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
$24per copy (price increase to $26 per copy starting 01/01/2026. All mail orders must be postmarked before December 31, 2025, or new fees will apply.)
Time
30 minutes on average
What to know
Cost
$24per copy (price increase to $26 per copy starting 01/01/2026. All mail orders must be postmarked before December 31, 2025, or new fees will apply.)
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 (Price increase to $26 per copy starting 01/01/2026. All mail orders must be postmarked before December 31, 2025, or new fees will apply.)
Mail to:
San Francisco Department of Public Health
Office of Vital Records, City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Room 160
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.
Partner agencies
Contact us
Address
1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102