Kings County Death Records

Kings County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk Recorder office in Hanford. The office provides certified copies of death certificates for all deaths that occurred in Kings County from the late 1800s to present day. You can order copies online through the county portal, by mail, or in person at the office. Each death certificate costs $26 effective January 1, 2026. Recent deaths may take several weeks to become available as the funeral director and physician or coroner must complete the certificate and file it with the county first. Processing times vary from one to two weeks for online orders to same day service for some in person requests depending on the age of the record and how busy the office is when you visit.

Kings County Clerk Recorder Office

The Kings County Clerk Recorder office serves as the official repository for vital records in the county. Death certificates are part of their vital records collection. The office maintains death records dating back to when California counties started formal record keeping in the late 1800s. They issue certified copies to authorized persons and informational copies to the general public.

The office is in Hanford, the county seat. Staff handle both recent and historical death records. Recent records from the past several decades are typically stored in digital format and can be searched quickly. Older records from the 1800s and early 1900s may be on microfilm or in physical archives. These older records are still available but may take extra time to locate and retrieve from storage.

Contact the office with questions about death records or to verify record availability before you order. Staff can help you determine if they have the record you need and explain what documents you must submit. They can also clarify the difference between authorized and informational copies so you choose the right type for your purpose. Accurate information speeds up the search process and helps ensure success.

Order Death Records Online

Kings County offers an online ordering portal for death certificates. This system lets you place orders without visiting the office or mailing forms. You enter information about the deceased and pay with a credit card. The portal charges a service fee on top of the base $26 county fee. Processing times for online orders typically run one to two weeks.

To use the online portal, you need basic details about the deceased. Provide the full name as it appears on the death record. Enter the date of death if you know it. If you only have an approximate year, enter that. The county where the death occurred must be Kings County for this portal to work. Include your contact information and mailing address for delivery of the certificate.

If you want an authorized copy instead of an informational copy, you must upload a scanned notarized sworn statement. This document proves you are an authorized person under California Health and Safety Code Section 103526. Sign the statement in front of a notary public before you scan it. Without this document, the county will send you an informational copy. Both types cost the same but serve different purposes depending on how you plan to use the certificate.

The online portal sends you an email confirmation when you place your order. You get a tracking number to check your order status. The county processes online orders in the order received. Call the office if you have not received your certificate after three weeks or if you have questions about your order status.

Visit or Mail Your Request

You can visit the Kings County office in person in Hanford. Bring a photo ID and information about the deceased. Staff at the counter help you fill out a request form. You pay when you place your order. The office accepts cash, checks, and credit cards. There may be a small convenience fee for credit card payments. Check with the office for their current policy.

If you need an authorized copy in person, complete a sworn statement at the counter. Staff provide the form. You sign it under penalty of perjury in front of them. State your relationship to the deceased. The staff member witnesses your signature. No separate notary is required for in person statements. This makes the process faster than getting a document notarized before you visit.

Processing time for in person requests depends on the age of the record. Recent deaths from the past few decades may be available while you wait. Staff search the system and print your certificate on the spot if they find it. Older records stored offsite can take a few days to retrieve. Staff will tell you the expected wait time when you place your order. They can mail your certificate when it becomes available if it is not ready same day.

Mail requests should include a completed application form, payment by check or money order, and a notarized sworn statement if you want an authorized copy. Send to the Kings County Clerk Recorder office in Hanford. The address is on the application form. Processing time for mail orders is typically two to three weeks from when they receive your request. Include your phone number so staff can contact you if they need more information or cannot locate the record.

Note: Make checks or money orders payable to Kings County Clerk Recorder and do not send cash by mail.

Death Certificate Fees

Kings County charges $26 per death certificate copy. This is the standard California county fee as of January 1, 2026. The fee is the same for authorized copies and informational copies. It covers the cost of searching county records and issuing one certified copy. You pay this base amount whether you order in person, by mail, or online.

Online orders through the county portal add a service fee. This extra charge covers the cost of running the online system and credit card processing. Expect to pay about $5 to $10 more for online orders compared to mail or in person. Check the portal for the current service fee amount before you submit your order. This information should be displayed before you complete payment.

If the office cannot find the record you requested, they keep the search fee. There is no refund. They send you a letter stating no record was found based on the information you provided. This can happen if the name spelling is different, the date is wrong, or the death occurred in a different county. Make sure you have accurate details before ordering to avoid losing the fee on an unsuccessful search.

Order multiple copies at once if you need more than one. Each copy costs the full $26. There is no discount for ordering several at the same time. However, submitting one request for multiple copies saves you time compared to placing separate orders later.

California Death Certificate Laws

California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 controls who can receive an authorized certified copy of a death record. This statute lists specific relationships that qualify as authorized persons. A spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the deceased can get an authorized copy. Domestic partners have the same rights as spouses. Attorneys representing the estate qualify. Funeral directors and their employees can get copies while handling disposition of remains.

An authorized copy is a full legal document you can use for official purposes. Banks need it to close accounts. Insurance companies require it for death benefit claims. Social Security uses it to stop payments. Most legal and financial matters require an authorized copy. To get one, you must submit a notarized sworn statement proving you are an authorized person.

An informational copy shows the same data but has a watermark printed across it. The watermark states the copy is not valid to establish identity. This limits how you can use it. Anyone can get an informational copy without proving a relationship to the deceased. No notarized statement is needed. This type works for genealogy research and personal records. Check with the agency requesting the death certificate to see which type they will accept before you order.

Death records are public records in California once filed with the county. Anyone can request an informational copy. The restriction only applies to authorized copies that can be used to establish identity for legal purposes. This balance protects privacy while allowing public access for legitimate historical and genealogical research.

Kings County Cities

Kings County includes several cities and towns. None have populations over 100,000, so they do not maintain their own vital records offices. All death certificates for Kings County cities are handled by the county clerk recorder office in Hanford.

Cities in Kings County include Hanford, Lemoore, Corcoran, and Avenal. Residents of these cities and all other Kings County locations must contact the county office for death records.

Nearby County Offices

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