San Bernardino Death Certificate Search

San Bernardino death records are issued by the San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk. The city does not maintain its own vital records office. All deaths within San Bernardino city limits must be registered at the county level. Death certificates become available 30 to 60 days after the date of death. You can order copies in person at the main county office in downtown San Bernardino, online through VitalChek, or by mail. The fee is $26 per certificate as of January 2026. This price includes the search and one certified copy. County records go back to the late 1800s for all deaths in San Bernardino County.

Where to Request Death Certificates

The San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk office is at 222 West Hospitality Lane in downtown San Bernardino. This is the main location for vital records requests in person. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Walk in with your photo ID, payment, and information about the deceased. Staff will search the database and print a certified copy if the record is available. In person service usually takes 30 to 45 minutes depending on office traffic.

For online orders, use VitalChek at the authorized vendor for San Bernardino County. This third-party service processes electronic requests and accepts credit card payments. You create an account, fill out the application, upload required documents, and pay online. VitalChek charges a processing fee in addition to the $26 certificate fee. Processing takes two to three weeks once the death record is in the county system. Remember that records take 30 to 60 days after date of death to become available.

Mail requests go to Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, 222 West Hospitality Lane, San Bernardino, CA 92415. Include a completed application form downloaded from the San Bernardino County vital records website, photocopy of your ID, notarized statement if requesting an authorized copy, and payment by check or money order. Make checks payable to San Bernardino County Recorder. Do not send cash. Mail processing takes three to four weeks after the county receives your envelope.

Call (855) 732-2575 with questions about specific records or to confirm whether a death certificate is available before ordering. This saves time when you are not sure if the 30 to 60 day processing window has passed.

Information and Documents You Need

The full legal name of the deceased is required. Include first, middle, and last names plus any suffix. The exact date of death helps, but the county can search by name and year if you do not know the precise day. Additional details speed up searches. Provide age at death, place of death such as a hospital name or address in San Bernardino, and spouse name. These facts help when multiple people with similar names exist in the database.

For authorized copies, you must prove you are an authorized person under California Health and Safety Code Section 103526. Immediate family members qualify, including spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. Attorneys representing the estate can request authorized copies. Funeral directors who handled arrangements also qualify. You need a notarized sworn statement confirming your relationship. San Bernardino County provides this form on their website. Take it to a notary public with valid photo ID. Notary fees are typically $15 per signature in California.

All requesters must provide valid photo identification. Driver license, state ID card, passport, or military ID are acceptable. The county verifies identity before releasing vital records. For mail and online orders, include a clear photocopy or scan showing your photo, name, and ID number.

Payment is $26 for the first certified copy as of January 1, 2026. This fee increased by $2 under Assembly Bill 64. Additional copies ordered at the same time cost less. Ask about pricing for multiple certificates when placing your order. In person, pay with cash, check, or credit card. Mail orders require check or money order only. Online orders through VitalChek use credit card and include a service fee.

Authorized vs Informational Certificates

Two types of death certificates exist in California. Authorized copies are fully certified with a raised seal. They work for all legal and financial purposes. Banks need them to close accounts. Insurance companies require them for death benefit claims. Courts use them in probate cases. Real estate transfers need them. Social Security requires them to stop benefit payments. Only authorized persons can obtain this type. The certificate has no usage restrictions.

Informational copies contain the same death information but have a watermark stating they are for informational purposes only and cannot be used to establish identity. Anyone can request an informational copy without proving a relationship to the deceased. No notarized statement is required. These copies work for genealogy research, family history projects, historical documentation, and personal records. Most legal and financial institutions will not accept informational copies. The fee is $26, same as authorized copies.

If you request an authorized copy but cannot adequately prove you qualify as an authorized person, the county issues an informational copy instead and keeps your fee. Make sure you understand the requirements before ordering. Read California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 to see who qualifies as an authorized person. San Bernardino County follows this state law exactly.

When Records Become Available

Death certificates take time to process after someone dies. The San Bernardino County Public Health Department registers all deaths in the county. They collect information from physicians, medical examiners, coroners, and funeral homes. Cause of death must be determined and certified. All paperwork must be completed and verified. Then the record transfers to the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk for public issuance. This process takes 30 to 60 days from the date of death.

You cannot order a certificate before this time passes because the county database will not have it yet. If you try to order too soon, staff will tell you to wait. For urgent needs, contact the funeral home that handled arrangements. Funeral directors receive a preliminary death certificate before the county does. They may provide an uncertified copy for immediate use. Many organizations accept funeral home copies initially but eventually need the official county certificate.

Historical death records going back to the late 1800s are available for San Bernardino and all county deaths. Older records may not be digitized. Staff might need to search microfilm or paper archives for deaths from decades ago. This takes longer than searching recent records. Call ahead if you need a certificate from before 1980 to confirm availability and processing time.

Note: Wait the full 30 to 60 days after date of death before ordering to avoid frustration.

Related Death Information Services

San Bernardino County Coroner investigates sudden, unexpected, or suspicious deaths throughout the county including the city of San Bernardino. Contact the coroner with questions about cause of death or to request autopsy reports. Autopsy reports are public records in California and can be ordered separately from death certificates. These detailed medical reports explain how someone died and include toxicology test results. Attorneys, insurance investigators, and families frequently request autopsy reports.

San Bernardino obituaries appear in the San Bernardino Sun and other local newspapers. Obituary archives are searchable online through newspaper websites and aggregator services like Legacy.com. Obituaries provide biographical information, funeral service details, and names of surviving family members. While not legal documents, they help with genealogy and provide personal details about the deceased. Many San Bernardino funeral homes also post obituaries on their websites.

The California State Archives maintains historical vital records for genealogy research. They hold microfilm and digitized copies of early California death records from all counties including San Bernardino. This resource helps trace family history and locate deaths from the 1800s and early 1900s. FamilySearch and the Family History Library also offer California death record collections to researchers.

The California Department of Public Health keeps duplicate copies of all death records since 1905. You can order from the state instead of the county if preferred. Visit their vital records request page for state ordering information. State processing typically takes longer than county ordering and costs the same $26 fee.

Other San Bernardino County Cities

All cities in San Bernardino County use the same death record system through the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk. Nearby cities include Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Rialto, and Victorville. Each follows identical procedures and fees. The $26 cost and 30 to 60 day processing time apply across all county locations.