We all hope for a peaceful death that comes about naturally, but sadly, many people in the state of California pass away from violent or suspicious circumstances. These include accidents, which must be investigated by the county coroner’s office before a cause of death can be established. If your loved one died from an accident in Sonoma County, their remains will need to be examined by the Sonoma County Coroner Unit at:
3336 Chanate Road
Santa Rosa, California 95404
The length of an investigation by the medical examiner depends on many factors, but as a general rule, it can take up to several weeks to determine a cause of death. If you have questions or concerns about this process, you can contact the Sonoma County Coroner’s Office at (707) 565-5070. One question that you may have on your mind is: How can I get a copy of a death certificate from Sonoma County coroner’s office?
Though an investigation into an accidental death is conducted by the coroner, they do not issue copies of the death certificate to the family members. To obtain a Sonoma County accident death certificate, the office you will need to work with is the County Clerk-Recorder’s Office. In this article, we will detail the procedures for how to purchase a certified copy of a death certificate, which you will need to resolve your loved one’s assets. You may also be entitled to wrongful death compensation if another party caused the accident that took your family member’s life. Our law firm is ready to help in any way possible, so please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about how to order a death certificate from Sonoma County.
Can A Family Member Get a Copy of a Death Certificate from Sonoma County?
The Sonoma County Clerk’s Office provides a list of individuals that are authorized to obtain a certified copy of the death certificate. These include family members of the deceased, such as parents, children, grandparents, siblings, spouses or registered domestic partners. For a detailed list of authorized individuals, you can contact the office at (707) 565-3800 or visit the Sonoma County website at
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/
.
Death certificates can also be issued to funeral homes if the family members wish to bury their loved ones or arrange to cremate the remains. In addition, attorneys representing loved ones in a probate claim or wrongful death lawsuit can also order a copy of a death certificate from Sonoma County after an accident. If you’re not familiar with this type of legal action, it’s intended to compensate family members for their emotional trauma, as well as financial losses that are associated with their loved one’s death. If you lost a spouse or family member due to someone else’s negligent conduct, please consider speaking with a wrongful death lawyer at our office.
Copies of a Death Certificate from the Funeral Director
We mentioned before that funeral directors are authorized to obtain copies of the death certificate from Sonoma County. In that case, can you ask them for a copy of the certificate instead of ordering one from the Sonoma County Vital Records Office? Yes, you can, but these certificates won’t have a cause of death if there is a pending investigation by the county coroner’s office. This type of death certificate should be enough to file a probate application if you are planning to act as the executor of the estate. But life insurance companies and most other financial institutions require the cause of death to be listed on the death certificate.
In short, a copy of the death certificate from the funeral director has limited uses, which is why it’s essential to get a death certificate from Sonoma County directly from the County Clerk’s Office.
How to Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate from Sonoma County
If you’re able to go down to the County Clerk’s office in person, you can fill out the in-person form for a death certificate through the county website, then go down to the office during their business hours. These houses are subject to change, so you may want to contact the office at (707) 565-3800 after you submit the form.
The “Death Certificates” page on the website also has instructions for how to order a certificate by mail. Keep in mind that the application will need to be notarized by a notary public, and that you’ll need to include a personal check, bank check, or money order for the applicable fee.
Fee for a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in Sonoma County
The truth is, most families need more than one copy of a death certificate, as each institution (banks, mortgage companies, investment firms, etc.) requires their own copy. Thus, it’s important to understand how much it will cost to purchase a Sonoma County death certificate after an accident. Currently, the Sonoma County Vital Records Office charges $24.00 for a certified copy of the death certificate.
We recommend that you contact the office to verify that they have your loved one’s death record before you do anything else. Many people assume that the coroner’s office will issue the death certificate to the county clerk in a timely manner after they finish their investigation. In reality, it can take up to a month on average before the county clerk receives the official death record. Please be aware that the $24 fee if non-refundable if the Clerk’s Office doesn’t have the requested death certificate.
Is There Another Way of Obtaining a Copy of a Death Certificate?
Many people have questions on how to order a copy of a death certificate online from Sonoma County. If you’d like to use this method, you can place an order with VitalChek at
The fee per each certified copy of the death certificate is $24, but you must pay an additional processing fee for each order. If you’re interested in expedited mailing, such as USPS overnight, you will need to pay for shipping as well. More information, including acceptable payments and how long it will take to process your order are available on the company’s website.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Death Certificate from Sonoma County?
Sonoma County’s website does not specify how long it takes to get a certified copy of a death certificate. This may be due to the fact that wait times change based on any staffing issues and the number of orders they have to process at any given time. Contacting the office is a good idea if you want to get a sense of current wait times for death certificate orders.
Going by wait times at other counties throughout California, it can take anywhere from two to four weeks to get a death certificate from Sonoma County for mail and online orders. Going to the office in person is normally the fastest way to get the needed documents. Most County Clerk’s offices can process your order within 20 minutes or so, meaning you can walk away with a certified copy of the death certificate the same day.
Is There a Way to Get a Free Death Certificate from Sonoma County?
We talked about fees for a death certificate in a previous section, and how many families need multiple copies in order to claim monetary benefits and settle their loved one’s affairs. Frankly, most probate attorneys recommend around 10 copies to make sure that you don’t run out. Along with the cost of each certificate, there may be additional mailing and processing fees, which can really add up quickly.
If can identify with these issues, you are probably wondering if there is a way to get a death certificate for free from Sonoma County. Our law firm can possibly get it for free on behalf of you and your family if you are entitled to compensation from a wrongful death lawsuit. That way, we can establish that your loved one died from accidental circumstances and fight for the payments you deserve, such as funeral expenses, pain and suffering, cost of medical services, and loss of consortium.
Contact Normandie Law Firm
The lawyers of Normandie Law Firm are here to assist you if your family member or spouse died from an accident that was caused by another individual or entity. Our legal team has many years of experience in the recovery of wrongful death settlements against reckless drivers, private businesses, government agencies, and many other entities throughout the state of California. You can count for the skilled and aggressive representation that’s need in these cases.
With the Zero Fee Guarantee, you will never be charged for legal fees, which we receive as a part of your settlement award. That means we don’t make a cent unless we win your case and bring you the compensation you deserve. If you’re ready for a free case review with one of our attorneys, contact our office 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
How to Get a Copy of a Death Certificate from Solano County
How to Get a Copy of a Death Certificate from San Joaquin County
How to get a Copy of a Death Certificate from San Francisco County
