Antioch Death Record Search

Antioch death records are issued by Contra Costa County, not the city. The county clerk handles all death certificates for people who died within Antioch city limits. The main office is at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez. The Vital Registration office is at 10 Douglas Drive in Martinez. Residents can request death certificates in person, by mail, or online. Contra Costa County has death records from 1905 to the present. New death records take about two to three weeks before certificates become available. The fee is $26 per copy effective January 1, 2026. Authorized family members receive certified copies for legal use, while anyone can request informational copies for personal or genealogy purposes.

Contra Costa County Office

Contra Costa County handles all Antioch death records. The office is at 555 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA 94553. Call 925-335-7900 for information. Hours are Monday through Friday, with same day service available for in person visits in most cases. For recent deaths, certificates take about 2-3 Weeks to process.

You need the deceased person's full name and date of death to request a certificate. Authorized family members can get certified copies for legal use. Anyone can request informational copies for genealogy. The fee is $26 per certificate whether a record is found or not.

For an authorized copy, you must be a spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, attorney, or funeral director. State law requires a notarized sworn statement proving your relationship. For informational copies, no notary is needed. These have a watermark and cannot be used for official purposes.

How to Order

In person service is fastest. Bring your application, notarized statement if you want an authorized copy, photo ID, and payment. Most requests are done while you wait. For mail orders, send your application and payment to the county office. Allow 2-3 Weeks for processing. Online orders may be available through the county website or VitalChek.

The county charges $26 for each certificate. This covers the search even if no record is found. If they do not find a record, you still pay the fee. The county will send a no record letter. Make sure your information is accurate before you order.

What the Certificate Shows

A death certificate lists the person's full name, gender, date of birth, age at death, and birthplace. It shows when and where the death occurred in Antioch. The cause of death and certifying doctor or coroner appear. You see occupation, marital status, and spouse's name if married. Parents' names are included. The certificate does not contain financial information or full medical history.

California Death Record Laws

California requires all deaths be registered with the county where they occurred. Funeral directors file the certificate within days. Access is controlled by Health and Safety Code Section 103526. This law defines who can get certified copies. Only family and legal representatives get unrestricted copies. Others receive informational copies with watermarks.

Records over 75 years old are public. Anyone can request these without proving a relationship. To fix an error on a certificate, contact the California Department of Public Health, not the county. The state handles all amendments.

Additional Resources

The county coroner investigates sudden or suspicious deaths in Antioch. For genealogy, the California State Archives has old county records on microfilm at 1500 11th Street in Sacramento. Call (916) 653-6814 for help. The state death index for 1905 to 1997 is free to search online through FamilySearch and other genealogy websites.

Legal assistance is available through county bar associations. They refer you to probate attorneys. Many offer free consultations. Legal aid groups help low income residents with death related legal issues.