Search Contra Costa County Obituaries

Contra Costa County maintains death records through the County Clerk office in Martinez. You can request a death certificate if the death took place anywhere in the county. The clerk office handles all vital records including birth, death, and marriage certificates. Fees increased in January 2026 due to a state law. Each death certificate now costs $28. You can order in person, by mail, or through an online service. The office is at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez. The Vital Registration office is at a different address at 10 Douglas Drive, also in Martinez. Recent deaths are processed through Vital Registration first, then transferred to the County Clerk after a few weeks.

County Clerk Vital Records

The Contra Costa County Clerk office is your main source for death certificates. Visit them at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez. Call 925-335-7900 with questions. Staff can help you figure out what type of copy you need and what documents to bring. They do not give out details from a death record over the phone, but they can tell you if they have the record on file.

For very recent deaths, contact the Vital Registration office instead. They are at 10 Douglas Drive, Suite 220 in Martinez. Their phone number is 925-313-1125. This office gets death records from hospitals and funeral homes first. After processing, they send copies to the County Clerk for long-term storage. If a death happened in the last month or two, start with Vital Registration. If it has been longer, go to the County Clerk.

You can view the official Contra Costa County death certificate ordering page for current information. This page has links to forms and instructions. It also lists the new fees that started in January 2026 under Assembly Bill 64. The page explains who can get an authorized copy and who gets an informational copy.

Assembly Bill 64 added $2 to the cost of all vital records in California. Death certificates went from $26 to $28. This change took effect on January 1, 2026. If you submit an application with the old fee, they will send it back. Make sure your payment matches the current fee before you mail your request.

If the county cannot find the record you requested, they still keep the fee. They will issue a letter stating no record was found. This is required by Health and Safety Code Section 103650. The fee pays for the search whether or not the record exists. Double-check the spelling of names and the approximate year before you order to avoid this.

How to Request Death Records

Start by getting the application form. You can download it from the county website or pick one up at the office. Fill in the name of the deceased, the date or year of death, and the place of death. Give as much detail as you can. Include the file number if you have it from a previous search or index.

For an authorized copy, you must include a notarized sworn statement. This statement declares you are an authorized person under California law. Sign it in front of a notary. Attach it to your application. If you do not include this, you will get an informational copy instead. Informational copies have a watermark and cannot be used for most legal purposes.

Authorized persons include the spouse, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings of the deceased. Domestic partners also qualify. So do attorneys for the estate and licensed funeral directors. If you do not fit one of these categories, you can still request an informational copy without the notarized statement.

Mail your completed application, payment, and notarized statement to the County Clerk at 555 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA 94553. Use a check or money order. Do not mail cash. Processing time varies. Most mail orders take two to four weeks. The county does not offer expedited mail service, but you can visit in person for faster results.

In-Person and Online Orders

Walk-in service is available at the County Clerk office in Martinez. Bring a photo ID and the information about the deceased. If you need an authorized copy, bring your notarized sworn statement. Staff will help you fill out the form if needed. You can usually get the certificate the same day if the record is in their current files.

Older records may take longer. Some historical death records are stored offsite. If the death was many decades ago, ask the clerk how long it will take. They can tell you if they need to retrieve the record from archives. In those cases, you might need to come back another day or have it mailed to you.

The county does not have its own online ordering system. You can use VitalChek, a third-party vendor authorized by the state. VitalChek processes orders for many California counties. Go to their website and search for Contra Costa County. You will pay the $28 certificate fee plus VitalChek service fees. These fees vary depending on the shipping method you choose. Standard shipping costs around $7 extra. Expedited options cost more.

For VitalChek orders, you must upload a scanned copy of your notarized statement if you want an authorized copy. The system will prompt you to do this. If you do not upload it, you will automatically receive an informational copy. VitalChek sends your order to the county for processing. The county mails the certificate to the address you provide. Most VitalChek orders are completed within one to two weeks.

Certificate Fees

As of January 1, 2026, each death certificate costs $28. This is the base fee. It covers the cost of searching the files and providing one certified copy. If you order more than one copy of the same record, you pay $28 for each copy. There is no bulk discount.

If you use VitalChek, add their service fee to the total. VitalChek charges for processing and shipping. Standard service usually adds about $12 to $15 to your order. Expedited shipping can add $20 or more. Check the VitalChek website for current fees before you order.

The search fee is not refundable. If the county searches and does not find the record, they keep the $28. They issue a Certificate of No Public Record instead. This is a legal document that says they searched their files but could not locate a record matching the information you gave. Some agencies accept this as proof that a record does not exist in that county.

Cities in Contra Costa County

Contra Costa County covers a large area in the East Bay. Cities and towns in this county include Concord, Richmond, Antioch, Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Pittsburg, Brentwood, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, El Cerrito, Danville, and many others. The County Clerk in Martinez handles death certificates for all of these places. No city in Contra Costa County has its own vital records office.

If a death occurred in any Contra Costa city or unincorporated area, request the certificate from the County Clerk. The certificate will show the city or location where the death happened. This helps if you are not sure which county to contact. If the death was in a hospital, the hospital location determines the county, not where the person lived.

Note: Always verify the county of death before ordering to avoid delays and wasted fees.

Nearby County Records

Contra Costa County borders several other counties. Alameda County is to the south and west. Solano County is to the northeast. Sacramento County is to the east. Marin County is across the bay to the west. If you are not sure which county has the record, check with each one. You can also try the state office if the county of death is unknown.