The County of San Mateo Coroner’s Office is responsible for determining “the mode, manner and cause of death of decedents under the Coroner’s jurisdiction.” In short, there are cases of death that must be investigated before a cause of death can be issued. This is unnecessary if your loved one has clearly died from natural causes (a long-term illness, for example). But some people are killed by another party’s misconduct or negligence, which must be investigated by the proper authorities. These investigations can take as little as one day, or up to several months depending on the complications that are involved. Family members can call the Coroner’s Office at (650) 312-5562 to find out what’s going on with the coroner’s investigation.
Once a cause of death is established, family members are eager to learn how they can get a copy of a death certificate from San Mateo County coroner’s office. This document, however, does not come from the county coroner. Instead, those who are authorized to obtain a certified copy of the death certificate must contact the County Health Department’s Vital Statistics Office.
Most people assume they will have immediate access to records about their loved one’s death, but this is not always the case. That’s why we would like to provide you with the procedures for how to get a certified copy of a death certificate from San Mateo County. If you have questions or concerns at any point during the reading of this article, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
Can A Family Member Get a Copy of a Death Certificate from San Mateo County?
Certified copies of a death certificate are only available to authorized individuals, as defined by the San Mateo County Health website at https://www.smchealth.org/. These include the following family members:
- Parent or legal guardian of the deceased
- Surviving children
- Grandparents of the decedent
- Spouse or registered domestic partner
- Sisters or brothers
Certain law enforcement agents may be granted permission to obtain a certified copy of a death certificate. This goes for attorneys as well if they are representing the estate or loved ones in a legal action for wrongful death benefits. These payments are meant to compensate family members for medical bills, funeral costs, lost income, and other monetary losses. If someone else, whether it’s an individual, company, government agency, etc., is to blame for your loved one’s death, please consider a free consultation with a wrongful death lawyer at our office. We can help you with the process of obtaining a copy of a death certificate and receiving compensation from the responsible party.
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Asking for a Death Certificate from the Funeral Director
Death certificates can also be issued to funeral directors that are making arrangements to bury or cremate the accident victim. Thus, if you’ve made plans for a funeral, you may be wondering about the possibility of getting the death certificate from the funeral director. As a general rule, funeral homes have no problem with giving you a copy of the certificate they have on file. But there may be one important element that’s thing missing from this document: the official cause of death.
In most cases, the funeral takes place before the coroner’s office concludes their investigation into the victim’s death. This allows the funeral home to take possession of the remains, even though a cause of death has yet to be determined. Without this bit of information, it’s unlikely that you will be able to claim life insurance funds and other payments from the decedent’s estate. You can, on the other hand, file for probate if you’re asking to be acknowledged as the estate’s executor. But having access to all the assets left behind by your loved one and distributing them accordingly requires a copy of the certificate with the actual cause of death.
The bottom line is that you will need to order a death certificate from San Mateo County as soon as possible after the records have been sent over from the coroner’s office. Keep reading to learn how you can order a copy of a death certificate from San Mateo County after an accident.
How to get a San Mateo County Death Certificate after an Accident
Records of deaths that occurred during and after 1966 are with the San Mateo County Vital Records Office, which is located at:
1600 W Hillsdale Blvd
Suite 203
San Mateo, CA 94402
You can visit the office from Monday – Friday, during 8:30am -4:30pm if you’d like to purchase a certified copy of your loved one’s death certificate. We recommend that you call the office ahead of time at (650) 573-2395 to verify what you should bring in order to confirm your identity. This is also a good way to ensure that the record is available at the County Vital Statistics Office, as it can take some time for the coroner’s office to send over this information.
Certified copies of a death certificate can also be ordered by mail. Please carefully read the instructions for mail orders at https://www.smchealth.org/post/death-certificates to ensure that your application is accepted by the office. Payments for mailed applications must be in the form of a check or money order made payable to Office of Vital Records.
Can I Purchase a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate Online?
So much of our daily lives is conducted on the internet these days, so it makes sense for people to look up “how to order a copy of a death certificate online from San Mateo County” on their favorite browser.
Most counties in California offer online ordering for death certificates, but unfortunately, this service is currently unavailable at the San Mateo County Vital Records Office. That means you will need to visit the office during their business hours or send in an application through the mail. It’s possible that online purchasing may become available in the future, so you may want to contact the office at (650) 573-2395 before you decide on the best method to get a copy of a death certificate from San Mateo County.
How Much will it Cost to Purchase a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate?
Family members will need to pay $26 for each certified copy of a death certificate from the San Mateo County Office of Vital Statistics. If you’re appearing in person to ask for a death certificate, you can pay by cash, credit or debit card (Visa or Mastercard only), or personal check. The fee is the same for death certificates that are ordered through the mail, though your payment must be in the form of a personal check (from a US bank) or money order.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Death Certificate from San Mateo County?
Based on how you choose to place your order, it takes anywhere from 15 minutes to two or more weeks to obtain a San Mateo County accident death certificate. If at all possible, we recommend going down in person, as you can fill out the form right there, pay the required fee, and receive a copy of the certificate within an hour.
Of course, not everyone can make the trip down to the office, which is why mail ordering is an option. According to the San Mateo County Vital Statistics Office, mail orders are processed within 3 to 5 days. But this doesn’t count for the time it takes for them to receive the application, or how long it will take for the death certificate to arrive in the mail. That’s why 2 weeks is a safe timeline to keep in mind if you are in need of a certified copy of a death certificate from San Mateo County.
How can I get a Death Certificate for Free from San Mateo County?
At $26, a certified copy of a death certificate seems like a reasonable expense. But families generally need more than one document, as each financial institution will require a copy of the death certificate for their own records. Based on the number of assets that are involved, you may need 10 or more copies of a San Mateo County death certificate. This is not counting the mailing fees, gas to drive down to the office, and other expenses that really add up when you lose someone to a tragic accident.
If you are currently struggling with your finances, you may be looking for ways to get a free death certificate from San Mateo County. Perhaps we can help if you have grounds to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the person or entity that caused your loved one’s accident. As your legal representative, we can possibly get the death certificate for free as part of a legal proceeding. If this is an option that may be of interest to you, please contact us right away.
The Accidental Death Lawyers of Normandie Law Firm
The wrongful death lawyers of Normandie Law Firm are available to speak with you if you lose someone due to another party’s negligence or dangerous conduct. Our attorneys are thoroughly experienced in the recovery of wrongful death compensation from careless drivers and property owners, major corporations, school systems, and government agencies throughout California. We’ll make sure that you can cover the losses you’ve sustained through no fault of your own and receive the justice you deserve from the liable entities.
You pay nothing out of pocket to become one of our clients, nor will you pay us a single penny unless we win your case. That’s our promise to you under the Zero Fee Guarantee, which we can discuss with you during a free consultation at our office. Simply give us a call to learn about the ways we can assist you.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
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