Costa Mesa Death Records

Costa Mesa death records are available through Orange County Clerk-Recorder. The city does not maintain vital records on its own. Orange County serves all cities in the county through a centralized system. The county runs three offices for public service. The central office in Santa Ana at 601 N. Ross Street has the longest hours. The North County Branch in Anaheim and South County Branch in Laguna Hills serve other areas. All three charge $26 per death certificate. You can visit in person for same day service, order by mail for the lowest cost, or use VitalChek online for faster processing than mail. Choose the method that fits your needs and how quickly you need the certificate.

Orange County Death Records

The Orange County Clerk-Recorder is responsible for all vital records in the county. This includes death certificates for Costa Mesa and every other city. When someone dies in Costa Mesa, the funeral director or medical examiner files the death certificate with the county. The county stores the record and issues certified copies to authorized individuals. This centralized system means you go to the county, not the city, for death certificates.

Orange County maintains death records from 1905 to the present. Older records may be on microfilm. Recent records are in a digital database that staff can search quickly. If you need a death certificate from any year since 1905, the county has it as long as the death occurred within Orange County. The death location matters, not where the person lived. If someone lived in Costa Mesa but died in another county, that county has the record.

To get an authorized certified copy, you must prove you are a close family member or legal representative. California law defines who qualifies. This includes spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. Attorneys and funeral directors also qualify. If you do not fit these categories, you can still get an informational copy. These copies show the same information but cannot be used for legal purposes.

Three Orange County Offices

The central office is at 601 N. Ross Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This office has the longest hours. Walk in service is available. Bring your completed application, photo ID, and payment. Staff search for the record and issue your copy the same day if they find it.

The North County Branch is at 222 S. Harbor Boulevard, Suite 110A, Anaheim, CA 92805. Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The South County Branch is at 24031 El Toro Road, Suite 150, Laguna Hills, CA 92653. Hours there are also 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. All three locations provide the same services and charge the same fees. Choose the one closest to you.

Parking is available at all locations. Check the county website for directions. All offices are accessible by public transportation. Call ahead at (714) 834-2500 to confirm hours and verify the record you need is in the system. This saves a trip if the death certificate has not yet been filed.

How to Order Death Certificates

You can order Costa Mesa death certificates in person, by mail, or online. For in person service, visit one of the three county offices. Bring your completed application, photo ID, and payment. You can download the application from the Orange County Health Agency vital records page. Print it and fill it out before you go.

For mail orders, send your completed application, a copy of your photo ID, a notarized statement if you need an authorized copy, and a check or money order for $26 made payable to Orange County Clerk-Recorder. Mail to Orange County Clerk-Recorder, Vital Records, 601 N. Ross Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Processing takes two to three weeks. Do not mail cash.

Online orders go through VitalChek. Go to the VitalChek California portal and select Orange County. VitalChek adds a service fee of about $15 to $20 on top of the $26 certificate fee. Total cost is around $40 to $45. VitalChek processes orders in about one week.

You need basic information to complete the request. Full name of the deceased is required. Date of death or at least the year helps. Place of death is useful if you know it. For an authorized copy, you need a notarized statement proving you are a spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, or legal representative.

Note: Call (714) 834-2500 to verify the county has the record before ordering.

Death Certificate Costs

Orange County charges $26 per death certificate as of January 1, 2026. This fee went up from $24 due to Assembly Bill 64. The $26 covers the search and one certified copy. If the office searches but does not find the record, you do not get a refund. The fee is the same whether you order an authorized copy or an informational copy.

Online orders through VitalChek add a service fee of about $15 to $20 depending on delivery options. Credit card processing fees also apply. Total cost is around $40 to $45 for one certificate. This is more than in person or mail, but it is more convenient. VitalChek processes orders in about one week. If you need expedited service, select express delivery.

For in person orders, you can pay with cash, check, money order, or credit card. Make checks payable to Orange County Clerk-Recorder. For mail orders, include a check or money order. Do not mail cash. If you need a certificate urgently, visit an office in person for same day service.

Which Records Are Available

Orange County has death records for all deaths that occurred in Orange County from 1905 to the present. If a death happened in Costa Mesa at any time from 1905 forward, the county has that record. The death must have occurred within Costa Mesa city limits or somewhere else in Orange County. Where the person lived does not matter. Only where they died matters.

Hoag Hospital in Costa Mesa is one of the major medical facilities in the area. Deaths at this hospital are Orange County records. If you are not sure where a death occurred, contact the funeral home that handled the arrangements. Funeral directors file the death certificate and know which county they used.

For very recent deaths, allow four to six weeks before requesting a certificate. It takes time for the doctor or coroner to complete and file the death certificate. The county cannot issue a copy until the certificate is filed and processed. If you need proof of death sooner, ask the funeral home or hospital for a temporary document.

For deaths before 1905, records may exist in archives. Contact the California State Archives to search for early Orange County death records. The State Archives genealogy page has information on historical vital records.

Ordering from California CDPH

You can also request Costa Mesa death certificates from the California Department of Public Health. The state has copies of all death records from all counties. State processing times are longer. Expect four to six weeks for a mail order from the state versus two to three weeks from the county. The state charges the same $26 fee.

The California death records page has the state application and mailing address. Use this option if you are outside California and prefer dealing with one central office. The state can search all counties if you are not sure where the death occurred.

Authorized Person Requirements

California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 defines who can receive an authorized certified copy of a death certificate. This includes spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the deceased. Attorneys acting for the estate also qualify. Funeral directors who handled the arrangements can get copies.

Read the full text of HSC 103526 if you are not sure whether you qualify. The statute lists all authorized persons and explains what documentation you need. Authorized copies have a raised seal and can be used for legal purposes.

Anyone can request an informational copy without proving a relationship. These copies have the same data but include a watermark stating they cannot be used to establish identity. They are useful for genealogy or personal records. The fee is the same for both types.