In the state of California, a death certificate must be filed within 10 days of the deceased's passing. The certificate must be signed by a licensed physician, coroner, or other authorized medical professional.
Once the death certificate has been filed, it can take up to 7-10 weeks for the document to be processed and mailed out. If you need a copy of the death certificate sooner than that, you can request expedited service for an additional fee. Generally, it takes 2-3 business days to process an expedited request.
You can also request a certified copy of the death certificate, which will include an official raised seal. Certified copies are typically used for legal purposes, such as transferring ownership of property or collecting life insurance benefits.
However, due to recent budget cuts and staffing shortages - processing times may take longer. If you’d like to know the status of your death certificate you can reach out to the county recorder.
If you need to apply for a death certificate in California, don’t worry – we can walk you through the process. The steps involved in obtaining a death certificate may seem daunting at first, but our team is here to help make it as easy as possible for you. We understand that this may be a difficult time, and we want to do whatever we can to assist you. Contact us today if you have any questions or would like assistance with your application.