How to Get a Copy of a Death Certificate from San Joaquin County

Death is an unfortunate but inevitable outcome for all of us, and some people die from circumstances that are deemed unnatural, suspicious, or violent. An accident falls into at least one of these categories, and as a result, accidental deaths must be investigated by the San Joaquin County Coroner’s Office, located at:

7000 Michael Canlis Blvd
French Camp, CA 95231

The majority of these investigations take up to several weeks, but more complicated accidents may require several months of work before the coroner’s office determines an official cause of death. Loved ones of the decedent can call the office at (209) 468-4300 for updates during this time. The wait times for these investigations can be quite lengthy, and once it’s over, family members expect that they can get a copy of a death certificate from the San Joaquin County Coroner’s Office.

Unfortunately, the coroner’s office is only responsible for issuing the cause of death, not the actual death certificate. So, what agency do you need to contact in order to obtain this essential document? In this article, we will advise you on how to get a certified copy of a death certificate from San Joaquin County if someone passes away from an accident. If you have any questions or concerns about the information we’ve presented, don’t hesitate to contact our office.

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Can A Family Member Get a Copy of a Death Certificate from San Joaquin County?

Yes, family members of the deceased and other authorized individuals are allowed to order a certified copy of the death certificate. Authorized individuals under California law include the following:

• Surviving parents 
• Children of the deceased
• A spouse or registered domestic partner
• Siblings of the decedent
• Grandparents 
• Law enforcement agencies for investigation purposes
• Probate or wrongful death lawyers that are representing the family

If you lost someone to an accident that was caused by another party’s negligence or misconduct, a wrongful death lawsuit can help you obtain compensation, such as funeral costs, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium. Our law firm can explain this process to you and take immediate action on your behalf if a lawsuit is the right course of action. Please give us a call if you’d like to speak with a lawyer that’s experienced in accident cases resulting in death.

Obtaining a Copy of a Death Certificate from San Joaquin County

To get a San Joaquin County accident death certificate, you’ll need to contact the County Clerk’s Office at (209) 468-2630, who will advise you of the necessary procedures. However, the easiest way to obtain this information is by going to the San Joaquin County Vital Records Office website at

. This page provides instructions on how to purchase a certified copy of a death certificate in person or through the mail. In-person orders are the quickest way to obtain a certificate, which you can do by visiting the office at 44 N. San Joaquin St, Second Floor, Ste 260, Stockton CA 95202. However, many people live outside the county or state, so the website provides detailed instructions on how to request a death certificate by mail.

How to Order a Copy of a Death Certificate Online from San Joaquin County

To place an online order for a San Joaquin County death certificate after an accident, you can navigate to the VitalChek website at

. Some people prefer this method, as it allows them to place an order anytime they choose. Payments can also be charged to a debit or credit card, which is more convenient than paying by check or money order.

However, you must be prepared to pay processing fees on top of the cost for each order. If you need expedited shipping, you’ll have to pay for that as well, so overall, this is the most expensive method of ordering a death certificate from San Joaquin County.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Death Certificate from San Joaquin County?

Normally, it takes around 2 weeks to get a copy of a death certificate from the County Clerk’s Office if you’ve placed an order online or through the mail. However, it can sometimes take up to 4 weeks – maybe longer – if the office is understaffed or especially busy with requests for vital records. The fastest way to get a death certificate is to place an order in person by going down to the San Joaquin County Clerk’s Office. Once you pay the required fee, you can usually receive a certified copy of the death certificate in just 20 minutes.

Before you go down to the office, we recommend reading the instructions on their website or calling them at (209) 468-2630 to verify the necessary procedures. That way, you can be sure that you’ve taken all the right steps before you make your trip.

How Much Does it Cost to Order a Death Certificate from San Joaquin County?

San Joaquin County charges $24 for each certified copy of a death certificate. As previously stated, VitalChek charges additional fees if you are placing an order online, so you should order more than one copy at a time. One question we are often asked by family members is, “How many copies of a death certificate should I get?” The answer depends on the number of assets you will need to take care of, which may include real-estate properties, life insurance, and bank accounts, among other things. To be on the safe side, we would say 10 is a good number, but again, there is no rule of thumb when it comes to how many death certificates you should purchase at one time.

Is There a Way to Get a Death Certificate for Free from San Joaquin County?

While there are state and county programs to help people bury their loved ones, financial assistance is not available if you can’t afford to get a copy of a death certificate from San Joaquin County. However, we may be able to help if you are entitled to wrongful death compensation from the liable entity. For example, if your family member died after being injured from an accident that was caused by another individual, company, government agency, etc., you may have grounds to sue them for monetary damages. As your legal representative, we can possibly get the death certificate for free from the appropriate county agency.

Perhaps you’ve looked into a wrongful death lawsuit already, or you weren’t aware of this option as a possibility for you and your family members. Either way, there is no harm in learning about your rights during a free consultation with a legal expert at our office. No matter what, we will do our best to assist you if you’re struggling to get a free death certificate from San Joaquin County.

Getting a Death Certificate from the Funeral Director

A lot of people are aware that funeral directors need to be given a death certificate in order to make funeral arrangements. So, if you are going to bury or cremate your loved one after an accident, it is possible to ask for a copy of the death certificate from the funeral director?

Yes, you can go ahead and ask them for a copy, but it’s important to understand how these certificates work if there is a coroner’s investigation into your family member’s death. As we stated before, these investigations can take weeks or months before an official cause of death is determined. Of course, family members can’t be expected to put off funeral arrangements for that long. That’s why funeral directors are issued an “interim” death certificate, which does not have the cause of death.

You can still file for probate with this type of death certificate, but it may not be good enough for institutions like life insurance companies, banks, and mortgage firms. Ultimately, you will need to wait until the cause of death is determined, and then order a copy of the certified death certificate from San Joaquin County after an accident.

Law Firm with Experience in Wrongful Death Cases

Losing someone to an accident that was caused by someone else is difficult for many reasons, but you would think that certain procedures – like getting a copy of a death certificate – are relatively straightforward. Unfortunately, the process can be complicated depending on the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death. A wrongful death lawyer here at Normandie Law Firm is here to guide you every step of the way and ensure that the ones responsible for your loved one’s death are brought to account.

As we are a contingency based law firm, you pay $0 to hire us if you’re interested in filing a claim for wrongful death. The negligent party covers all legal fees as a part of your settlement award, and if we don’t win your case, you pay absolutely nothing, since you are protected under the Zero Fee Guarantee.

To learn more about your legal options from an experienced accidental death attorney, schedule a free case evaluation by contacting our office.

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