Calaveras County Obituary Records

Calaveras County maintains death certificates through the Clerk-Recorder office in San Andreas. These vital records include all deaths that occurred within Calaveras County from the Gold Rush era forward. The office issues authorized certified copies for legal use and informational copies for genealogy purposes. Fees follow California state law at $26 per copy. You can request death records in person at the courthouse, through mail applications, or by using online vendors.

Calaveras County Clerk-Recorder Office

The Calaveras County Clerk-Recorder handles death records for the county. The office is in San Andreas, the county seat. Visit the Calaveras County death records page for information on ordering certificates. The office maintains records from when Calaveras County formed in 1850 as one of California's original counties.

Calaveras County is known as one of California's Mother Lode counties from the Gold Rush. The county has death records stretching back to the 1850s. These early records provide historical insight into life and death during the Gold Rush period. Many miners and settlers who came to California for gold died in Calaveras County. Their death certificates are part of the county's historical collection.

The office issues two types of death certificate copies under California law. An authorized certified copy works for legal purposes such as settling estates and claiming insurance. An informational copy contains the same data but has a watermark and cannot be used for identity verification. It serves genealogy and family history needs. To get an authorized copy, you must prove you are an eligible person under state law.

Eligible persons include immediate family members like spouses, children, parents, and siblings of the deceased. Grandparents and grandchildren also qualify. Attorneys for the estate can request authorized copies too. You need a notarized sworn statement as required by California Health and Safety Code Section 103526. Without this, you receive an informational copy instead.

Requesting Death Certificates from Calaveras County

You can request death certificates in person, by mail, or through online services. For in person requests, visit the Clerk-Recorder office in San Andreas during business hours. Bring valid photo ID and information about the deceased. Fill out an application form with the person's name, date of death, and other details. Pay the fee when you submit your request.

Staff will search the county's records and provide the certificate if found. Recent deaths from 1960 forward are usually available same day. Older historical records may need retrieval from archived storage. This takes extra time. Call ahead if you need records from before 1960 to verify availability and processing time.

Mail requests require an application form. Download it from the county website or request one by phone. Fill it out completely. Include payment as a check or money order payable to Calaveras County Clerk-Recorder. Do not send cash by mail. If you want an authorized certified copy, attach a notarized sworn statement proving your eligibility. Mail everything to the address on the form.

Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return mail. Processing takes several weeks for mail orders. The county processes requests in the order received. Incomplete applications take longer as staff must contact you for missing information. Make sure all required fields are filled out before mailing to avoid delays.

Online Ordering and State Options

Calaveras County may offer online ordering through an authorized vendor like VitalChek. Check the county website for current online options. These services charge processing fees on top of the county's base cost. You pay with a credit card and select your shipping method. Total costs can be higher but the convenience may be worth it if you cannot visit in person.

Online ordering saves time over mailing a paper application. You fill out the form on a secure website. You still need a notarized statement for authorized copies. Some services let you upload a scanned copy. Others require mailing it separately. Processing times are similar to mail requests plus shipping time.

You can also use the statewide California system. The California Department of Public Health via VitalChek accepts orders for any California county including Calaveras County. This works for deaths after July 1905. It is useful if you are unsure which county the death occurred in or if local online ordering is not available.

Standard shipping takes longer but costs less. Expedited shipping delivers faster for a higher fee. Expect to pay around $50 or more for one certificate with fast delivery when using private vendor services. The extra cost may be worth it if you need the certificate quickly for legal deadlines.

Cities in Calaveras County

Calaveras County includes the cities of San Andreas and Angels Camp. San Andreas is the county seat. All death records for the county are maintained at the clerk-recorder office in San Andreas. It does not matter which city or town the death occurred in. Everyone uses the county office for vital records.

The county has many small historic communities including Murphys, Arnold, Copperopolis, and Mokelumne Hill. These Gold Rush era towns fall under county jurisdiction for death records. No city in Calaveras County operates an independent vital records office. The population is too small. All residents use the county system.

Calaveras County is part of California's Gold Country in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Mark Twain made the county famous with his story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." The county maintains vital records from the Gold Rush era when many thousands of people came seeking fortune. Death records from that period provide valuable historical information.

Fees and Processing Times

Death certificates cost $26 per copy in Calaveras County as of January 2026. This matches the state mandated fee. The fee covers searching for the record and issuing one certified copy. It applies to both authorized and informational copies. The county retains the fee even if they cannot find your record.

If the county searches but finds no match, they issue a Certificate of No Public Record. This document states they searched the records but found nothing matching your information. State law allows counties to keep the fee under Health and Safety Code Section 103650. Verify your information is accurate before submitting your request to avoid this outcome.

Processing times vary based on how you request and how old the record is. In person requests for recent deaths can often be completed the same day. Mail requests typically take two to four weeks from when the county receives them. Online orders have similar processing times plus shipping. Expedited service costs extra but reduces total wait time.

Death Records for Family History Research

Calaveras County death records from the 1850s onward are valuable for genealogy. The county formed in 1850 during the Gold Rush. Many families can trace ancestors who came to California seeking gold and settled in Calaveras County. Death certificates from that era provide details about early California life.

Informational copies work well for family history research. You do not need to prove a family relationship to get an informational copy. It shows all the same data as an authorized copy. The watermark does not matter for genealogy purposes. Informational copies are easier to obtain since they require no notarized statement.

Online databases can help you locate records before ordering copies. The FamilySearch California Death Index 1940-1997 includes Calaveras County deaths. This free database is searchable by name, date, and location. It shows index information only, not images. Use it to verify a record exists before paying for a certified copy.

For earlier deaths, try the FamilySearch California Death Index 1905-1939. This covers deaths registered with the state from 1905 to 1939. Both FamilySearch databases are free to use. They help you find records before purchasing official copies from the county.

Nearby California Counties

For deaths in neighboring counties, contact their respective vital records offices. Each county maintains separate records.