El Dorado County Death Certificates
El Dorado County Recorder Clerk maintains death certificates for all deaths that took place in the county. The office is in Placerville at 330 Fair Lane. You can request copies by mail, in person, or through approved online vendors. For deaths that occurred within the last 30 days, you should visit the Public Health Death Certificate page instead as the recorder office may not have very recent records yet. The fee is $26 per copy when paid by money order or cashier's check. If you pay by personal check, the office holds your request for 15 working days before mailing your record. This hold protects the county from bad checks and ensures funds clear before processing your order.
El Dorado County Vital Records
El Dorado County Recorder Clerk Office
The recorder clerk office is at 330 Fair Lane in Placerville. This is the county seat and the only location for vital records in El Dorado County. The office handles death certificates along with birth and marriage records. Staff can answer questions about ordering copies and what information you need to provide.
When you visit in person, bring a valid photo ID. You need the full name of the deceased and the date of death or at least the year. More details help staff find the right record faster. The office accepts cash, money orders, cashier's checks, and personal checks. Personal checks require a 15 working day hold before your record is mailed. If you need the certificate faster, use cash, money order, or cashier's check.
For mail orders, go to the El Dorado County death certificates page for forms and instructions. Download the application form, fill it out, and mail it with your payment. Make checks payable to El Dorado County Recorder Clerk. Include your contact information so the office can reach you if they have questions.
Processing time depends on the payment method. Money orders and cashier's checks are processed right away. Personal checks have a 15 working day hold before processing begins. This hold period is required to ensure the check clears the bank. If you are in a hurry, use a money order or cashier's check to avoid the delay.
Death Certificates for Recent Events
Death certificates for very recent deaths are not available from the recorder clerk right away. If you need a certificate for a death that occurred within the last 30 days, visit the Public Health Death Certificate page. The county health department handles initial registration. They have the most recent records before they are sent to the recorder clerk for long term storage.
After about 30 days, death certificates are transferred from public health to the recorder clerk. Once the recorder clerk has the record, you can request copies from them. Call the office or check their website to see if the record has been transferred yet. This saves you time and ensures you contact the right office.
For deaths older than 30 days, the recorder clerk office is the right place to request copies. They maintain all historical death records for the county. Most requests for older records are processed quickly if the record is on file.
Personal Check Hold Policy
El Dorado County has a specific policy for personal checks. If you pay by personal check, the office holds your request for 15 working days before mailing your record. This hold allows time for the check to clear the bank. The county does this to protect against bad checks. Once the 15 working days pass and the check clears, staff process your order and mail the certificate.
You can avoid this hold by using a different payment method. Money orders, cashier's checks, and cash are processed right away. There is no hold period for these payment types. If you need the certificate quickly, use one of these methods instead of a personal check. The fee is the same no matter which payment method you choose.
Authorized and Informational Copies
California law requires counties to issue two types of death certificates. An authorized copy is a certified document used for legal and financial purposes. You need this type to settle estates, claim insurance, notify Social Security, or handle other official matters. To get an authorized copy, you must be an immediate family member or legally entitled person. This includes spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, or the legal representative of the estate.
When requesting an authorized copy, you must provide a notarized sworn statement. This statement declares under penalty of perjury that you are authorized to receive the record. Sign the statement in front of a notary public and include it with your application. Without this notarized statement, the county issues an informational copy instead.
An informational copy has all the same information as an authorized copy. The difference is a watermark that says it cannot be used to establish identity. Anyone can request an informational copy without proving their relationship. These copies are useful for genealogy and family history. Most banks, insurance companies, and government agencies will not accept informational copies for official business. The fee is $26 for either type.
Death Certificate Fees
El Dorado County charges $26 per certified copy of a death certificate. This is the standard fee set by California state law. The fee covers the cost of searching county records and providing one copy. If the office cannot locate the record, they keep the fee and issue a Certificate of No Public Record. This is true even if the record does not exist or you provided wrong information.
Multiple copies ordered at the same time each cost $26. There is no discount for bulk orders. Online vendors like VitalChek charge extra service fees on top of the county fee. These can add $10 to $15 or more. Expedited shipping costs extra. Mailing your request directly to the county is the cheapest option if you can wait for regular processing.
Free California Death Indexes
Free online databases let you search California death records by name and date. These are indexes, not official certificates. They show basic details like name, date of death, age, and county. You can use them to verify information before ordering a copy. FamilySearch offers two California death indexes covering 1905 to 1997.
Search California Death Index 1905-1939 for early El Dorado County records. For later years, use California Death Index 1940-1997. Both are free. They help you confirm details before ordering. This reduces the chance of requesting the wrong record.
Older Death Records in El Dorado County
The recorder clerk has death records going back many decades. California started statewide death registration on July 1, 1905. Before that, counties kept their own records if they kept any. Some El Dorado County records from the 1800s may exist. Check with the recorder clerk office to find out how far back their records go.
For very old records, the California State Archives in Sacramento may have microfilmed copies. They hold records from 28 California counties. Records over 75 years old are public. Call the archives at (916) 653-6814 to ask about El Dorado County holdings. Local historical societies and libraries may also have obituary collections from old newspapers.
California Death Certificate Laws
State law requires every death to be registered. The funeral director or person in charge of the body files the certificate with the local registrar. A physician or coroner completes the medical section within 15 hours of the death or three days if the coroner is involved. These rules are in the California Health and Safety Code.
Who can get an authorized copy is defined in Health and Safety Code Section 103526. This statute lists all authorized persons and explains the notarized statement requirement. If you do not qualify, the county issues an informational copy with a watermark. This protects privacy and prevents identity theft.
Contact El Dorado County Recorder Clerk
El Dorado County Recorder Clerk
330 Fair Lane
Placerville, CA 95667
Hours: Monday through Friday during business hours
Nearby Counties
If the death occurred outside El Dorado County, contact the county where it happened. Each county only has records for deaths within its borders.