Siskiyou County Obituary Information
Siskiyou County Assessor Recorder in Yreka maintains death certificates for the county. The recorder division handles all vital records requests including death certificates. You can request copies by mail, in person at the county office, or through approved online vendors. The fee follows California state law and covers both the search and one certified copy. Siskiyou County only issues death certificates for deaths that occurred within the county borders. If the death happened in another county, you must contact that county's recorder office. The county seat is in Yreka where the main office is located.
Siskiyou County Death Records
Assessor Recorder Office Recorder Division
The Siskiyou County Assessor Recorder office has a recorder division that handles vital records. This division maintains death certificates, birth certificates, and marriage records for the county. The office is in Yreka, the county seat. Staff at the recorder division can answer questions about ordering copies and what information you need to provide.
Visit the Siskiyou County recorder division page for information on vital records services. This page explains the recorder division's role and what types of records they maintain. Contact information and office hours are listed on the site.
When you visit in person, bring a valid photo ID. You need to provide the full name of the deceased and the date of death or at least the year. More details help staff locate the right record. The office accepts cash, checks, and money orders. Make checks payable to Siskiyou County Assessor Recorder.
For mail orders, write a letter or fill out the application form if available on the county website. Include your name, address, phone number, relationship to the deceased, and how many copies you need. State whether you want an authorized copy or informational copy. Mail your request with payment to the recorder division in Yreka.
Authorized and Informational Death Certificates
California law requires counties to issue two types of death certificates. An authorized copy is a certified document used for legal and financial matters. You need this type to settle estates, claim insurance, or handle other official business. To get an authorized copy, you must be an immediate family member or legally entitled person. This includes spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, or legal representatives of the estate.
When requesting an authorized copy, you must provide a notarized sworn statement. This document declares under penalty of perjury that you are authorized to receive the record. Visit a notary public, sign the statement in their presence, and include the notarized document with your application. If you do not provide this, the county issues an informational copy instead.
An informational copy has all the same information but includes a watermark stating it cannot be used to establish identity. Anyone can request an informational copy without proving their relationship. These copies are useful for genealogy and family history. Most banks, insurers, and government agencies will not accept informational copies for official purposes. The fee is the same for both types at $26 per copy.
Death Certificate Fees
Siskiyou County charges $26 per certified copy of a death certificate. This is the standard fee set by California state law as of January 1, 2026. The fee covers the cost of searching county records and providing one copy. If the office cannot locate the record, they keep the fee and issue a Certificate of No Public Record.
Multiple copies ordered at the same time each cost $26. There is no volume discount. Online vendors like VitalChek charge extra service fees on top of the county fee. These can add $10 to $15 or more. Expedited shipping costs extra. Mailing your request directly to the county is the cheapest option if you can wait for standard processing.
Records for Recent Deaths
Death certificates are not available right away after a death. The funeral director files paperwork. A physician or coroner completes the medical section. The county health department processes the information. This takes several weeks. Most death certificates become available from the recorder division about four to six weeks after the date of death.
If you need a certificate for a very recent death, call the recorder division 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.
Free Death Record Indexes
Free online databases let you search California death records by name and date. These are indexes, not official certificates. They show basic details to help you verify information before ordering a copy. FamilySearch offers two California death indexes covering 1905 to 1997.
Search California Death Index 1905-1939 for early Siskiyou County records. For later years, use California Death Index 1940-1997. Both are free. They show name, date of death, age, and county for each entry. These indexes help you confirm details before ordering from the county.
Older Siskiyou County Death Records
Siskiyou County has death records going back many decades. California started statewide death registration on July 1, 1905. Before that, counties kept their own records if they kept any. Some Siskiyou County records from the 1800s may exist. Check with the recorder division to find out how far back their records go.
For very old records, the California State Archives in Sacramento may have microfilmed copies. They hold records from 28 California counties. Records over 75 years old are public. Call the archives at (916) 653-6814 to ask about Siskiyou 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 funeral director or person in charge of the body files the certificate with the local registrar. A physician or coroner completes the medical section 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 Siskiyou County Recorder
Siskiyou County Assessor Recorder - Recorder Division
Yreka, CA
Visit the county website for current contact information and office hours.
Nearby Counties
If the death occurred outside Siskiyou County, contact the county where it happened. Each county only has records for deaths within its borders.