There are many affairs that have to be settled after someone in your life passes away. One of these duties is obtaining a copy of the death certificate. However, the process for getting a death certificate in California is not as clear cut as you would imagine. The process can be complicated if your family member or loved one passed away after an accident. In that case, their death will need to be investigated by the county coroner’s office in order to establish an official cause of death.
An official cause of death can take several weeks, maybe several months or more, to establish if the death was the result of an accident. Some accidental deaths that may be investigated by the coroner’s office include:
- Can accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Workplace death
- Aviation crash
- Slip and fall
- Trip and fall
- Drowning accidents
- Boat accidents
- Poisoning
- Bus / train accidents
After the coroner completes their investigation, an official death certificate will be issued, which can be ordered by an authorized individual according to California laws. But which family members are authorized to receive a copy of the death certificate? What agency do you contact in order to ask for a copy? These and many other questions are surely on your mind, and we will do our best to address all of them. However, the information we provide will be limited, since we do not know the specific details of your case. If you have specific questions regarding your legal rights after a loved one’s passing, please give us a call and speak with one of our lawyers during a free consultation.
Which Family Members are able to get a Copy of a Death Certificate in California?
In California, only certain family members and loved ones are allowed to request a certified copy of a death certificate. These people include:
- The decedent’s parents or legal guardians
- Grandparents and siblings of the decedent
- Surviving children or next of kin
- The spouse or registered domestic partner
- The executor of the estate
- Funeral home directors
- An individual approved to receive a copy through a court order
- An attorney representing the estate or the decedent’s loved ones
Permission for attorneys to access death certificates is critical if the individual died as a result of someone else’s negligence. In that case, families have the right to sue for wrongful death compensation, but they will need an official cause of death. It makes sense for the family’s attorney to order the death certificate, since it will make the process of filing a lawsuit more efficient. Furthermore, this can be quite a burdensome task for family members as they struggle with the emotions that accompany an unexpected death. To learn more about your rights following the accidental death of a loved one, give us a call and speak with one of our attorneys.
Do I need a Certified Copy of the Death Certificate?
In California, authorized individuals can obtain a certified, or authorized, copy of the death certificate. Non-authorized individual can only get what’s known as an informational copy. What’s the difference? For one thing, an informational copy will not have a stamp or raised seal, which can only be provided by a government agency. You may be familiar with these seals from documents like birth, divorce, or marriage certificates.
The second difference is that the informational copy will have a statement written across it to indicate that’s it’s “Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity.” This is a critical difference when it comes to claiming assets or benefits from your loved one’s estate. Life insurance companies, for example, will require a certified copy of the death certificate. An authorized copy of the death certificate is also needed for wrongful death compensation claims if your family member passed away from an accident. Thus, it’s essential to obtain a certified copy of a death certificate as opposed to an informational one.
Can I get Copy of a Death Certificate Online?
The procedures for obtaining a death certificate will depend on the county where the death occurred. Most counties in California allow you to purchase a death certificate from VitalChek. This is a third party platform where you can order a copy of a death certificate from the convenience of your own home or anywhere else with an internet connection. Turnaround times are fairly quick, but please note that it can still take up to 20 days for your order to be processed. Another issue are the fees that VitalChek charges, which will include credit card servicing fees and shipping costs.
How else can I get a Death Certificate in California?
There are two other methods for obtaining a death certificate in California. Generally, you will need to contact the county office of Vital Statistics or the county Recorder’s office, depending on the date of death. Most Vital Statistics offices hold on to death records for 1 to 2 years. After that, the record is sent over to the Recorder’s office (also known as the county Registrar or Assessor’s office). The steps to purchase a death certificate are listed on the agency websites, but most of them give you two options:
- Ordering a death certificate in person
In most cases, this is the cheapest and fastest option. Most offices will process your request while you wait, so you can have a copy of the death certificate the same day. However, the offices generally require appointments during their business hours, which will likely coincide with your work hours.
Copies of death certificates can also be ordered by mail, but it’s essential to send in all the required information. That includes a notary seal or stamp for your application in order to verify your identity. Without the notary stamp, your application will be rejected, or you will be sent an informational copy of the certificate, which has very limited uses.
The procedures set forth by certain agencies can be rather confusing. In some cases, family members are told that the death certificate is with one agency, when it’s really with another. This can make the process very stressful for the victim’s loved ones, as we can attest from the many families that have called us over the years. If you’re having trouble obtaining a death certificate after an accidental death, please give us a call at our office. We are happy to assist you in any way we can during these difficult times.
How much does a Copy of a Death Certificate Cost?
Currently, California agencies charge a fee of $24 per copy of a death certificate. That doesn’t seem so bad, but keep in mind that you will most likely need more than one copy. Most financial institutions such as banks, investment firms, and mortgage lenders will each require a certified copy of the death certificate. Then, you’ll need a certified copy for the insurance company if you’re filing a claim for wrongful death. Overall, we recommend ordering 10 certificates to be on the safe side, but this really depends on the number of affairs you’ll need to take care of.
As you can imagine, it can be a financial burden for families to purchase so many copies of a death certificate. The fees are especially excessive for online orders, and it’s not unusual for families to spend several hundred dollars to get the needed number of copies.
What if I can’t Afford to Pay for the Death Certificates?
While some counties offer assistance with burial costs, they will not provide financial help for copies of a death certificate. This forces many families to look into private loans, and there’s one particular type of loan we would like to warn you about.
Lawsuit loans are offered by private lenders, who will give you a cash advance on the settlement you are expected to receive from your wrongful death lawsuit. The problem is the interest on these loans, which will accrue with each passing month. Considering it can take up to several years to settle a lawsuit, your total interest may be as high as 60% by the time you have to pay back your loan.
This in no way benefits grieving family members, which is why we cover the costs of death certificated on behalf of our clients. We will defer the costs until you are compensated for your losses, and at that point, it’s the other party that’s paying our expenses. As we see it, this is the best way to take swift action on a wrongful death claim while ensuring that loved ones keep as much of their settlement as possible.
Call Normandie Law Firm
Are you struggling with the devastating loss of a loved one due to someone else’s misconduct or negligence? If so, Normandie Law Firm is here for you. Our lawyers have the experience and determination to fight for your rights, including monetary compensation for your financial and emotional losses.
As a sign of our commitment to you and your family, we will offer you a Zero fee guarantee. Our services will cost you absolutely nothing, no matter how much work is necessary for your case. We recover our fees at the same time you receive your settlement award, so you have nothing to lose by retaining one of our attorneys. Just give a call at our office and schedule a free case evaluation. We are more than ready to take on your case and bring you the compensation you deserve.
