Find Kern County Obituaries

Death certificates and obituary records for Kern County are available through the county assessor-recorder office and the public health department. You can purchase certified copies by visiting the Hall of Records in Bakersfield, sending a request by mail, or ordering online through VitalChek. The fee is $26 per copy effective January 1, 2026. Kern County maintains death records for events that occurred within the county from the 1800s to present day. Most orders process within one to three weeks depending on the request method and age of the record you need to locate.

Kern County Death Record Offices

Two main offices handle death certificates in Kern County. The Assessor-Recorder office at the Hall of Records maintains older death records. The Public Health Department handles very recent deaths. Which office you contact depends on when the death occurred.

For most death records, contact the Hall of Records. They keep death certificates for the county going back to the 1800s. Visit them at 1115 Truxtun Avenue in Bakersfield. The office is open Monday through Friday. Staff can search for records if you provide a name and approximate date. Older records may take extra time to locate as some are stored in archives or on microfilm.

The Public Health office at 1800 Mt Vernon Avenue in Bakersfield handles very recent deaths. They file new death certificates when the funeral director and physician complete the paperwork. After a few weeks, records move to the Hall of Records for long term storage. Call (661) 321-3000 to reach the public health vital records section. They can tell you if a recent record is ready yet or if you should wait a bit longer before ordering.

Both offices charge the same fees. You can order from either location by mail or online through VitalChek. Make sure you contact the right office for your time period to avoid delays. If you are not sure which office has your record, call the Hall of Records first and they can direct you.

Order Death Certificates Online

Kern County partners with VitalChek for online death certificate orders. This service lets you submit a request without visiting the office or mailing forms. VitalChek adds extra fees for their processing and delivery. Expect to pay about $13 more than the base county fee. Expedited shipping options cost even more but get your certificate faster.

To order online, go to the VitalChek website and select California, then Kern County. Follow the prompts to enter information about the deceased. You need the full name, date of death or approximate year, and the place of death. The system asks if you want an authorized copy or informational copy. If you need an authorized copy, you must upload a scanned notarized sworn statement proving your relationship to the deceased.

VitalChek accepts credit cards and debit cards. They process your order and forward it to the appropriate Kern County office. You get an email confirmation with a tracking number. Most online orders ship within a few days to a week after the county processes them. Check your order status on the VitalChek website using your confirmation number.

Visit or Mail Your Request

You can visit the Hall of Records in person at 1115 Truxtun Avenue in Bakersfield. Bring a photo ID and information about the deceased. Staff at the counter will help you fill out an application form. You pay at the time you place your order. The office accepts cash, checks, and credit cards. Processing time for in person requests varies based on the age of the record. Recent records from the past few decades may be available while you wait. Older archived records can take a few days to retrieve.

Mail requests go to the same address. Download the death certificate application form from the county website. Fill it out completely and include payment by check or money order. Make the check payable to Kern County Assessor-Recorder. Include a self addressed stamped envelope for the return of your certificate. Do not send cash by mail. Processing time for mail orders runs about two to three weeks from when they receive your request.

If you need an authorized copy, include a notarized sworn statement with your mail request. This statement must declare under penalty of perjury that you are an authorized person under California Health and Safety Code Section 103526. Sign it in front of a notary public before mailing. Without the notarized statement, you will receive an informational copy instead.

Note: Call ahead at (661) 321-3000 to verify record availability before visiting in person for older records.

Death Certificate Costs

As of January 1, 2026, death certificates cost $26 per copy in Kern County. This fee increased by $2 due to Assembly Bill 64 passed in 2025. Fetal death certificates cost $23 per copy. The fee is the same whether you order an authorized copy or an informational copy. It covers the cost of searching for the record plus one certified copy.

If staff cannot locate the record you requested, the county keeps the search fee. They issue a letter of no record instead of a certificate. This happens if the name or date is wrong or if the death occurred in a different county. Make sure you have accurate information before ordering to avoid losing the fee on an unsuccessful search.

VitalChek charges additional service fees for online orders. Their processing fee is about $13. Shipping fees vary based on speed. Standard delivery adds around $7. Expedited options cost $19 to $27 depending how fast you need it. These extra charges go to VitalChek, not to Kern County. Ordering by mail or in person costs only the base $26 county fee.

Authorized vs Informational Copies

California law limits who can receive an authorized certified copy of a death record. Health and Safety Code Section 103526 lists the specific people who qualify. This includes a spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, or domestic partner of the deceased. Attorneys representing the estate and funeral directors can also get authorized copies. Law enforcement officers with proper credentials qualify as well.

An authorized copy is a full certified death certificate you can use for legal purposes. Banks require it to close accounts. Insurance companies need it to process claims. Social Security uses it to stop benefit payments. This type of copy shows all information on the original record without redactions.

An informational copy contains the same data but has a watermark across it. The watermark says it is not valid to establish identity. Anyone can get an informational copy without proving a relationship. This type works well for genealogy research, family records, and historical projects. Most government agencies and financial institutions will not accept informational copies for official business.

Both types cost the same. You choose which one you want when you order. If you request an authorized copy but do not qualify, Kern County will send you an informational copy instead. They do not refund the fee or contact you first. Make sure you know which type you need before submitting your request.

Cities in Kern County

Kern County contains one city with a population over 100,000. Death records for all Kern County cities are maintained by the county offices, not by individual city governments.

For deaths in smaller Kern County cities and unincorporated areas, contact the same county offices listed above.

Nearby County Offices

If the death occurred outside Kern County, you must contact the county where it happened. Each California county only issues records for deaths within its borders.