The Santa Barbara County Coroner’s Bureau conducts investigations into deaths that are the result of unnatural circumstances. These include cases of suspected homicide or suicide, as well as deaths occurring from accidents, like hazardous conditions and negligence by an individual. These investigations can take considerable time, but they are essential to establishing an official cause of death and providing resolution to the victim’s loved ones. The Santa Barbara Coroner’s Office is located at the Sheriff’s Office Headquarters at 4434 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA 93110. If you have questions about an investigation into someone’s death, you can contact the medical examiner at (805) 681-4100.
Family members of the deceased usually have questions on how they can get a copy of a death certificate from the Santa Barbara County coroner’s office. In actuality, this information is supplied to the general public by Santa Barbara Office of Vital Statics (for deaths occurring this and the previous year). Death records that are dated more than 2 years ago are available at the County Clerk’s Office.
As someone that lost a relative, spouse, or domestic partner to an unexpected accident, you are probably struggling to find answers to some very important questions:
- How can I order a copy of a death certificate from Santa Barbara County after an accident?
- Can a family member get a copy of a death certificate from Santa Barbara County?
- How much does it cost to get a death certificate and how many should I order?
- Is there a way to get a free death certificate from Santa Barbara County?
This article will provide you with guidance on these topics, but it’s important to note that we can only offer general information. Thus, if you lost someone to an incident that was caused by another party, you will need specific advice that pertains to your rights and legal options. A free consultation with a wrongful death lawyer is just a phone call away, so contact Normandie Law Firm at your earliest convenience.
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Who can get a Copy of a Death Certificate after an Accident?
Technically, just about anyone can get copy of a death certificate, but only authorized individuals under California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 can obtain what’s known as a “certified copy” of the death certificate. All others will only have access to an “informational copy,” which cannot be used to establish your identity to the decedent. This is essential if you are trying to conduct official business regarding the decedent’s estate.
The following individuals are authorized to get a certified copy of the death certificate from the Santa Barbara County Vital Records Office:
- Parents / legal guardians of the decedent
- Spouses and registered domestic partners
- Surviving children
- Grandparents
- Siblings
- Law enforcement / government agencies for investigation purposes
- Attorneys representing the estate or family members
How to Get a Copy of a Death Certificate from Santa Barbara County
The procedures for how to get a certified copy of a death certificate from Santa Barbara County are available at https://www.countyofsb.org/739/Death-Records. Basically, there are three ways to purchase death records through the Santa Barbara County Vital Statistics Office:
- In person
- By mail
- By fax
No matter which methods you choose, we recommend contacting the Public Health Vital Records Office ahead of time at 805-681-5150 to make sure that the death certificate you are looking for is available. This information should be sent over right away once the coroner’s office finishes their investigation. However, it can sometimes take weeks for the death record to be transmitted from one agency to another. In addition, you should confirm which office you will need to visit or mail / fax your application to, which will be either the County Clerk-Recorder’s Office or the Office of Vital Records.
Placing an Order for a Copy of a Death Certificate from Santa Barbara County
To purchase a certified copy of a death certificate in person, you will need to fill out the “Death Certificate Copy Order Application” online prior to visiting the appropriate agency. You have 30 days from submitting the application to pick up your order in person.
You can also send over a request by fax or email, though you will need to pay for the certificate and cost of shipping online, either through the death certificate application or credit card authorization form. Either of these methods will require you to print out the application and take it to a notary public so that you can obtain a stamp to verify your identity as an authorized individual.
Detailed instructions are available on the County Clerk’s website, but you can also call the office at 805-568-2250 or email Clk-RecHelpDesk@countyofsb.org if you have questions or concerns.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Death Certificate from Santa Barbara County?
It takes anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks on average for someone to receive a copy of a death certificate from Santa Barbara County for mail and fax orders. Appearing at the office in person is the fastest method, as most records are available the same day. With online orders, please keep in mind that applications only stay in the system for up to 30 days. That means if you don’t get down to the office within 30 days, you will have to start the process all over again. In addition, application fees are non-refundable, so you will have to pay the applicable fees again, as well.
How to Order a Copy of a Death Certificate Online from Santa Barbara County
Unfortunately, the Santa Barbara County Office of Vital Records does not provide an option for online ordering, as many other counties do in California. There is some confusion regarding the online option, which is mentioned on the county’s website. However, this refers to filling out the application before arriving at the office in person, not to an online system which will allow you to order and request delivery of a death certificate to your home.
If you are looking for the fastest way to obtain a certified copy of a death certificate, we recommend going down to the office, where most records are available within minutes of your arrival. Placing an order by fax is the next fastest option, with processing times ranging from 1 to 3 business days.
How Many Copies of the Death Certificate Should I Get?
There’s no specific number of death certificates that you have to order, but we would say that 10 is a safe number. This is based on the various agencies, financial institutions, and other entities that may require this information from you. Each certified copy of a death certificate costs $24, not counting processing and shipping fees that may be involved for mail and online orders. Make sure to read about these fees carefully at https://www.countyofsb.org/739/Death-Records to ensure that you include the correct payment amount.
Can the Funeral Director Give Me a Copy of the Death Certificate?
Family members are usually told to get a death certificate from the funeral director, as they have to have a copy of this document to claim the decedent’s remains. Thus, if you are planning to cremate or bury your loved one, you can certainly ask the funeral director for a copy of the death certificate.
However, this is not the best course of action if you need to get a Santa Barbara County death certificate after an accident. If the county coroner is still investigating the cause of death, that information will be missing from the certificate that’s given to the funeral home. Without a cause of death, you’ll have trouble claiming life insurance, retirement funds, and other assets from the estate. You must also have an official cause of death to proceed with a claim for wrongful death compensation. This type of lawsuit provides restitution to family members and spouses of people who are killed by acts of negligence and misconduct.
The takeaway here is that a certified copy of the death certificate is an absolute necessity if you need to resolve your loved one’s affairs after an accidental death. In the next section, we will talk about the options that may be available to you if you are unable to pay for a Santa Barbara County accident death certificate.
How to Get a Death Certificate for Free from Santa Barbara County
As previously mentioned, many families need 10 or more copies of a death certificate to claim and distribute all the assets in their loved one’s estate. This is a significant cost when you’ve had to pay for a funeral, medical bills, and many other expenses. While Santa Barbara County offers funeral assistance services, there is no program to help those in need of certified copies of a death certificate.
However, our law firm can possibly get a death certificate for free if you are eligible for compensation from a wrongful death lawsuit. In that case, we may be able to order a death certificate from Santa Barbara County in order to establish the cause of death, which is required in order to sue the negligent party. We can discuss the process with you in more detail during a free case review, so please give us a call as soon as possible.
Consult a Lawyer with Experience in Negligent Death Cases
Representation from an experienced attorney is crucial to settling your loved one estate after an accidental death. If that accident was caused by another individual or entity, you have the right to pursue a claim for wrongful death compensation. That’s where we can be of help, with our many years of experience in negligent death lawsuits. From obtaining a copy of a death certificate to negotiating the payment you deserve, our lawyers are with you every step of the way during this tragic and difficult time.
As we strive to protect your finances, as well as your legal rights, clients never pay upfront when they join the Normandie family. We bill all our expenses to the party you are suing; that means we only get paid by securing your settlement award. If we fail to recover your damages, our Zero Fee Guarantee frees you from any responsibility for legal fees.
Please take a moment to contact our law firm and learn about your legal options during a free case evaluation.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
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