Tulare County Obituary Records

Tulare County death certificates and obituaries are available through the Assessor Clerk Recorder office in Visalia. The office maintains death records for all deaths that occurred within Tulare County from the 1800s to present. You can order certified copies in person at the office, by mail, or through online services. Each death certificate costs $26 as of January 1, 2026. Recent deaths may not be available immediately because the funeral director and medical certifier must complete and file the death certificate first, a process that typically takes several weeks. Processing times for requests vary from same day service for in person orders of recent records to two to three weeks for mail orders, with older archived records potentially taking longer as staff must retrieve them from storage facilities.

Tulare County Vital Records

The Tulare County Assessor Clerk Recorder office handles vital records for the county. Death certificates are part of their vital records services. The office keeps death records dating back to the late 1800s when California counties began formal record keeping. They issue certified copies to people who qualify for authorized copies and informational copies to anyone who requests them.

The office is located in Visalia, the county seat. Staff maintain both recent and historical death records. Recent records from the past few decades are typically in digital format and easy to search. Older records from the 1800s and early 1900s may be on microfilm or stored in archives. These can take extra time to locate and retrieve but are still available for public request.

Contact the office with questions about death records. Staff can tell you if they have the record you need and explain what documents you must submit. They can also clarify the difference between authorized and informational copies so you order the right type for your situation. Having the correct information before you order saves time and helps ensure a successful search.

Request a Death Certificate

To request a Tulare County death certificate, gather basic information first. You need the full name of the deceased as it appears on the death record. Provide the date of death if you know it. If not, give an approximate year or decade. State that the death occurred in Tulare County. If you are not sure of the county, you may need to check with neighboring counties since each county only has its own records.

Complete a death certificate application form. You can get one from the county website or at the office counter. The form asks for your contact details and your relationship to the deceased. It also asks whether you want an authorized copy or an informational copy. Choose based on how you plan to use the certificate.

An authorized copy is a full legal document. You can use it for official business like settling estates, claiming insurance, or closing accounts. To get one, you must be an authorized person under California law. Immediate family members qualify, including a spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild. Domestic partners have the same rights as spouses. Attorneys representing the estate and funeral directors can also get authorized copies. Submit a notarized sworn statement proving your relationship with your request.

An informational copy shows the same information but has a watermark. The watermark states the copy is not valid to establish identity. Anyone can get an informational copy without proving a relationship. No notarized statement is needed. This type works for genealogy research and personal records. Most legal matters require an authorized copy. If you are not sure which type you need, ask the agency requesting the death certificate before you order.

Visit the Office in Visalia

You can order death certificates in person at the Tulare County office in Visalia. Bring a photo ID and information about the deceased. Staff at the counter help you fill out an application form. You pay when you submit your request. The office accepts cash, checks, and credit cards for in person payments.

If you need an authorized copy, you can complete a sworn statement at the counter. Staff provide the form. You sign it under penalty of perjury in front of them. State your relationship to the deceased. The staff member witnesses your signature and serves as the official witness. No separate notary is required for in person sworn statements. This saves time compared to getting a document notarized before you visit.

Processing time for in person requests depends on the age of the record. Recent deaths from the past few decades may be in the computer system. Staff can search and print these certificates while you wait in many cases. Older records may be on microfilm or stored offsite. These can take several days to locate. Staff will tell you how long to expect when you place your order. They can mail your certificate to you if it is not ready same day.

Mail in Your Request

Send mail requests to the Tulare County Assessor Clerk Recorder office in Visalia. Include a completed application form, payment, and a notarized sworn statement if you want an authorized copy. Processing time for mail orders is typically two to three weeks from when the office receives your envelope. Busy periods may cause longer delays.

Payment must be by check or money order. Make it payable to Tulare County Assessor Clerk Recorder. Do not send cash through the mail. The county cannot be held responsible for lost cash. Write your phone number on the application so staff can contact you if they need more information. Include a return mailing address for delivery of your certificate.

The notarized sworn statement must be completed before you mail it. Take your application to a notary public. Bring your photo ID. Sign the sworn statement section in front of the notary. They verify your identity and witness your signature. Then they stamp and sign the document to certify it. Mail the original notarized statement, not a photocopy. The county needs the original for mail requests.

If staff cannot locate the record, they send you a letter explaining no record was found. They keep your search fee. This can happen if the name is spelled differently, the date is wrong, or the death occurred in a different county. Double check your information before mailing to avoid losing the fee on an unsuccessful search.

Note: Include a self addressed stamped envelope to speed up delivery of your certificate.

Death Certificate Fees

Tulare County charges $26 per death certificate copy. This is the standard California county fee as of January 1, 2026. The fee is the same for authorized copies and informational copies. It covers the cost of searching county records and issuing one certified copy. You pay this base amount whether you order in person, by mail, or online.

If staff cannot find the record you requested, they keep the search fee. There is no refund for unsuccessful searches. This policy is set by California Health and Safety Code Section 103650. Make sure you have accurate information before ordering to avoid losing the fee when no record is found.

Online orders through third party vendors add service fees. These charges cover online processing and credit card handling. Expect to pay about $13 more for service fees on top of the base $26 county fee. Shipping costs extra as well. Standard delivery adds around $7. Expedited shipping options cost more depending on speed. Ordering by mail or in person costs only the $26 base fee with no extra charges.

Order multiple copies at once if you need more than one. Each copy costs the full $26. There is no volume discount. However, ordering several copies in one request saves you the trouble of submitting separate orders later when you need more.

California Death Record Laws

California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 defines who can receive an authorized certified copy of a death record. This law lists specific relationships that qualify. A spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the deceased can get an authorized copy. So can a domestic partner. Attorneys representing the estate qualify. Funeral directors and their employees can get copies while handling disposition of remains. Government agencies with proper authority can also get authorized copies.

The law requires a notarized sworn statement for authorized copy requests. You must sign a document under penalty of perjury stating you are an authorized person. A notary public verifies your identity and witnesses your signature. Then they stamp and sign to certify it. This requirement protects the privacy of deceased persons and helps prevent identity theft and fraud.

Death records are public records in California. Anyone can request an informational copy without proving a relationship. The informational copy has a legend printed across it that limits its use for establishing identity. This allows public access for genealogy and historical research while protecting the deceased and their families from misuse of authorized copies.

Cities in Tulare County

Tulare County includes several cities and towns. None have populations over 100,000, so they do not maintain their own vital records offices. All death certificates for Tulare County cities are handled by the county assessor clerk recorder office in Visalia.

Cities in Tulare County include Visalia, Tulare, Porterville, Dinuba, and Lindsay. Residents of these cities and all other Tulare County locations must contact the county office in Visalia for death records.

Nearby County Offices

If the death occurred outside Tulare County, contact the correct county office. Each California county only maintains records for deaths within its borders.