Use the county Clerk-Recorder if the death was in Alameda County. CDPH is slower mail to the same statewide fee table, which is $26 this check, not $28. Speed still favors the county counter.
Who may request
Authorized copies follow California Health and Safety Code section 103526 (parent or legal guardian, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or domestic partner, funeral director acting for the family, attorney or court-appointed representative, government agency). Informational copies are available without that relationship and will not satisfy a bank.
What to bring
Valid government-issued photo ID. Confirm notarization rules on the county death-certificate page for mail and authorized copies.
Where to write or visit
Oakland full-service office: 1106 Madison Street, Oakland, CA 94607. Dublin is also listed for some vital-records pickup. CDPH in Sacramento is the statewide mail backup.
Notes from the desk
Alameda lists $28 per certified death copy as of 1 Jan 2026, $2 above the CDPH $26 statewide fee. There is no cheaper extra. Online orders add a small card fee. This desk takes no cut. The county only issues deaths that occurred in Alameda County.