SERVICE

Get a death certificate for someone who died in the last 3 years

Death certificates are available in-person, and by mail.

What to know

Cost

$24

per copy

Time

30 minutes on average

What to do

Go to the Office of Vital Records at City Hall, Office of the County Clerk, Room 160, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102

Get a death certificate in person

Go to the Office of Vital Records located in the Office of the County Clerk at City Hall.

Apply to get a death certificate in person. The death certificate must be for someone:

  • Who died less than 3 years ago in San Francisco

The person applying must bring an unexpired government-issued photo ID. We will accept IDs from foreign governments.

Payment methods: Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover, personal check, money order, cashier's check or cash.

We charge for every search, so you will pay the fee even if we cannot find the record.

To save time, please bring a completed application.

1. Get a death certificate by mail

Download the application. Fill out the form.

2. Get the statement notarized

Take your completed form to a notary public and have it notarized. 

You don’t need to have your application notarized for an Informational Copy; however, your certificate will have “Informational: Not a valid document to establish identity” printed on the document.

3. Mail the application

You must include:

  • Your completed application
  • Notarized sworn statement
  • Prepaid and addressed return envelope (optional)
  • A money order, cashier's check or personal check for $24 per copy

Mail to:

San Francisco Department of Public Health
Office of Vital Records
101 Grove Street, Room 105
San Francisco, CA 94102

You should get the death certificate in 5 to 10 business days.

If you need your certificate quickly, please provide a pre-paid self-addressed express envelope (USPS, UPS or FedEx). 

Special cases

Get a death certificate for someone else

You can also apply for a Certified Authorized Copy of a death certificate if you:

  • Have a certified court order
  • Have a valid Power of Attorney document
  • Are an authorized attorney (with supporting documents)
  • Are a licensed adoption agency (with an order of relinquishment)
  • Work for another government agency (with work ID and a letter from a supervisor authorizing your request)
     

Correcting a death certificate

Correcting or ammending a death certificate happens at the state level. Go to the California Department of Public Health page for more information.

Who can get a death certificate

You can apply for a Certified Authorized Copy of a death certificate for:

  • Your spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, child, sibling, or state-registered domestic partner

Anyone can request an informational copy of a death certificate.

Contact us

Address

Office of Vital Records101 Grove Street
Room 105
San Francisco, CA 94102
Get directions

Mon to Fri, 8 am to 4 pm

Closed on public holidays.

Phone

Office of Vital Records415-554-2700