Milpitas Obituary Records

Death certificates for Milpitas are issued by Santa Clara County, not by the city. The county clerk recorder handles all death records for people who died within Milpitas city limits. The main office is located at 110 West Tasman Drive in San Jose, a short drive from Milpitas via Interstate 880. Residents can request death certificates in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek. The county keeps death records going back to 1873 for the entire county. New deaths take about four weeks after the date of death before certificates are available. Each certificate costs $26. You must prove your relationship to the deceased to get an authorized certified copy, or you can request an informational copy that anyone can obtain.

Santa Clara County Clerk Recorder

All Milpitas death records are maintained by Santa Clara County. The clerk recorder office is at 110 West Tasman Drive, First Floor, San Jose, CA 95134. This office serves the entire county, including Milpitas and all other county cities. Hours run Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office is closed on weekends and county holidays. From Milpitas, take 880 south to the Montague exit, then go west to Tasman Drive. Free parking is on site.

Before you visit, call (408) 299-5688 to check if a death record is ready. Staff can look in the system and tell you if the county has received the certificate. For deaths that just occurred, you may need to wait a month before the file is available. The county gets records from the state vital statistics system, which takes time to process. A quick call can save you a trip if the record is not in the system yet.

Email questions to clerkrecorder@rec.sccgov.org. The county responds within a few business days. You can ask about fees, requirements, and office procedures. The county cannot search for death records by email or tell you if a specific person died. You need to submit an official application with payment to conduct a search.

The Santa Clara County death certificate order page has forms, instructions, and links to online ordering through VitalChek. This page explains authorized versus informational copies and lists what documents you need. Review this page before visiting or mailing a request to ensure you have everything required.

What You Need to Request a Certificate

To order a Milpitas death certificate, you need the full legal name of the deceased and the date of death. If you do not have the exact date, provide the year and month. The county can search by name and approximate time, but it takes longer. You also need to provide your own name, mailing address, phone number, and your relationship to the person who died.

For an authorized certified copy, you must be a spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, attorney for the estate, or funeral director. California law limits access to prevent identity theft. You fill out a sworn statement declaring your relationship. This statement must be notarized. Take the form to a bank, UPS store, or other business with notary services. Bring photo ID. The notary watches you sign and stamps the document. Notary fees are usually around $15.

If you do not qualify as an authorized person, you can still get an informational copy. This type shows the same information but has a watermark stating it cannot be used for identity purposes. Anyone can request an informational copy without proving a relationship. No notarized statement is needed. Genealogists and researchers commonly use informational copies.

The county charges $26 per certificate. This fee covers the search, even if no record is found. If the county does not locate a record based on your information, they keep the fee and issue a Certificate of No Public Record. Make sure your information is accurate before ordering.

Three Ways to Order

In person orders are processed while you wait. Bring your completed application, notarized sworn statement if requesting an authorized copy, photo ID, and payment of $26. You can pay with cash, check, or card. Make checks payable to County of Santa Clara. Staff will search the index and print your certificate in about 15 to 30 minutes. For very old records from the 1800s, the file may be archived off site and require pickup the next day.

Mail orders take two to three weeks to process. Send your application, notarized statement if applicable, and a check or money order for $26 to County of Santa Clara Clerk Recorder, 110 West Tasman Drive, First Floor, San Jose, CA 95134. Include a self addressed stamped envelope. Do not mail cash. The county will mail your certificate or a no record letter.

Online orders go through VitalChek on the county website. You need a credit or debit card. VitalChek charges a service fee of about $7 plus the $26 county fee. You can select regular or expedited shipping. Regular delivery is included in the service fee. Overnight and two day shipping cost extra. If ordering an authorized copy, you must upload your notarized statement or mail it separately. The county will not release your certificate until they receive the notarized form.

VitalChek is the only authorized online vendor for Santa Clara County. Other websites may advertise California death records but are not county approved. Use only VitalChek through the official county website to avoid scams and excessive fees.

Note: Walk in service at the county office is the fastest method, with most requests completed in under 30 minutes.

Information on the Death Certificate

A Milpitas death certificate lists the deceased person's full name, gender, date of birth, age at death, and place of birth. It shows the date, time, and location of death within Milpitas. The cause of death and the name of the certifying doctor or coroner are included. You will see occupation, marital status, and spouse's name if the person was married. The certificate lists the names of the deceased person's mother and father.

Additional information may include the funeral home that handled arrangements, method of disposition such as burial or cremation, and cemetery name and location if applicable. Social security number may appear but is often redacted on informational copies. The certificate does not contain financial records, detailed medical history beyond cause of death, or property information. For estate settlement, you need probate court records in addition to the death certificate.

Santa Clara County issues two types. An authorized certified copy has a raised seal and is accepted for legal purposes like closing accounts, claiming insurance benefits, transferring vehicle titles, and settling estates. An informational copy displays a watermark and cannot establish identity. The fee is $26 for either type. You receive the type you request unless you do not qualify for an authorized copy.

California Law on Death Records

California law requires every death to be registered with the county where it occurred. Funeral directors typically file the certificate within days of death. The doctor or coroner must certify the cause. After registration, the county forwards a copy to the state health department. This creates permanent county and state records.

Access restrictions are in Health and Safety Code Section 103526. This law defines authorized persons who can receive certified copies. It was passed to prevent identity theft and fraud. Before this law, anyone could get a certified copy. Now only family members and legal representatives qualify for copies that work for official use.

Death records over 75 years old are public. For Milpitas deaths before 1951, you do not need to prove a relationship. Anyone can request a certified copy of these historical files. The fee is still $26. Older records may be in archives or on microfilm and can take extra time to retrieve.

To correct an error on a death certificate, contact the California Department of Public Health, not the county. The state processes all amendments to vital records. You need to pay an amendment fee and provide documentation of the correct information. Common amendments include fixing name spellings, wrong dates, and cause of death errors.

Resources for Milpitas Residents

The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner Coroner investigates deaths that are sudden, unexpected, or suspicious in Milpitas. The office is at 850 North First Street in San Jose. Call (408) 793-1900 for information about a case. The coroner determines the cause of death and releases the body to a funeral home. Once the coroner completes the investigation, the funeral home files the death certificate with the county clerk.

For genealogy research, the California State Archives maintains microfilmed death records from Santa Clara County and other counties. The archives are located at 1500 11th Street in Sacramento. Call (916) 653-6814 for research help. Many old records are also available online through FamilySearch and other genealogy sites. The California death index for 1905 to 1997 is searchable for free online, helping you find death records when you do not know the exact county.

Legal assistance is available through the Santa Clara County Bar Association at (408) 971-6822. They can refer you to an attorney who handles probate, wills, and estates. Many attorneys offer free initial consultations. Legal aid organizations in the county provide free assistance to low income residents dealing with death related legal issues.

If you need help with funeral costs, contact Santa Clara County Social Services at (408) 792-1600. The county offers indigent burial assistance for qualifying families. This program helps cover basic burial or cremation expenses when a family cannot afford the full cost.

Other Cities in the County

All cities in Santa Clara County use the same county office for death certificates. San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, and Palo Alto residents all go to the clerk recorder office in San Jose. There are no city run vital records offices in Santa Clara County.