SERVICE
Get a San Francisco death certificate more than 3 years ago
You can get a copy of a death certificate record for someone who died in San Francisco more than 3 years ago and after 1906.
What to know
Time
The current expected time to receive a death certificate is about 4 to 6 weeks.
What to do
You can apply to get a record of a death certificate for someone who died in San Francisco more than 3 years ago and after 1906.
If you need a death certificate for someone who died in the last 3 years, go to the Department of Public Health Office of Vital Records.
Who can request a death certificate
You can apply to get a Certified Authorized record of a death certificate if you are the deceased person’s:
- Child
- Spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling or state-registered domestic partner
- Surviving next of kin
You can also apply for a certified record of a death certificate if you:
- Are an agent or employee of a funeral house
- Have authorization from a certified court order. In this case, you will be asked to provide the court order.
- Have power of attorney and can show a certified copy of your Power of Attorney document
- Are the executor of the person’s estate, with estate documents to prove it
- Work for another government agency and can show your work ID
Order online from VitalCheck.com
VitalChek is a third-party provider for ordering vital records online.
Order online
This process can take up to 6 weeks.
You can call VitalChek at (800) 708-6733 to check on an order or if you have questions.
Order in person
Go to the Office of the County Clerk
You can apply to get a death certificate in person at the Office of the County Clerk. The death certificate must be for someone:
- who died in San Francisco more than 3 years ago
- who died on or after 1906
The person applying must bring an unexpired government-issued photo ID.
You can pay by cash or credit card. You can also pay with a personal check, money order, or cashier's check, from a US bank and in US dollars.
Order by mail
Fill out the form and sworn statement
Download the PDF and fill out your details.
Get the application notarized
Take your form to a notary public and have it notarized.
You don’t need to have your application notarized for an Informational Copy. Informational copies are certified, but have “Informational: Not a valid document to establish identity” printed on them.
Mail your application
You must include:
- your filled out application
- notarized sworn statement
- payment
You can pay by personal check, money order, or bank check. Make it payable to “SF County Clerk”.
If you are using a personal check, it must:
- have the account holders name printed on it
- be from a bank in the USA
- payable to "SF County Clerk"
You should get your death certificate in 4 to 6 weeks.
1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
Get help
Address
1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
Partner agencies
What to know
Time
The current expected time to receive a death certificate is about 4 to 6 weeks.
What to do
You can apply to get a record of a death certificate for someone who died in San Francisco more than 3 years ago and after 1906.
If you need a death certificate for someone who died in the last 3 years, go to the Department of Public Health Office of Vital Records.
Who can request a death certificate
You can apply to get a Certified Authorized record of a death certificate if you are the deceased person’s:
- Child
- Spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling or state-registered domestic partner
- Surviving next of kin
You can also apply for a certified record of a death certificate if you:
- Are an agent or employee of a funeral house
- Have authorization from a certified court order. In this case, you will be asked to provide the court order.
- Have power of attorney and can show a certified copy of your Power of Attorney document
- Are the executor of the person’s estate, with estate documents to prove it
- Work for another government agency and can show your work ID
Order online from VitalCheck.com
VitalChek is a third-party provider for ordering vital records online.
Order online
This process can take up to 6 weeks.
You can call VitalChek at (800) 708-6733 to check on an order or if you have questions.
Order in person
Go to the Office of the County Clerk
You can apply to get a death certificate in person at the Office of the County Clerk. The death certificate must be for someone:
- who died in San Francisco more than 3 years ago
- who died on or after 1906
The person applying must bring an unexpired government-issued photo ID.
You can pay by cash or credit card. You can also pay with a personal check, money order, or cashier's check, from a US bank and in US dollars.
Order by mail
Fill out the form and sworn statement
Download the PDF and fill out your details.
Get the application notarized
Take your form to a notary public and have it notarized.
You don’t need to have your application notarized for an Informational Copy. Informational copies are certified, but have “Informational: Not a valid document to establish identity” printed on them.
Mail your application
You must include:
- your filled out application
- notarized sworn statement
- payment
You can pay by personal check, money order, or bank check. Make it payable to “SF County Clerk”.
If you are using a personal check, it must:
- have the account holders name printed on it
- be from a bank in the USA
- payable to "SF County Clerk"
You should get your death certificate in 4 to 6 weeks.
1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
Get help
Address
1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102