Find Mountain View Death Certificates

Mountain View death records come from Santa Clara County, not the city itself. The county clerk recorder manages all death certificates for anyone who died within Mountain View city limits. Their office sits at 110 West Tasman Drive in San Jose, about a 15 minute drive from Mountain View via Highway 101 or the Shoreline Boulevard route. You can order death certificates in person, by mail, or online using VitalChek. Santa Clara County maintains death records from 1873 forward, covering more than 150 years. Recent deaths appear in the system roughly four weeks after the date of death. The cost is $26 per copy. Family members can get authorized certified copies for legal purposes, while anyone can request informational copies for research or personal use.

Santa Clara County Vital Records Office

Santa Clara County Clerk Recorder is the official source for Mountain View death certificates. The office location is 110 West Tasman Drive, First Floor, San Jose, CA 95134. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office closes on weekends and county holidays. From Mountain View, take 101 north to Montague Expressway, then head west to Tasman. Parking is free.

Call (408) 299-5688 before visiting to verify a death record is ready. Staff can check if the county has received the certificate from the state. For deaths that happened within the past month, the record may not be in the system yet. The state sends files to the county after processing, which takes time. A quick phone call can prevent a wasted trip.

Email clerkrecorder@rec.sccgov.org with questions about fees, hours, and documentation requirements. The county does not conduct record searches by email or phone. You must submit a written application with payment to search for a death certificate. The county website has downloadable forms and complete instructions for ordering.

If you cannot visit in person, mail and online options work well. Mail requests take two to three weeks from receipt to delivery. Online orders through VitalChek process within a few business days plus shipping time. Both methods require the same information and fees as in person requests.

Required Information for Ordering

To request a Mountain View death certificate, you need the deceased person's full legal name and date of death. The county uses these details to search. If you only know the year, they can still search, but it may take longer. You also provide your name, mailing address, phone, and your relationship to the deceased.

For an authorized certified copy, you must be a spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, attorney for the estate, or funeral director. State law restricts access to prevent fraud and identity theft. You complete a sworn statement declaring your relationship. A notary public must witness your signature and stamp the form. Most banks, UPS stores, and law offices have notaries. Bring photo ID when you visit the notary. Notary fees run about $15 per signature.

If you do not qualify as an authorized person, request an informational copy instead. This shows the same data but includes a watermark stating it is not valid for identity purposes. Anyone can get an informational copy without proving a relationship. No notarized statement is required. Genealogists, historians, and distant relatives often use informational copies.

The county fee is $26 per certificate. This covers the search cost even if no record is located. If the county does not find a record based on your information, they issue a Certificate of No Public Record and keep the fee. Verify your details are accurate before ordering to avoid paying for a failed search.

Ordering Methods

In person service is the fastest option. Bring your completed application, notarized sworn statement if you want an authorized copy, valid photo ID, and payment. You can pay by cash, check, credit card, or debit card. Make checks to County of Santa Clara. Staff will search and print your copy while you wait. Most requests finish in 15 to 30 minutes. Very old records from the 1800s or early 1900s may be stored off site and require an extra day.

Mail orders take two to three weeks. 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. Never mail cash. The county will send your certificate or a no record letter.

Online orders use VitalChek through the county website. You need a credit or debit card. VitalChek charges a service fee around $7 plus the $26 county fee. You can choose regular or expedited shipping. Regular delivery is included in the service fee. Overnight and two day options cost extra. If ordering an authorized copy, you must upload your notarized statement or mail it to the county. 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 that claim to offer California records are not county approved. Use VitalChek through the official county website to avoid scams and inflated fees.

Note: Walk in requests are processed fastest, usually within 30 minutes for records on file.

What Appears on the Certificate

A death certificate includes the deceased person's full name, gender, date of birth, age at death, and birthplace. It lists the date, time, and exact location of death in Mountain View. The cause of death and the name of the certifying physician or coroner appear on the record. You will see occupation, marital status, and spouse's name if married. The certificate also shows the names of the deceased person's parents.

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

Santa Clara County issues two types of copies. An authorized certified copy has a raised seal and is accepted for legal transactions like closing bank accounts, claiming life insurance, transferring property titles, and applying for survivor benefits. An informational copy has a watermark and cannot be used to establish identity. The cost is $26 for either type. You receive the type you requested unless you do not qualify for an authorized copy.

State Law on Death Records

California requires all deaths to be registered with the county where they occurred. Funeral directors typically file the certificate within a few days. The attending physician or coroner must certify the cause of death. After registration, the county sends a copy to the state health department. This creates both county and state records.

Access rules are found in Health and Safety Code Section 103526. This law defines who can receive an authorized certified copy. It was enacted to combat identity theft and protect privacy. Only close family members and legal representatives qualify for copies usable for official purposes. Everyone else receives an informational copy with usage restrictions.

Death records over 75 years old become public records. For Mountain View deaths before 1951, no relationship proof is needed. Anyone can request a certified copy of these historical files. The fee remains $26. Old records may be archived or on microfilm and can take extra time to locate and copy.

To fix 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 pay an amendment fee and provide documentation showing the correct information. Common amendments include correcting name spellings, wrong dates, and cause of death mistakes.

Other Resources

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

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

Legal help is available from the Santa Clara County Bar Association at (408) 971-6822. They refer you to attorneys handling probate, wills, and estates. Many lawyers offer free consultations. Legal aid groups in the county assist low income residents with death related legal matters.

Mountain View residents needing funeral assistance can contact Santa Clara County Social Services at (408) 792-1600. The county offers indigent burial help for qualifying low income families. This program covers basic burial or cremation costs.

Other Santa Clara County Cities

All Santa Clara County cities use the same county office for death certificates. San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Milpitas, and Palo Alto residents all visit the clerk recorder in San Jose. No cities in the county operate their own vital records offices.