Announcement:

In accordance with the County of San Diego Health Officer Order regarding COVID-19, starting Monday March 23, 2020, we are adapting how all services are provided until further notice.

Vital Records requests available ONLINE or by MAIL:

• Birth Certificates
• Death Certificates

Vital Records requests available by MAIL only:

• Burial Permits

Other services provided by APPOINTMENT only:

• Home Birth Registration
• Medical Marijuana Identification Card

Vital Records phone and E-mail information services will remain available.

• Main line: 619-692-5733
• E-mail Contact:  VRInfo.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov
• Mailing Address: HHSA Office of Vital Records, 3851 Rosecrans Street, MS P529, San Diego CA 92110

For more information from the County of San Diego about the coronavirus disease and real-time updates please visit www.sandiegocounty.gov/coronavirus or sign up for text message updates by texting COSD COVID19 to 468-311.

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Pursuant to California Health & Safety Code 103550, a death certificate is a permanent record of the fact of death for an individual.  It provides important personal information about the decedent and about the circumstances and cause of death. Information from death records serves several important legal and statistical uses.  Upon registration by the local and state registrar, the death certificate becomes the State's legal record of that event and is prima facie evidence in all courts. Death certificates may be obtained in person or by mail. 

Call the office if you have questions at 619-692-5733 - Se habla Español.

There are two types of death certificates available:

1.     Authorized Certified Copy

2.     Informational Certified Copy

The cost for researching a record is NOT refundable if the record is not found.

To Obtain a Death Certificate BY MAIL

For an INFORMATIONAL CERTIFIED COPY of a Death Certificate, you need only to completely fill out the Application for Certified Copy of Death Record. Forward the signed request and payment to the address below.

To request an AUTHORIZED CERTIFIED COPY of a Death Certificate, you need to completely fill out the Application for Certified Copy of Death Record. Be sure to indicate in which category you qualify as an authorized person.  You will also need to complete the Sworn Statement and Certificate of Acknowledgement. Be sure to sign the Sworn Statement in front of a Notary Public. We CANNOT process your request without this form.

NOTE: If you are requesting CERTIFIED COPIES, of more than one (1) individual, you may list their names in the box provided on the Sworn Statement and have just one (1) acknowledgement for all individuals. However, you MUST have a separate Application for Certified Copy of Death Record for each individual.

The cost for either copy is $21.00. Payment may be check, money order, or cashier's check made payable to: County of San Diego Public Health Services. DO NOT SEND CASH.

To Obtain a Death Certificate Online Through VitalChek

To request and purchase a death certificate online, please visit the VitalChek website. *VitalChek is a third party website.

1.     Select Death Certificate

2.     Complete the online application

3.     Pay fees by credit/debit card or electronic check

• Certificate fee - $21 per copy for death certificate
• VitalChek processing fee $12.95
• Shipping fee (no cost for regular mail or $19 for Express UPS overnight delivery)

For more information, please visit the VitalChek website or call 1-800-610-2260.