Deaths in the last 2 years: Office of Vital Records and Statistics (HHSA). Older deaths: Recorder/County Clerk. Informational copies are stamped not valid to establish identity. CDPH mail is the slow backup.
Who may request
Under California Health and Safety Code section 103526, authorized certified copies go to a parent or legal guardian, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or domestic partner, a funeral director acting for the family, an attorney or court-appointed representative of the estate, or a government agency on official business. Anyone else may request an informational copy, which banks will not take.
What to bring
Valid government-issued photo ID. Authorized copies need the county's sworn statement, notarized. Informational copies do not. Confirm the current list on the OVRS or Recorder page you will use.
Where to write or visit
OVRS (deaths in the last 2 years): 5530 Overland Avenue, Suite 170, San Diego, CA 92123. Deaths more than 2 years ago: San Diego Recorder/County Clerk (sdarcc.gov). CDPH in Sacramento is the statewide mail backup.
Notes from the desk
California charges $26 per certified copy, set by the state. There is no cheaper extra. The search fee is not refunded if the record is not found. Start with the county, not CDPH. Online orders, where offered, go through a vendor. This desk takes no cut.