Solano County Death Certificate Lookup

Solano County issues vital records for deaths that occurred in the county since 1845. The County Recorder office in Fairfield handles all death certificate requests. Birth and death certificates are usually available about four weeks after the event. You can order in person, by mail, or online. Call the office at 707-784-6294 to verify that a record is available before you visit. State law requires the county to issue two different types of certified copies to requesters. One is an authorized copy for eligible family members and others. The other is an informational copy for everyone else. If the record is not located, the fee is still retained by the agency under Health and Safety Code Section 103650.

Solano County Recorder Office

The County Recorder office is at 675 Texas Street, Suite 2700, Fairfield, CA 94533. This is the main location for all vital records in Solano County. The Recorder phone number is 707-784-6290. For vital records questions, call the Vital Records line at 707-784-6294. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The office is closed on weekends and county holidays.

Staff can help you figure out what type of copy you need. They can tell you if a death record is on file. They do not give out information from the certificate over the phone, but they can confirm if they have the record in their system. Always call ahead to verify a record is available before you visit, especially for very recent deaths.

The county website has a vital records section with details about birth, death, and marriage records. This page explains the fees, the request process, and what documents you need. It also lists the two types of certified copies the county issues under state law.

Solano County has one of the oldest vital records collections in California. Records go back to 1845. That is before California became a state. These early records may be on microfilm or in archived files. If you need a very old death certificate, ask the clerk how long it will take to retrieve it. Most records from recent decades are kept on-site and can be copied quickly.

Birth and death certificates become available about four weeks after the event. The funeral home or hospital files the initial paperwork with the county health department. After processing, the record is sent to the County Recorder for permanent storage and public access. If you need a certificate for a very recent death, call the Vital Records line first to see if it has been filed yet.

Note: Solano County can only issue death records for deaths that occurred within the county.

Authorized and Informational Copies

State law requires Solano County to issue two different types of certified copies. The first is an authorized copy. This goes to people who are entitled to it under California Health and Safety Code Section 103526. The second is an informational copy. This goes to everyone else who is not on the authorized list.

Authorized persons include immediate family members. This means a spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the deceased. Domestic partners are also authorized. So are attorneys representing the estate or the deceased person. Funeral directors who handled the remains can request authorized copies. Government agencies and law enforcement can get them for official purposes.

To prove you are authorized, you must submit a notarized sworn statement. This statement declares under penalty of perjury that you are entitled to receive the record. Sign it in front of a notary public. The notary will stamp and sign it. Attach this to your application. Without it, you will get an informational copy instead of an authorized copy.

An informational copy has all the same data as an authorized copy. The difference is a watermark across the face. It says the copy is informational and cannot be used to establish identity. Banks, insurance companies, Social Security, and most legal agencies will not accept informational copies. They need the authorized version for legal and financial transactions.

If you do not qualify as an authorized person, you can still get an informational copy. You do not need to prove a relationship or provide a notarized statement. The fee is the same. Informational copies are useful for genealogy, family history research, and personal records. They just cannot be used for legal purposes.

Steps to Request a Death Certificate

First, gather information about the deceased. You need the full name and the date or approximate year of death. Knowing the city or location where the death occurred helps. If you have the file number or certificate number, include that. It makes the search faster. If you are requesting an authorized copy, prepare your notarized sworn statement ahead of time.

Download the application form from the county website or pick one up at the Recorder office. Fill it out completely. Include your name, mailing address, phone number, and your relationship to the deceased. Say how many copies you want. Most people order two or three because agencies keep the copy and do not return it.

For in-person service, visit the office at 675 Texas Street in Fairfield during business hours. Bring a photo ID and your notarized statement if you need an authorized copy. Staff will search the records and print a certified copy. If the record is on-site, you can get it while you wait. Pay by cash, check, or money order.

For mail requests, send the completed application, payment, and notarized statement if needed. Use a check or money order made out to Solano County Recorder. Do not send cash. Mail everything to County Recorder, 675 Texas Street, Suite 2700, Fairfield, CA 94533. Processing takes two to four weeks for most mail orders. They will mail the certificate to the address on your application.

You can also order online through a third-party vendor. The county website may link to an authorized online service. Online orders usually have an extra service charge of about $7 on top of the state fee. Expedited shipping costs more. Check the county website for the current online ordering option and fees.

Death Certificate Fees and Payment

Solano County charges $28 for each death certificate. This is slightly higher than the state fee of $26. The fee covers the cost of searching the records and issuing one certified copy. If the county searches and does not find a record, they keep the fee. This is required by Health and Safety Code Section 103650. You will get a statement saying no record was found instead of a certificate.

If you order online through an authorized vendor, add their service charge. The online service fee is usually about $7. This is on top of the $28 county fee. Expedited shipping costs more. Check the online ordering system for current fees before you place your order.

Each additional copy of the same record costs $28. There is no discount for ordering multiple copies at once. If you need five copies, you pay $140 total. Many people order several copies because they need to give them to different agencies. Banks, insurance companies, and government offices all require their own certified copy. They do not return it after they review it.

You can pay by cash, check, or money order in person. For mail orders, use a check or money order. Do not send cash through the mail. Make checks payable to Solano County Recorder. Some counties accept credit cards, but Solano County does not list credit cards as a payment option on their website. Call ahead if you want to pay by card to confirm they accept it.

Cities and Towns in Solano County

Solano County includes several cities and towns. Major cities include Vallejo, Fairfield, Vacaville, Suisun City, Benicia, Dixon, and Rio Vista. Unincorporated areas include places like Green Valley, Elmira, and Hartley. The County Recorder in Fairfield handles death certificates for all of these locations.

No city in Solano County has its own vital records office. All requests must go through the county. If a death occurred anywhere in Solano County, the County Recorder has the record. The city or town where the death happened will be listed on the certificate, but you cannot get it from the city directly.

Note: Always confirm the county of death before ordering to avoid wasted fees.

Nearby County Death Records

Solano County is located in the northern Bay Area and Sacramento Valley region. Napa County is to the west. Yolo County is to the north and east. Sacramento County is to the northeast. Contra Costa County is to the south. Marin County is to the southwest across the Carquinez Strait. If the death did not happen in Solano County, contact the correct county office. Each county can only issue records for deaths within that county.