Oxnard Obituary Records

Death records for Oxnard residents are maintained by Ventura County Clerk-Recorder in Ventura. The county office holds all death certificates for Oxnard going back to 1873. You can order certificates online through VitalChek, in person at the county office, or by mail. Fee is $26 per copy as of January 1, 2026. Online orders add service fees from VitalChek. Records become available about three to four weeks after death. The office is at 800 South Victoria Avenue in Ventura, about 15 minutes from Oxnard. Same day service is available for walk in requests. Mail orders take two to three weeks to process. Most Oxnard residents find online ordering through VitalChek to be quickest and most convenient.

Ventura County Clerk-Recorder

All Oxnard death certificates come from Ventura County Clerk-Recorder. The office is at 800 South Victoria Avenue in Ventura, CA 93009. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. No appointment needed. Walk in anytime during business hours.

From Oxnard, take US-101 south to Ventura. Exit at Victoria Avenue and head north. The office is on the right side. Trip takes about 15 minutes. Ventura County maintains death records from 1873 to present for all deaths in Oxnard and other Ventura County cities.

Call (805) 654-2267 for questions about specific death records, fees, or required documents. Staff can confirm if a death occurred in Oxnard before you submit a request. This saves the search fee if the death actually happened elsewhere. Most Oxnard deaths are in the system within three to four weeks.

The Ventura County vital records page explains all ordering options. It lists fees, forms, and eligibility rules. The page has information on authorized versus informational copies. Download forms before you visit to save time.

Parking is available at the county building. The office is accessible by Ventura County Transit buses from Oxnard. Check current routes and schedules. The building has ramps and elevators for wheelchair access.

Note: Assembly Bill 64 raised the death certificate fee to $26 as of January 1, 2026.

How to Order Death Certificates

Three methods exist for ordering. Online via VitalChek is fastest. In person at the Ventura office provides same day service. Mail works if you cannot visit in person. Each has different timelines and costs.

For online orders, go to VitalChek and select California, then Ventura County. Create an account with your email. Enter the deceased person's full name, date of death, and place of death. Upload your photo ID. For authorized copies, upload a notarized sworn statement. Pay by credit card. VitalChek adds service fees to the $26 base fee. Processing takes about one week. You receive email updates.

In person orders require visiting the Ventura office. Bring a completed application form, your photo ID, and payment. Add a notarized sworn statement if you need an authorized copy. Staff process the request while you wait. Pay with cash, check, or credit card. You get the certificate the same day.

Mail orders need a completed application, copy of your ID, payment, and notarized statement if requesting an authorized copy. Mail to Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, 800 S Victoria Ave, Ventura, CA 93009. Include a self addressed stamped envelope. Processing takes two to three weeks from when they receive your application.

Death Certificate Costs

Death certificates cost $26 each as of January 1, 2026. This fee increased by $2 due to Assembly Bill 64. The fee applies even if no record is found. If the county searches and finds no matching record, you get a certificate of no public record and the fee is retained.

In person, pay by cash, check, or credit card. Make checks payable to Ventura County Clerk-Recorder. Online orders through VitalChek add service fees. Expect to pay about $33 to $35 per certificate online. Mail orders accept checks or money orders. Never mail cash.

Each additional copy costs $26. No discount for ordering multiple copies. If you need four copies, pay $104 plus service fees if ordering online. Estate settlements and insurance claims sometimes require multiple copies.

Types of Certified Copies

California issues two types of certified death certificates. Authorized copies have full legal standing. Informational copies have a watermark limiting their use. Both cost the same. The difference is who can get them and how they can be used.

Authorized copies go to the spouse or domestic partner, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the deceased. Attorneys representing the estate can get them. Funeral directors handling arrangements qualify. Insurance companies with a policy on the deceased are eligible. Law enforcement with a court order can request them.

Everyone else receives an informational copy. It has all the same data but includes text across the face stating "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY." This prevents identity theft. Informational copies work for genealogy, family history, or personal records. No notarized statement needed.

To get an authorized copy, submit a notarized sworn statement declaring your relationship to the deceased and your legal right to the record. Sign it before a notary public. The notary checks your ID. Lying on the statement is perjury, a serious crime. Submit the notarized statement with your application.

Getting Records for Recent Deaths

Death certificates become available three to four weeks after death. The attending physician or medical examiner completes the medical portion. The funeral director files the certificate with Ventura County. This takes time. Do not order before the certificate is filed or you lose the search fee.

For very recent Oxnard deaths, call the county at (805) 654-2267 to check if the certificate is ready. Staff can confirm availability. Once ready, order from the Clerk-Recorder using any of the three methods. For deaths more than a month ago, the county definitely has the record.

Walk in service provides same day processing. Most in person requests are filled while you wait. This is the fastest option if you need the certificate immediately.

Older Death Records

Ventura County maintains death records from 1873 to present. That covers the entire history of Oxnard, which was founded in 1903. All death records for Oxnard residents since the city's founding are available from the county.

Older records may have faded ink or physical damage. The county copies what exists. If parts are illegible, the certified copy reflects that. You cannot request a better copy if the original is damaged. Order multiple copies when getting very old records in case you need extras later.

For deaths before 1905, county records are the only source. The California Department of Public Health only has records from July 1905 forward. Contact the county for any pre-1905 death in Oxnard or Ventura County.

California Death Certificate Law

California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 controls access to death certificates. The law took effect in 2003 to prevent identity theft. It restricts who can get authorized copies and requires notarized statements.

The statute defines authorized persons and sets penalties for false statements. Perjury results from lying about your relationship to the deceased. Courts impose fines and jail time for perjury. Always provide truthful information on applications.

Informational copies are available to anyone who does not qualify for authorized copies. They serve genealogists, historians, and distant relatives. The informational watermark prevents misuse while allowing legitimate research.

Death Records for Family History

Genealogists and family historians often need death certificates for Oxnard ancestors. If the deceased is not a close relative, you receive an informational copy. That works fine for genealogy. It includes all the details you need.

Official certificates have more information than online indexes. They show cause of death, birthplace, parents' names, occupation, and burial information. Indexes typically show only name, date, and place of death. Order official certificates for complete data.

The California State Archives has some historical death records. Their collection supplements but does not replace county records. FamilySearch and Ancestry have California death indexes available for searching. Use these to confirm details before ordering from the county.

Other Obituary Sources

Besides death certificates, search for obituaries in local newspapers. The Ventura County Star publishes obituaries for Oxnard and surrounding areas. Check their website for recent postings or contact them for archives. Funeral homes in Oxnard post obituaries online. Search by name on funeral home websites.

The Oxnard Public Library may have obituary clipping files or newspaper archives. Librarians can help you search microfilm or digital collections. This adds biographical context beyond what the death certificate provides.

Online databases like Legacy.com aggregate obituaries from newspapers nationwide. Search for free though some features require payment. These are useful for finding recent obituaries but do not replace official certificates for legal matters.

Other Ventura County Cities

Ventura County includes several large cities. Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Ventura, and Camarillo all use the same county office. Order certificates for any Ventura County city from 800 South Victoria Avenue in Ventura.