Inyo County Obituary Records

Inyo County death records are kept by the County Clerk-Recorder office in Independence. The office maintains death certificates for all people who died in Inyo County since 1900. You can request authorized certified copies for legal purposes or informational copies for genealogy and family history. The county charges $26 per copy as set by California state law. Request methods include in person visits to the courthouse, mail applications, and possibly online ordering through authorized vendors.

Inyo County Clerk-Recorder Office

The Inyo County Recorder's office keeps a record of death certificates for all people who have died in Inyo County since 1900. The office is in Independence, the county seat. Staff can issue certified copies to eligible requesters. Visit the Inyo County death records page for current information on fees, hours, and requirements.

The fee for each copy is $26. This matches the state mandated fee for vital records. The county issues both authorized certified copies and informational copies. An authorized copy works for legal matters like settling estates and claiming insurance. An informational copy has a watermark and cannot be used for identity purposes. It works for genealogy and personal records.

To get an authorized copy, you must be an eligible person under California law. This includes the spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the deceased. Attorneys for the estate can also request authorized copies. You need a notarized sworn statement proving your relationship or legal authority. Without this, the county issues an informational copy instead.

Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm with a lunch break from 12pm to 1pm. The office is closed on weekends and county holidays. Call (760) 878-0222 with questions about death records or to verify that a record is available before visiting in person. The office address is 168 N. Edwards Street, Independence, CA 93526.

How to Request Death Certificates

You can request Inyo County death certificates in person or by mail. For in person requests, visit the clerk-recorder office during business hours. Bring photo ID and information about the deceased. You will fill out an application form. Staff will search the records and issue the certificate if found. Payment is due at the time of request. Most counties accept cash, checks, and credit cards.

Mail requests require a completed application form. Download the form from the county website or call to request one by mail. Fill it out with the deceased person's full name, date of death, and place of death if known. Include payment as a check or money order payable to Inyo County Clerk-Recorder. Do not send cash.

If you want an authorized certified copy, include a notarized sworn statement. This statement must declare under penalty of perjury that you are an eligible person under California Health and Safety Code Section 103526. Have a notary public witness your signature on this statement. Without it, you receive an informational copy.

Mail everything to the address listed on the application form. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for standard mail return. 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.

Online Ordering and State Options

Inyo County may offer online ordering through an authorized vendor. Check the county website for current online options. Some counties use VitalChek or similar services. These vendors charge processing fees on top of the county's base cost. You pay with a credit card and select your shipping method.

Online services can be convenient when you cannot visit the office in person. You fill out the application on a secure website. The system guides you through each field. You still need a notarized statement for authorized copies. Some services let you upload a scanned copy. Others require you to mail it separately.

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

Processing times for online orders are similar to mail requests. Shipping time is additional. Standard mail takes longer but costs less. Expedited shipping delivers faster for a higher fee. Total costs with online services can reach $50 or more for one certificate with fast delivery.

Cities and Communities in Inyo County

Inyo County is a large geographic area with a small population. The county seat is Independence. Other communities include Bishop, Lone Pine, Big Pine, and Death Valley. All death records for the county are maintained in Independence at the clerk-recorder's office. It does not matter which town the death occurred in. Everyone uses the same county office.

Bishop is the largest community in Inyo County. It still has a population well under 100,000. No city in Inyo County operates an independent health department or vital records office. All vital records services go through the county. This is typical for rural California counties with small populations.

The county covers a vast area from the Sierra Nevada mountains to Death Valley. It includes parts of Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, and Death Valley National Park. Deaths in these remote areas are also registered with Inyo County. The county handles all death certificates regardless of where in the county the death occurred.

Costs and Processing Times

Death certificates cost $26 per copy in Inyo 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 in this situation under Health and Safety Code Section 103650. Make sure you have accurate information before submitting your request.

Processing times vary. In person requests for recent deaths can often be completed the same day. Older records may need retrieval from storage which takes longer. 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 time.

Finding Recent Death Records

Very recent death certificates take time to reach the county recorder. When someone dies, the doctor or coroner completes the medical portion. The funeral director files it with the county health department. The health department sends a copy to the recorder. This process takes about four to six weeks.

If you need a certificate for a death in the past month, call the Inyo County Clerk-Recorder office first at (760) 878-0222. Ask if the record has been registered. For deaths in just the past week or two, you will likely need to wait. The recorder cannot issue what they have not received yet. Some urgent situations may allow expedited processing once the record arrives.

The county health department does not usually issue certified copies to the public. All copy requests go through the clerk-recorder. If you know you will need multiple copies, order them all at once. This saves time and shipping costs compared to ordering separately.

Note: Verify the death occurred in Inyo County before ordering to avoid paying fees for records held by other counties.

Death Records for Genealogy Research

Inyo County death records from 1900 forward are useful for family history research. The county formed in 1866, but the recorder's office states their death record collection begins in 1900. For earlier deaths, records may exist but require special research. Contact the county to ask about accessing records from before 1900.

Informational copies work well for genealogy. 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 family trees and historical research. 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 Inyo 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 and gather basic details before purchasing official copies.

Nearby California Counties

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