Riverside Death Certificates

Deaths in Riverside go through Riverside County for all record keeping and certificate issuance. No city office handles vital records. The county maintains death records from 1893 to present for all deaths within county borders. To get a copy, you use the County Clerk-Recorder at 4080 Lemon Street in downtown Riverside or their office in Indio. Online orders go through their e-Vitals portal. Mail orders are also accepted. Most people find online ordering fastest. The fee is $26 per copy. This covers search and one certified death certificate. Processing takes four to six weeks from the date of death before records are available. You can request an authorized copy or an informational copy depending on your relationship to the deceased.

Where to Get Riverside Death Records

Riverside County Clerk-Recorder processes all death certificates for the city. Their main office is at 4080 Lemon Street in Riverside. This is the same city as where the death occurred, making it convenient for local residents. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can walk in and request a death certificate in person. Bring valid ID and payment. Staff will search their database and print a certified copy if the record is available. In person service typically takes 30 to 45 minutes depending on how busy they are.

The county also has a branch office in Indio for residents in eastern Riverside County. Both offices provide the same services and access the same database. If you are closer to Indio, you can use that location instead. Call (951) 486-7000 or toll free (800) 696-9144 to confirm office hours before visiting. The main line can transfer you to vital records staff who answer questions about specific records and requirements.

For online orders, use the Riverside County e-Vitals portal. This system lets you submit applications electronically and pay by credit card. You upload required ID documents and your notarized statement if requesting an authorized copy. Processing time is the same as mail orders, typically two to three weeks once the record is available in the system. Remember that death certificates take four to six weeks after the date of death to appear in the county database.

Mail requests go to County Clerk-Recorder, P.O. Box 751, Riverside, CA 92502-0751. Include a completed application form, notarized sworn statement if needed, copy of your ID, and payment. Make checks payable to Riverside County Clerk-Recorder. Allow three to four weeks for mail processing plus the standard four to six week wait after date of death.

Information Required to Request Records

To order a Riverside death certificate, you need the full legal name of the deceased as it appears on the death certificate. Middle names help ensure accuracy. You also need the date of death or at least the year. The county can search by name and approximate date if you do not know the exact day. More information speeds up the search. Helpful details include age at death, place of death such as hospital or residence, and spouse name if applicable.

For authorized copies, you must prove you are an authorized person under California law. This includes immediate family members like spouses, children, parents, and siblings. Grandparents and grandchildren also qualify. Attorneys representing the estate and funeral directors who handled arrangements can request authorized copies. You need a notarized sworn statement that confirms your relationship. The county provides a form for this statement on their website. Take the form to a notary public along with valid photo ID. Notaries charge a small fee for their service, usually $15 per signature.

Payment must accompany all requests. The fee is $26 for the first copy. Additional copies ordered at the same time cost less. Ask the clerk about pricing for multiple copies when you place your order. In person, you can pay with cash, check, or credit card. For mail and online orders, use a check, money order, or credit card. Do not send cash by mail. Personal checks may delay processing while they clear, so money orders are faster for mail requests.

Note: If you cannot prove you are an authorized person, request an informational copy instead, which requires no relationship proof.

Authorized Copies vs Informational Copies

Riverside County issues two types of death certificates. An authorized copy is a fully certified document with a raised seal. Banks, insurance companies, government agencies, and courts accept this type for closing accounts, claiming benefits, transferring property, and other legal matters. Only authorized persons can obtain this type. You must submit a notarized statement proving your relationship to the deceased. The certificate shows no restrictions on use.

An informational copy shows the same death information but has a watermark stating it is for informational purposes only and cannot be used to establish identity. Anyone can request an informational copy without proving a relationship. No notarized statement is needed. These copies work well for genealogy research, historical records, and personal family documentation. Most agencies will not accept informational copies for financial or legal transactions. The fee is the same for both types at $26 per copy.

If you request an authorized copy but your notarized statement does not adequately prove you qualify as an authorized person, the county will issue an informational copy instead. They do not refund fees in this situation. Make sure you understand who qualifies before ordering. California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 defines authorized persons. Riverside County follows this state law strictly. The Riverside County vital records page explains the difference between copy types and lists who qualifies for authorized copies.

When Records Become Available

Death certificates are not available immediately after someone dies. The county receives death information from the Office of Vital Records at Riverside University Health System-Public Health. That agency registers deaths that occur in Riverside County. After registration, it takes four to six weeks for certificates to appear in the County Clerk-Recorder database. This delay allows time for the death to be verified, cause of death to be determined by medical examiners or physicians, and all paperwork to be finalized and transmitted to the Clerk-Recorder.

If you try to order a certificate before the four to six week window passes, the county will tell you the record is not yet available. They cannot issue a certificate until they receive it from the Office of Vital Records. For urgent needs, contact the funeral home that handled arrangements. Funeral directors receive a copy of the death certificate before the county does. They may be able to provide you with an uncertified copy for immediate use while you wait for the official county certificate.

Historical records dating back to 1893 are available from the county. These older records may not be indexed electronically, so searches can take longer. Staff may need to check microfilm or archived paper files for deaths from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Call ahead if you need a record more than 50 years old to confirm availability and processing time.

Additional Resources in Riverside

For questions about the cause of death or autopsy reports, contact the Riverside County Coroner at (951) 443-2300. The coroner investigates sudden, unexpected, or suspicious deaths. Autopsy reports are public records in California and can be requested separately from death certificates. These reports provide detailed medical findings and are often used in legal cases or insurance claims.

The California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 defines who can receive authorized copies of death certificates. This law applies statewide, including in Riverside. Reading this statute helps you understand your rights and whether you qualify as an authorized person. The law lists specific relationships and roles that qualify for access to vital records.

Riverside residents can also check obituaries published in local newspapers for death information. The Press-Enterprise covers Riverside and surrounding areas. Obituary archives are often searchable online through newspaper websites or services like Legacy.com. Obituaries provide biographical information, funeral details, and surviving family members but are not legal documents. You still need an official death certificate for most legal purposes.

For genealogy research, the California State Archives holds historical vital records and can help locate older Riverside death records. The Family History Library and FamilySearch also have microfilm copies of early California death records available to researchers.

Other Riverside County Cities

If you are searching for death records in other parts of Riverside County, all deaths go through the same County Clerk-Recorder office. Nearby cities include Moreno Valley, Corona, Murrieta, Temecula, and Hemet. Each city uses the same county system for vital records. Procedures and fees are identical across all Riverside County locations.