Frequently Asked Questions About Death Certificates

Expand All | Collapse All

• How do I get a permit of disposition for burial if the death occurred on a weekend and the local registrar (office) is closed?
  1. The family, or person(s) having the right to control disposition, must contact a funeral home to complete a death certificate.
  2. The funeral home will get the physician’s certification for the death record and create a permit of disposition.
  3. Then, the funeral home will make an appointment with the Medical Examiner’s Office to file the death record and disposition permit.
     • The Medical Examiner’s Office is open on weekends, after hours, and on holidays when the local registrar’s office is closed.
     • Please note that after hours service is not required by law.
       • If a burial permit is issued outside of regular office hours, a fee is paid to the local registrar the next business day.
       • The death certificate is then sent to the local registrar the next business day to be registered. Once the death certificate is registered, a copy of the certificate can be issued.
• What are the steps to order a certified copy of a death record through the Office of Vital Records and Statistics (OVRS)?

  Request a certified copy of a death record of anyone who died in San Diego within the last 2 years through OVRS:

  • In-person,
  • Online, or
  • By mail.

  For deaths that occurred more than 2 years ago, contact the San Diego Recorder/Clerk.

  Complete the Application for a Death Certificate, Disposition of Human Remains, or Certification of No Public Record form

• Who may order a certified copy of a death record?

  Per California law, only Authorized Individuals with a notarized Sworn Statement may be issued an Authorized Certified Copy. All other individuals are issued an Informational Certified Copy.

• Do I automatically receive a free copy of a decedent's death record?

  No – State law requires a fee for all certified copies or record searches.

  • The only exception is if of a copy is needed for the Veteran's Administration, then the copy is free and sent directly to their office.
• How much does a certified copy of a death record cost?

  A certified copy, or a record search, of a death certificate costs $24.00.

  • This fee is set by the State.
  • The cost for finding a record is not refundable if the record is not found.

  Ways to pay include:

  • In-Person: Debit card, credit card, tap to pay; check, or money order, payable to County of San Diego Public Health Services.
  • Online: Debit card, credit card, or electronic check.
  • By Mail: Check, or money order, payable to County of San Diego Public Health Services.
    • Cash is not accepted.

Expand All | Collapse All

• How do I correct an error, or add information, on a death certificate?

  Call our office at (619) 692-5733. We will need to look at your situation to determine the best course of action and which form(s) you may need.

• What are the steps to change the location of the remains of a family member? For example, their remains are currently at my home, and I would like to move them to Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.

  If a person died in California, and you want to change the place where the body will be buried or stored from what is written on the death certificate, submit the following two forms:

  1. Permit for Disposition of Human Remains (Burial Permit), and,
  2. Application for a Death Certificate.

  For a copy of the form(s) and instructions:

  • Visit our office at 5530 Overland Avenue, Suite 170, San Diego, CA 92123 , or
  • Call (619) 692-5733.

  If the remains were handled through a local mortuary, the Funeral Director can either submit the paperwork for you or supply you with the forms.

• How long does it take to change a death record by the State after it has been registered?

  It can take up to 10 - 11 weeks for the State Office of Vital Records to process an amended record. It is very important to be sure all the information given to the Funeral Director is accurate due to the time involved to process a correction at the State level.

Expand All | Collapse All

• What do I need to ship a body out of the country?

  You will need a Permit for Disposition of Human Remains (Burial Permit) issued by the local registrar’s office when shipping a body or ashes out of the country.  

• What are the steps to take for a religious burial?
  1. The person having the right to control the disposition should contact a funeral home to assist with the death registration process.
  2. The funeral home will gather the required information and documentation and guide you through the process for burial.
     
• When is a Permit for Disposition of Human Remains (Burial Permit) needed?

  Each death that occurs within the State of California must be registered prior to disposition. A Permit for Disposition of Human Remains (Burial Permit) must be issued for each death at the time of registration for burial or cremation.

  • A burial permit is needed for:
    • Shipping the remains out of the state or country.
    • Scattering cremains on land or at sea.
    • Deeming the remains for scientific use.
    • Shipping the remains into the State of California.
    • When disinterment is required for moving the remains to another location other than a new location within the same cemetery.
    • When remains are temporarily stored.
  • If cremated remains are divided for placement at more than one location, a Burial Permit must be issued for each location.
• What happens if at the time of registration, my family has not made a decision on the location of final disposition?

  If the final resting place for the body hasn’t been decided yet, the body must be kept in temporary storage. A Burial Permit is still required, even if the body is temporarily stored at a hospital, funeral home, Public Administrator’s building, or the Medical Examiner’s Office.