Search Orange Death Records

Orange death certificates are available through Orange County Clerk-Recorder. The city does not maintain its own vital records. All cities in Orange County use the county system. Orange County runs three offices for vital records requests. The central office in Santa Ana is at 601 N. Ross Street. 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 during business hours, order by mail, or use VitalChek online. In person gets you same day service. Online takes about one week. Mail takes two to three weeks. Choose based on how quickly you need the certificate and whether you can visit an office.

Orange County Death Records

The Orange County Clerk-Recorder is responsible for all vital records in the county. This includes death certificates for the city of Orange and every other city in the county. When someone dies in Orange, 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, to get 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 Orange but died in another county, that other 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. The fee is the same for both types.

Three County Office Locations

The central office is at 601 N. Ross Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701. This is the main office for Orange County vital records. 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. This is the fastest way to get a death certificate.

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. The central office in Santa Ana is likely the most convenient for Orange residents.

Parking is available at all locations. Check the county website for directions. All offices are accessible by public transportation. Orange County Transportation Authority buses serve these areas. 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 Orange 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. This speeds up the process at the office.

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. Include a self addressed stamped envelope if you want faster return delivery.

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. Credit card processing fees also apply. VitalChek processes orders in about one week. This is faster than mail but slower than in person.

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. Take your photo ID to a notary public to get this statement notarized.

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

Cost of Death Certificates

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 search fee is non refundable. Additional copies ordered at the same time may cost less per copy. Ask when you order if you need more than one.

Online orders through VitalChek cost more. The base fee is still $26, but VitalChek adds a service fee of about $15 to $20. Credit card processing fees are also added. Total cost is around $40 to $45 for one certificate. This is higher than in person or mail, but it is more convenient. You do not have to visit an office or wait weeks for mail. VitalChek processes orders in about one week.

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. This is the only way to get a certificate the same day you request it.

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 the city of Orange at any time from 1905 forward, the county has that record. The death must have occurred within city limits or somewhere else in Orange County. Where the person lived does not matter. Only where they died matters. If someone lived in Orange but died in another county, you must contact that county.

St. Joseph Hospital and UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange are two major medical facilities. Deaths at these hospitals 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. They can tell you whether to contact Orange County or a different county.

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. They can provide letters or forms for immediate needs.

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. Coverage before 1905 is incomplete but worth checking for genealogy research.

Ordering from California CDPH

You can also request Orange 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. You order by mail or through VitalChek. There is no walk in service at the state office.

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. However, they charge a higher search fee for multi county searches. If you know the death was in Orange, ordering from Orange County is faster and cheaper.

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. If you fit one of these categories, you qualify as an authorized person. You must submit a notarized statement attesting to your relationship.

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. Banks, insurance companies, and government agencies require authorized copies to process claims and close accounts.

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, family history, or personal records. Most agencies will not accept informational copies for legal transactions. The fee is the same for both types.