Tehama County Death Certificates
Tehama County Clerk and Recorder in Red Bluff maintains death certificates for the county. The office handles all vital records requests including death, birth, and marriage certificates. You can obtain copies by visiting in person, mailing a request, or using approved online vendors. The fee is set by California state law and covers one certified copy plus the search. Death certificates contain important information including the name of the deceased, date and place of death, cause of death, and other vital statistics. These records are used for legal matters, insurance claims, and genealogy research. Tehama County only issues certificates for deaths that occurred within county boundaries.
Tehama County Vital Records
Tehama County Clerk and Recorder
The Tehama County Clerk and Recorder office is in Red Bluff. This office handles all vital records for the county. Staff can answer questions about ordering copies and what information you need to provide. The office serves the entire county from this one location in the county seat.
Visit the Tehama County vital records page for information on birth and death certificates. This page explains fees, processing times, and how to submit a request. Forms and instructions are available for download.
When you visit in person, bring a government issued photo ID. You need the full name of the deceased and the date of death or at least the year. More information helps staff locate the right record. The office accepts cash, checks, and money orders. Make checks payable to Tehama County Clerk and Recorder.
For mail orders, download the application form from the county website. Fill it out completely and mail it with your payment. Include your contact information and state whether you want an authorized copy or informational copy. If requesting an authorized copy, include a notarized sworn statement with your application.
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 purposes. You need this type to settle estates, claim insurance benefits, notify Social Security, or handle other official matters. 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 the legal representative 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. 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 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 business. The fee is $26 for either type.
Death Certificate Costs
Tehama County charges $26 per certified copy of a death certificate. This is the standard fee set by California state law. 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. This is standard practice across all California counties.
Multiple copies ordered at the same time each cost $26. There is no discount for ordering several copies. 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 most affordable option if you can wait for standard processing.
Records for Recent Deaths
Death certificates are not available immediately 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 clerk and recorder office about four to six weeks after the date of death.
If you need a certificate for a very recent death, call the office first. Ask if the record has been filed yet. If not, staff can tell you when to check back. Ordering before the record is ready results in a Certificate of No Public Record. You still pay the fee even though no record was 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 clerk and recorder for long term storage and public access. If the clerk does not have the record yet, they can direct you to the health department.
Free California Death 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 Tehama 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 Tehama County Death Records
Tehama County has death records going back many years. California started statewide death registration on July 1, 1905. Before that, counties kept their own records if they kept any. Some Tehama County records from the 1800s may exist. Check with the clerk and recorder office 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 Tehama County holdings. Local historical societies and libraries may also have obituary collections from old newspapers.
State Death Certificate Laws
California 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 Tehama County Clerk and Recorder
Tehama County Clerk and Recorder
Red Bluff, CA
Visit the county website for current contact information, office hours, and mailing address.
Nearby Counties
If the death occurred outside Tehama County, contact the county where it happened. Each county only has records for deaths within its borders.