Fresno County Death Records

Fresno County maintains death certificates and obituary records for all deaths that occurred within the county. The county recorder handles requests for death records older than 24 months, while the Department of Public Health Vital Statistics office maintains more recent records. You can order copies online, by mail, or in person. Fees start at $26 per copy. The county has death records available for research dating back to the late 1800s, and most requests process within one to two weeks depending on the age of the record and how you submit your request.

Fresno County Recorder Office

The Fresno County Recorder maintains death records for the entire county. They handle requests for death certificates older than 24 months from the date of death. The office is at 2420 Mariposa Street in Fresno. You can visit in person Monday through Friday during business hours.

Call (559) 600-3471 with questions about ordering death records. Staff can help you find records if you have the full name and approximate date of death. Older records from the 1800s and early 1900s may take longer to locate. The county has microfilmed many early records for preservation.

The recorder office offers an online ordering portal where you can submit requests. This portal charges a $5 service fee plus credit card processing fees on top of the $26 base fee. Orders placed online typically process within one to two weeks. Mail and in person requests have similar timelines.

If the record you need is very recent, within the last 24 months, you must contact the vital statistics office instead. The recorder does not have access to those new records yet. Records transfer from the health department to the recorder after two years per California Health and Safety Code 102365.

Recent Death Records and Vital Statistics

The Fresno County Department of Public Health Vital Statistics office maintains death records for the most recent two years. After 24 months, records transfer to the county recorder. If someone died in Fresno County within the past two years, contact the vital statistics office for a copy.

New death certificates typically take one to two weeks to become available after the death occurs. The funeral director files the certificate with the vital statistics office first. Then the physician or coroner completes the medical portion. This process takes time before the record is ready for public requests.

You can reach the vital statistics office through the same contact number as the recorder office at (559) 600-3471. They use the same online portal for ordering. Make sure to select the correct date range when you place your order so it goes to the right office.

Note: Always verify which office handles your time period before ordering to avoid delays.

Ordering a Death Certificate

To order a Fresno County death certificate, you need basic information about the deceased. Provide the full name as it appears on the death record. The date of death or approximate year helps staff search faster. If you want an authorized copy instead of an informational copy, you must submit a notarized sworn statement proving you are an authorized person under California law.

Authorized persons include the spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild of the deceased. Attorneys representing the estate and funeral directors can also get authorized copies. Everyone else receives an informational copy with a watermark. Both types cost the same but serve different purposes. Most banks and insurance companies require authorized copies for legal matters.

You can order online, by mail, or in person. Online orders through the county portal add a $5 service fee. Mail orders should include a completed application form, payment by check or money order, and your notarized statement if needed. In person orders let you pay by cash, check, or credit card at the counter. Some older records may not be available for same day pickup even if you visit in person.

Fresno County Fees

Death certificates cost $26 per copy in Fresno County. This matches the state fee set by California law. The fee covers the search and one certified copy. If the office cannot locate the record based on your information, they keep the fee and issue a certificate of no public record instead. You do not get a refund for unsuccessful searches.

Online orders add a $5 service fee and a small credit card processing fee. These extra charges go to the online portal vendor, not to the county. Total cost for one online order runs about $35 to $40 depending on the processing fee percentage. Expedited shipping costs extra if you need faster delivery.

Mail orders should include payment by personal check, cashier's check, or money order. Make the check payable to Fresno County Recorder. Do not send cash. If you use a personal check, expect a hold period before processing begins. In person orders at the counter accept cash, checks, or credit cards with no extra convenience fees.

Note: Order multiple copies at once to save on separate service fees if using the online portal.

California Law on Death Records

California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 controls who can get an authorized certified copy of a death record. This statute lists the specific relationships that qualify. It also requires a notarized sworn statement for all authorized copy requests. If you do not meet the requirements, the office issues an informational copy instead.

The informational copy has a legend printed across it that says it is not valid to establish identity. This type works for genealogy research and personal records. Legal matters usually require an authorized copy. Check with the agency requesting the death certificate to see which type you need before you order.

Death certificates become public records once filed with the county. Anyone can request an informational copy without proving a relationship to the deceased. Some sensitive details may be redacted from public copies for privacy. The full unredacted authorized copy is only available to qualified persons.

Cities in Fresno County

Fresno County includes several cities with populations over 100,000. Residents of these cities must contact the Fresno County Recorder for death certificates. No city in the county issues death records directly. All requests go through the county offices.

Nearby Counties

If the death occurred in a neighboring county, contact that county's recorder office. Each county only issues records for deaths within its borders.