Search Shasta County Obituary Records
Death certificates and obituary information for Shasta County are maintained by the county recorder in Redding. This office serves all residents of the county who need copies of death records. The fee increased to $26 per copy on January 1, 2026 due to state legislation. You can order copies by mail, in person at the courthouse, or through online vendors that partner with the state. Processing takes one to three working days after the office receives your request. Shasta County only issues certificates for deaths that occurred within the county borders, so you must know where the death took place before requesting a record.
Shasta County Vital Records
County Recorder Office in Redding
The Shasta County Recorder office is in downtown Redding at the county courthouse. The address is 1450 Court Street, Suite 208. This office handles all vital records requests for the county. They maintain death certificates along with birth and marriage records. Staff can help you with questions about ordering copies or finding records if you are not sure of the exact date or spelling of a name.
When you visit in person, you can pay with cash, check, or a debit or credit card. Credit and debit cards have an additional fee added by the payment processor. Bring a valid ID and as much information as you have about the deceased. The more details you provide, the faster staff can locate the record. Most requests are completed while you wait if the record is on file and readily accessible. Some older records may take longer.
For mail orders, write a letter or fill out the application form available on the Shasta County death certificates page. Include the full name of the deceased, date of death or approximate year, place of death if known, and your contact information. State whether you need an authorized copy or informational copy. If you want an authorized copy, include a notarized sworn statement proving you are an eligible person under California law.
Send your completed application with payment to the Redding address. Make checks payable to Shasta County Recorder. The office processes mail requests within one to three working days after receipt. This does not include mail delivery time. Allow extra days for the postal service to deliver your request to them and return the certificate to you.
Note: The office charges $26 per certificate effective January 1, 2026.
Emergency and After Hours Service
The recorder office is closed on weekends and holidays. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday during the day. If you have an urgent need outside of regular hours, Shasta County provides an after hours emergency number. Call (530) 339-9940 for emergency assistance. This line is for urgent matters only. Routine record requests should be made during normal business hours by calling the main line at (530) 225-5678.
Urgent requests might include situations where a death certificate is needed immediately for legal proceedings or to meet a deadline. The after hours line can direct you to the appropriate contact. Keep in mind that even urgent requests may take time to process depending on when the death occurred and whether the certificate has been filed yet.
Certified Copies and Informational Copies
California law defines two types of death certificate copies. A certified authorized copy is used for legal purposes. Banks, insurance companies, and government agencies require this type. To get one, you must be related to the deceased or have a legal right to the record. Eligible persons include the spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, or legal representative of the estate. Funeral directors and attorneys handling estate matters can also request authorized copies.
You must submit a notarized sworn statement with your request for an authorized copy. This statement declares under penalty of perjury that you are an authorized person. Take the statement to a notary public, sign it in front of them, and include it with your application. Without this notarized statement, the county will issue an informational copy instead.
Informational copies have a watermark that says they cannot be used to establish identity. Anyone can get an informational copy without proving a relationship. These copies are fine for family history research or genealogy. Most financial institutions and legal entities will not accept informational copies. The fee is $26 for either type.
Requesting Records for Recent Deaths
Death certificates are not available right away after a death. The funeral home files initial paperwork. A doctor or coroner fills out the medical cause of death. The county health department processes everything. This takes several weeks. In most cases, death certificates become available from the recorder office four to six weeks after the date of death.
If you need a certificate sooner, contact the Shasta County Public Health Department. They may have the record before it reaches the recorder. The public health office can tell you if the certificate has been processed yet. Call ahead to check availability before visiting or mailing a request. This saves time and avoids delays if the record is not ready.
Search California Death Indexes
Free online databases let you search for California death records by name and date. These are not official certificates. They are indexes that show basic info. You can use them to confirm details before ordering a copy. FamilySearch offers two main California death indexes. One covers 1905 to 1939 and the other covers 1940 to 1997.
Visit FamilySearch California Death Index 1905-1939 for early Shasta County records. For later dates, use FamilySearch California Death Index 1940-1997. Both databases are free. They show the name, date of death, age, and county. Some entries list parents or a spouse. These indexes help you verify information before you order an official copy from the county.
Other genealogy websites also have California death records. Ancestry.com has a California Death Index that requires a paid subscription. Local libraries may offer free access to Ancestry through their library membership. Check with Shasta County libraries to see if they provide this service.
Death Certificate Costs
The fee for a Shasta County death certificate is $26 per copy as of January 1, 2026. This went up by $2 due to Assembly Bill 64 passed by the California legislature. The fee covers the cost of searching county records and providing one certified copy. If the record is not found, the county keeps the fee and issues a Certificate of No Public Record. You do not get a refund for unsuccessful searches.
Additional copies ordered at the same time cost $26 each. There is no discount for ordering multiple copies in one request. If you use an online vendor like VitalChek, they add their own service fees on top of the county fee. Expect to pay around $13 more for online processing plus shipping costs. Standard mail through the county office is the cheapest option if you are not in a hurry.
Older Death Records in Shasta County
The county recorder has death records going back many decades. California did not require statewide death registration until July 1, 1905. Before that date, counties kept their own records if they kept any at all. Some Shasta County death records from the 1800s may exist. Check with the recorder office to see how far back their records go.
For very old records, try the California State Archives in Sacramento. They have microfilmed vital records from some counties. Records more than 75 years old are public. You can visit the archives in person or call (916) 653-6814 to ask about Shasta County holdings. Local historical societies and libraries may also have obituary collections from old newspapers.
California Death Certificate Laws
State law requires every death to be registered. The person in charge of the body, usually a funeral director, 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 come from the California Health and Safety Code.
Who can get an authorized copy is defined in Health and Safety Code Section 103526. This statute lists all authorized persons. It explains the notarized statement requirement. Anyone not on the list gets an informational copy with a watermark. The county must follow these rules by law. They cannot issue authorized copies to people who do not qualify.
How to Reach Shasta County Recorder
Shasta County Recorder
1450 Court Street, Suite 208
Redding, CA 96001-1670
Phone: (530) 225-5678
After Hours Emergency: (530) 339-9940
Hours: Monday through Friday during business hours
Nearby California Counties
If the death occurred outside Shasta County, contact the county where it happened. Each county only maintains records for deaths within its jurisdiction.