Placer County Obituary Records
Placer County maintains death certificates and obituary records from 1873 to the present day. The county operates two offices where you can request copies of death certificates. The main office is in Rocklin and a second location is in Auburn. Both locations handle vital records requests for deaths that occurred anywhere in Placer County. An authorized certified copy may be required to obtain death benefits, claim insurance proceeds, or notify Social Security. You can request records by visiting either office in person, sending a mail request, or using online services approved by the county. The fee follows California state law and covers one certified copy plus the cost of searching county records.
Placer County Death Records
Placer County Recorder Offices
Placer County has two offices that handle death certificate requests. The main office is at 3715 Atherton Road in Rocklin. The second office is at 2954 Richardson Drive in Auburn. Both locations can process requests for any death that occurred in Placer County. You do not have to go to the office closest to where the death happened. Choose whichever location is more convenient for you.
When you visit in person, bring a government issued photo ID. You need to provide the full name of the deceased and the date of death or at least the year. Staff can help you fill out a request form. Payment is accepted in the form of cash, check, or credit card. Credit card transactions may have a small processing fee added. Most requests are processed while you wait if the record is readily available in the system.
For mail orders, visit the Placer County death certificate copies page for forms and instructions. Download the application, fill it out completely, and mail it to either office with your payment. Use a check or money order payable to Placer County. Do not send cash through the mail. Processing time for mail requests depends on how quickly the postal service delivers your request and how complex the search is.
The Rocklin office recording line is 530-886-5600. This is an automated system that provides information about office hours, fees, and services. For specific questions that need a staff member, you may need to leave a message or visit in person. The Auburn office uses the same recording system for general information.
Death Records from 1873 Forward
Placer County has one of the longer records collections in California. Death and birth records date from 1873 to the present. This gives researchers access to more than 150 years of vital records. California did not require statewide death registration until July 1, 1905. Placer County was keeping records well before that date. This makes the county a valuable resource for genealogy and family history research in Northern California.
Older records may take longer to retrieve. Some early records are stored offsite or on microfilm. If you need a record from the 1800s or early 1900s, call ahead to ask about availability. Staff can tell you if there will be a delay in retrieving the record. Recent records from the past few decades are usually accessible right away.
Authorized Certified Copies vs Informational Copies
California law defines two types of death certificate copies. An authorized certified copy is used for legal and financial matters. This type is required to obtain death benefits, claim insurance, notify Social Security, or settle an estate. To get an authorized copy, you must be an immediate family member or legally entitled person. Eligible persons include spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, or the legal representative of the estate.
When requesting an authorized copy, you must submit a notarized sworn statement. This document 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 contains 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 or providing a notarized statement. These copies work well for genealogy, family trees, and personal records. Most legal and financial institutions will not accept informational copies for official business. The fee is the same for both types at $26 per copy.
Cost of Death Certificates
Placer County charges $26 per certified copy of a death certificate. This fee went into effect on January 1, 2026 following a state law change. The fee covers the cost of searching county records and providing one copy. If the record is not found, the county keeps the fee and issues a Certificate of No Public Record. This is standard practice across all California counties.
Each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $26. There is no discount for ordering multiple copies. Online vendors like VitalChek charge extra service fees on top of the county fee. These can add $10 to $15 or more to your total cost. Expedited shipping costs extra. If you are not in a hurry, mail your request directly to the county office to save on fees.
Records for Recent Deaths
Death certificates are not available right away. After a death occurs, the funeral director files paperwork. A physician or coroner completes the medical section. The county health department processes the information and creates the official certificate. This process takes several weeks. Most death certificates become available from the county recorder four to six weeks after the date of death.
If you need a certificate for a very recent death, call the Rocklin or Auburn office first. Ask if the record has been filed yet. If not, staff can estimate when it will be ready. Ordering before the record is available results in a Certificate of No Public Record. You still pay the fee even though the record was not found. Calling ahead saves time and money.
Very recent death records may still be with the county health department. The health department handles initial registration. Once processed, they send copies to the recorder office for long term storage and public access. If the recorder does not have the record yet, they can direct you to the health department.
Free Online Death Indexes
Several free databases index California death records. These are search tools, not official certificates. They help you find details before ordering a copy. FamilySearch has two California death indexes. One covers 1905 to 1939 and the other covers 1940 to 1997. Both are free to search.
Use California Death Index 1905-1939 for early Placer County records. For later years, try California Death Index 1940-1997. These databases show the name, date of death, age, and county. Some entries include parents or spouse names. No images of actual certificates are available. The index helps you verify information before you order from the county.
For records before 1905, check with the California State Archives. They have microfilmed records from some counties. Records over 75 years old are public. Call the archives at (916) 653-6814 to ask about Placer County holdings. Local libraries and historical societies may also have obituary collections from old newspapers.
California Death Certificate Laws
State law requires every death in California 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 portion 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 receive 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 Placer County Recorder
Placer County Recorder - Rocklin Office
3715 Atherton Road
Rocklin, CA 95765
Placer County Recorder - Auburn Office
2954 Richardson Drive
Auburn, CA 95603
Phone Recording: 530-886-5600
Hours: Monday through Friday during business hours
Nearby Counties
If the death occurred outside Placer County, contact the county where it happened. Each county only maintains records for deaths within its borders.