are probably on your mind right now. However, there will be issues pertaining to your legal rights which cannot be addressed in this article. Our wrongful death lawsuit attorneys are here to speak with you, so contact us today for a free case evaluation.
Can A Family Member Get a Copy of a Death Certificate from Placer County?
Yes, certified copies of a death certificate can be issued to family members and other individuals that are authorized under California law. Family members that can obtain copies of a Placer County death certificate include:
- Parents
- Children
- Spouse / registered domestic partner
- Siblings
- Grandparents
Funeral directors, certain law enforcement agents, and lawyers representing the family can also get a copy of a death certificate from Placer County. Family members may hire a probate attorney to help them take care of their loved one’s assets. In the case of an accidental death, they may also have grounds to sue the individual that’s responsible for their loved one’s death. If you are in this situation, our lawyers can help you file a wrongful death lawsuit. This is a legal action that will compensate you for funeral expenses, loss of consortium, pain and suffering, and other losses associated with your family member’s passing. For a free consultation with a lawyer experienced in wrongful death cases, please contact our office.
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How to Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate from Placer County
As previously stated, death certificates are not issued by the County Coroner. Once a cause of death is determined, you must contact the Placer County Vital Statistics Office if the decedent passed away within the current or previous year. For older death records, you will need to order a death certificate from the Placer County Clerk-Recorder’s Office. Instructions for how to purchase a certified copy of a death certificate are available through the Placer County Vital Records Office website at https://www.placer.ca.gov/2973/Vital-Statistics.
The office allows in-person visits for a death certificate, as well as orders through the mail. Forms for each type of purchase can be downloaded from the website, which will also have the fees and other important information. If you need to speak with someone, here are the phone numbers for both offices:
- Placer County Vital Statistics Office – (530) 889-7158
- Placer County Clerk-Recorder’s Office – (530) 886-5600
Can I Order a Death Certificate from Placer County Online?
As most things are done on the internet nowadays, we receive many inquiries about how to order a copy of a death certificate online from Placer County. You can place an order online for death certificates that are with the County-Recorder’s Office, which as we’ve stated, is for records prior to the current and previous year. This can be done through VitalChek atwww.vitalchek.com. Unfortunately, death certificates with the County Vital Statistics Office cannot be purchases online at this time.
This method is certainly convenient, as you can place an order anytime and pay for it instantly with a credit or debit card. However, it can still take around 2 weeks for the system to locate and retrieve the death certificate from Placer County. Thus, placing an online order isn’t necessarily the fastest way of obtaining a copy of a death certificate.
One thing to keep in mind is that VitalCheck charges additional fees for processing and mailing. These fees can be fairly steep if you choose an express mailing service, like USPS overnight. That’s why we recommend ordering multiple copies at once, so that you can be spared from paying the extra fees for each individual order.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Death Certificate from Placer County?
The Placer Vital Statistics Office does not specify how long it takes for them to issue a death certificate. However, the answer depends on many factors, such as the ordering method and how long it takes the office to locate your loved one’s death record. If you are visiting the office in person, you may be able to obtain the requested document the same day. Mail in orders, on the other hand, can take up to several weeks. For more information on the timeline to get a certified death certificate from Placer County, it would be best to contact the applicable agency during their normal business hours.
What is the Cost for a Placer County Death Certificate after an Accident?
The fee to order a copy of a death certificate from Placer County after an accident is $24 if you are requesting the information in person or through the mail. With online orders through VitalChek, there are processing and shipping fees, which you can learn about on their website. As most people have numerous assets that need to be distributed, family members often need multiple certified copies of a death certificate. The cost can add up quickly, and as a result, many people wonder how they can get a free death certificate from Placer County.
Can I get a Death Certificate for Free from Placer County?
Unfortunately, there is no program through Placer County to help those in need of a free death certificate. Our law firm, however, can possibly get it for free as part of a wrongful death claim against the party that’s responsible for your loved one’s death. As we mentioned before, legal representatives of family members can obtain authorization for a certified copy of the death certificate. If you meet the requirements for a wrongful death lawsuit, we can ask Placer County for the death certificate, as the cause of death is essential to proving your case.
The lawyers of Normandie are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you have any questions or concerns about an accidental death in Placer County, don’t hesitate to contact us.
What if I Ask for a Death Certificate from the Funeral Director?
Regardless of the investigation into someone’s death, the coroner’s office must provide loved ones with a way to bury or cremate the decedent in a timely manner. That’s why they provide funeral directors with a death certificate, which they will need in order to make arrangements based on the family’s preferences or cultural / religious beliefs. In that case, you may be asking yourself, why not ask the funeral director for a copy of the death certificate?
Unfortunately, this type of certificate will not list the cause of death if it’s still under investigation by the county coroner. You can use this “interim” copy of a death certificate to file for probate, but most other institutions – banks, life insurance companies, investment firms, etc. – often require a complete death certificate that includes the cause of death. Thus, it’s in your best interest to order a certified copy of the death certificate as soon as possible if you lost someone to an accident in Placer County.
Contact Our Law Firm
Right now, you may be overwhelmed by emotions such as grief and anger, as well as the duties that are associated with your loved one’s estate. Guidance from a wrongful death lawyer can be extremely helpful in these situations, whether you need certified copies of a death certificate or information on your rights and legal options.
Our lawyers are ready to fight for you and the justice you deserve if you lost a relative, spouse, or domestic partner to an incident that was caused by someone else. We never charge upfront if you’re interested in hiring us, as we are a contingency-based law firm. We only get paid by winning your case; if we don’t secure your payment, you pay nothing under the terms of the Zero Fee Guarantee.
If you’re ready to speak to a lawyer with experience in wrongful death lawsuits, contact Normandie Law Firm as soon as you can.
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