San Bernardino County Death Certificate: How to Order Certified Copies Through the Recorder
Need a San Bernardino County death certificate? Certified death records are issued through the county’s Recorder-Clerk and Department of Public Health Vital Statistics Registration Office, depending on when the death occurred.
This guide explains which office holds the record, how to order an authorized or informational certified copy, the notarized sworn-statement requirements, current 2026 fees, mail and online options, and the office addresses in San Bernardino.
Where Should You Order a San Bernardino County Death Certificate?
The date of death is the first factor to check. San Bernardino County Public Health holds death records for the most recent 24 months. Older records are handled through the Recorder-Clerk. The death must have occurred in San Bernardino County for the county offices to issue the corresponding record.
Death Within the Last 24 Months
Start with: San Bernardino County Department of Public Health — Vital Statistics Registration Office (VSRO).
Address:
340 N. Mountain View Avenue
San Bernardino, CA 92415
Phone: 909-381-8990
The office handles recent death registrations and provides certified copies of records within its 24-month retention period.
Request a Recent Certificate ↗Death More Than 24 Months Ago
Start with: San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk / Hall of Records.
Address:
222 W. Hospitality Lane, 1st Floor
San Bernardino, CA 92415
Phone: 855-732-2575
Use the Recorder-Clerk’s vital-record application process for older registered deaths, certified copies and mail or online orders.
Open Recorder Vital Records ↗Authorized Certified Copy vs. Informational Certified Copy
California offers two types of certified death-certificate copies. Both are certified copies of an official record, but they have different permitted uses and eligibility requirements.
Authorized Certified Copy
An authorized certified copy is available only to people or agencies who qualify under California law.
It may be needed for official matters such as:
- Administering an estate.
- Handling certain insurance claims.
- Completing eligible financial or benefit transactions.
- Other purposes requiring a certified record without the informational restriction.
Requirement: A declaration of eligibility and a sworn statement are required. Notarization rules depend on the method used to submit the request.
Informational Certified Copy
An informational copy is available when the applicant does not qualify for an authorized copy.
It includes the legend:
“INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY.”
An informational copy may be appropriate for permitted personal or historical research, but it should not be used when an agency requires an authorized certified copy.
Requirement: Complete the applicable application. A notarized sworn statement is not required for an informational copy.
Who Can Obtain an Authorized Death Certificate?
Authorized-copy eligibility is defined by California law. The relationship between the requester and the deceased person determines whether an authorized certificate may be issued.
Qualifying Family Members
Eligible relationships generally include a spouse or domestic partner, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild or sibling, as described in the California authorization rules.
Legal Representatives
Attorneys representing the deceased person’s estate and persons legally authorized by a court or statute to act for the estate may qualify. Supporting documentation can be required.
Other Authorized Requesters
Qualifying government or law-enforcement representatives, persons entitled by court order, certain funeral directors and other legally authorized parties may qualify under statutory conditions.
How to Request a San Bernardino County Death Certificate
Use the following sequence before applying by mail, in person or online. It helps avoid incorrect applications, missing sworn statements and payments sent to the wrong office.
Confirm Where the Death Occurred
Verify that the death occurred in San Bernardino County, California. If it occurred in another county or state, request the certificate from the appropriate registering jurisdiction.
Choose the Correct Records Office
For a death within the last 24 months, start with Public Health Vital Statistics. For older deaths, use the Recorder-Clerk. If the death happened recently and the Recorder does not have the record, contact Vital Statistics.
Select Authorized or Informational Copy
Determine whether you qualify for an authorized certified copy. If not, an informational certified copy may be available, but confirm that it will satisfy your intended purpose.
Gather the Certificate Information
Prepare the deceased person’s full name, date of death, city or place of death if known, your own identifying and mailing information, relationship to the deceased, and number of copies requested.
Complete the Application and Sworn Statement
Use the correct application for the office handling your record. For an authorized mailed request, include the required notarized sworn statement. At the Public Health office, eligible walk-in applicants sign the sworn statement in the presence of registrar staff.
Choose an Approved Ordering Method
Submit through the responsible office’s in-person, mail or official online process. The Recorder-Clerk encourages appointments and asks applicants to complete its online application before an in-person appointment.
Pay the Fee and Keep the Order Details
Pay the applicable $26-per-copy fee plus any verified mailing, payment-processing or online-vendor charges. Retain your order reference and follow up with the office that received the request.
Order a Death Certificate In Person, by Mail or Online
In Person
Recent records: The Public Health Vital Statistics office accepts walk-ins and states that no appointment is required.
Older records: The Recorder-Clerk strongly encourages appointments and prioritizes scheduled visitors.
For the Recorder, complete the county’s online application first and retain the order number for your appointment.
Recorder In-Person Instructions ↗By Mail
Download the correct office’s mail application, fill it out and include payment.
Authorized copy: Include the notarized sworn statement required for a mailed request.
Informational copy: A notarized sworn statement is not required.
Make sure the check or money order uses the payee instructed by the office receiving your application.
Public Health Mail Instructions ↗Online
The Recorder-Clerk links to Vitals Access for online vital-record ordering.
Public Health also links to its own online certificate-purchase system for recent records.
Online service fees are additional, and identity verification or supporting documentation may be required.
The Recorder warns that online processing may take approximately 2–3 weeks, depending on the request.
Find Official Online Ordering ↗Where to Mail a San Bernardino County Death Certificate Application
Public Health — Recent Deaths
Mail to:
Department of Public Health
340 N. Mt. View Avenue
San Bernardino, CA 92415-0038
Payment: Personal check or accepted money order.
Payable to: County of San Bernardino.
Do not mail cash.
Use this department’s application for death records within its 24-month record period.
Recorder-Clerk — Older Deaths
Mail to:
San Bernardino County
Recorder-Clerk / Vital Records
222 W. Hospitality Lane, 1st Floor
San Bernardino, CA 92415-0022
Payment: Follow the Recorder-Clerk’s current mail-order check or money-order instructions.
Mailing charge: Standard or priority mailing may add the posted county mailing fee.
Use the Recorder’s application for the older certificate record.
San Bernardino County Death Certificate Fees
The San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk and Public Health Vital Statistics both list $26 per death certificate for 2026. Payment-processing and delivery fees depend on which office and ordering method you use.
| Service | Published fee | Important notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certified death certificate | $26 per copy | Recorder-Clerk and Public Health’s published 2026 amount. |
| Recorder USPS Standard Mail | $3.50 per order | Recorder mailing fee effective July 1, 2026. |
| Recorder USPS Priority Mail | $29 per order | Recorder mailing fee effective July 1, 2026. |
| Recorder card payment surcharge | 3.5% | Applies to card payments at the Recorder-Clerk. Accepted payment methods are restricted. |
| Public Health credit/mobile-wallet fee | 2.25% ($1.95 minimum) | Applies to specified in-person credit, Apple Pay and Google Pay transactions at Public Health. |
| Public Health PIN debit fee | $3.95 | Published in-person PIN debit transaction fee. |
| Online vendor order | $26 per copy + service charges | Additional vendor charges apply. Review the actual order total before submitting payment. |
| Fetal death certificate | $23 | Separate category through Public Health; use the county’s designated fetal-death application instructions. |
Recorder-Clerk Certificate Cost Estimator
This calculator estimates Recorder-Clerk orders only. It does not estimate Public Health counter fees or third-party online ordering charges.
Assumptions: $26 per certificate, Recorder-Clerk mailing charges of $3.50 or $29 per order, or a 3.5% card surcharge for an in-person card transaction. Actual mail-payment instructions, acceptance requirements and final totals must be confirmed through the county.
San Bernardino County Death Certificate Offices
Use the office that holds the death record. The Recorder-Clerk and Public Health Vital Statistics are different departments at different addresses.
1. San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk — Hall of Records
Department: Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk
Address:
222 W. Hospitality Lane
1st Floor
San Bernardino, CA 92415
Phone: 909-387-8306
Toll-free: 855-732-2575
Published hours: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM on regular business days.
Services: Older death certificates, other vital records and recorded-document services.
Appointments: Strongly encouraged and prioritized.
Get Recorder Directions ↗2. Public Health Vital Statistics Registration Office
Department: San Bernardino County Department of Public Health
Address:
340 N. Mountain View Avenue
San Bernardino, CA 92415
Phone: 909-381-8990
Email: VS@dph.sbcounty.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.
Appointments: The department states that walk-ins are accepted without an appointment.
Services: Death registrations and certificates for events in the last 24 months.
Get Public Health Directions ↗View Hesperia Recorder-Clerk Office ↗
Common San Bernardino Death Certificate Application Problems
| Problem | Likely issue | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Recorder cannot locate a recent death | The Recorder may not have received the certificate yet. | Contact Public Health Vital Statistics. The Recorder says it generally receives records 30–60 days after death. |
| Public Health cannot issue an older certificate | The death is outside its 24-month record period. | Use the Recorder-Clerk’s vital-record service. |
| Authorized application is incomplete | The sworn statement, notarization or eligibility information may be missing. | Follow the specific instructions for mailed, in-person or online authorized-copy requests. |
| Informational copy is not accepted | The receiving organization requires an authorized certified copy. | Confirm eligibility and request the correct certificate type. |
| Application is sent to the wrong county | The deceased lived locally but died elsewhere. | Order from the registering county or California Department of Public Health. |
| Mail request is delayed | Missing fee, outdated application, incorrect address or omitted notarized statement. | Download the current form and follow the chosen office’s latest mailing checklist. |
| Additional online charges appear | Vendor service, verification or delivery fees may apply. | Review the complete order total before payment. Use links from the official county pages. |
What If San Bernardino County Does Not Hold the Death Record?
The California Department of Public Health – Vital Records maintains California death records dating back to July 1905. It is an alternative source for eligible California death-certificate requests, especially when you are not sure which county registered the event.
California Department of Public Health – Vital Records
Statewide mail address:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
2026 death-certificate fee: $26 per copy.
Mail payment: Check or money order payable to CDPH-VR.
Application: VS 112, Application for Certified Copy of Death Record. Authorized-copy applications require the appropriate notarized sworn statement when sent by mail.
State processing times can differ from county timelines. Review the department’s current instructions before mailing an application.
Open California Death Records Instructions ↗Official San Bernardino County Death Certificate Forms and Links
The following resources cover the actual ordering process, eligibility, application forms, fees and service locations. Use these instead of websites that imply all death certificates are freely searchable online.
1. Recorder-Clerk Vital Records — Main Application Page
Best for older death records, Recorder mail requests, in-person applications and the official online Vitals Access ordering route.
Open Official Recorder Vital Records ↗- Choose mail, in-person or online ordering.
- Download the corresponding application or begin the county’s online application.
- Confirm the $26 certificate fee and delivery/payment charges.
- Follow the required identity and sworn-statement steps.
2. Public Health — Request a Certificate
Best for deaths registered within the preceding 24 months, including recent deaths not yet available through the Recorder.
Open Public Health Request Page ↗- Review the 24-month eligibility period.
- Open the county’s death-certificate application and current ordering choices.
- Follow in-person sworn-statement or mailed notarization requirements.
- Use the Public Health payment and mailing instructions.
3. County Eligibility Rules for Certified Copies
Explains authorized requesters and the distinction between authorized and informational certificates.
Check Certified Copy Eligibility ↗- Find the category describing your relationship to the deceased.
- Identify whether supporting authorization documents are needed.
- Review the sworn-statement requirement.
- Choose the authorized or informational copy appropriately.
4. Recorder-Clerk Forms and Fee Schedule
Official forms library with vital-record applications in English and Spanish, as well as the Recorder’s current fee resources.
Open Recorder Forms & Fees ↗- Find the mail-in Birth, Death and Marriage Certificate Application.
- Download the current version rather than an older saved copy.
- Review any fees or mailing surcharges.
- Complete the required declaration and certification sections.
5. Recorder-Clerk Hall of Records Location
Official location information for the Recorder office at 222 W. Hospitality Lane.
View Hall of Records Office ↗- Confirm the address and current weekday hours.
- Check available vital-record services.
- Complete the online application before an appointment if required.
- Bring the order number and documents requested by the county.
6. California Authorized vs. Informational Copy Rules
California Department of Public Health explanation of which copies can be issued and why sworn statements matter.
Open State Eligibility Guidance ↗- Compare authorized and informational-copy uses.
- Read the authorized-person eligibility categories.
- Follow the sworn-statement and notarization rules.
- Use the state application if the statewide vital-records office is more appropriate.
Choose the Correct Next Step
| Your Situation | Best Action | Correct Source |
|---|---|---|
| A death occurred recently in San Bernardino County. | Contact the Vital Statistics Registration Office to confirm registration and availability. | County Public Health |
| The death occurred more than 24 months ago. | Use the Recorder-Clerk’s death-certificate application. | County Recorder-Clerk |
| You need a certificate for an insurance or estate matter. | Determine whether an authorized certified copy is required and whether you qualify. | County issuing office / receiving organization |
| You are not an authorized requester. | Review the informational-copy rules and whether the intended purpose permits that type. | County or CDPH Vital Records |
| You are ordering by mail. | Use the correct address, current form, payment and notarized sworn statement when required. | Office holding the record |
| The person lived in San Bernardino County but died elsewhere. | Request the certificate from the jurisdiction where the death occurred or through California’s statewide office if applicable. | Other county / CDPH |
| You need to correct information on a death certificate. | Review California vital-record amendment procedures; do not submit a property-record correction form. | Public Health / CDPH |
| You need to transfer a deceased person’s real estate. | Determine the appropriate probate or title procedure separately from obtaining the death certificate. | Attorney, court or Recorder as appropriate |
San Bernardino County Death Certificate FAQs
Where do I get a death certificate for a recent death in San Bernardino County?
For a death that occurred within the last 24 months, start with the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health Vital Statistics Registration Office at 340 N. Mountain View Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92415. Call 909-381-8990.
Where do I request an older San Bernardino County death certificate?
For deaths more than 24 months ago, contact the San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk at 222 W. Hospitality Lane, 1st Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415. The toll-free phone number is 855-732-2575.
How much is a San Bernardino County death certificate in 2026?
The county’s published 2026 death-certificate fee is $26 per copy. Mailing, in-person card processing and online vendor fees may be additional depending on the ordering method.
Can I get a San Bernardino County death certificate if the person died in another county?
San Bernardino County offices issue death records for events registered in San Bernardino County. If the death occurred elsewhere, request the certificate from the registering county or from California Department of Public Health when applicable.
Who can request an authorized certified death certificate?
California law allows qualifying family members, legal representatives, certain government officials, court-authorized persons and other eligible parties to request an authorized certified copy. Eligibility depends on the statutory category and may require supporting documentation.
What is an informational death certificate?
An informational certified copy contains the county’s required legend stating that it is not valid to establish identity. It can be requested by people who do not qualify for an authorized copy, but it may not be accepted for insurance or other purposes requiring an authorized certificate.
Does a death certificate application need to be notarized?
For an authorized certified copy requested by mail, a notarized sworn statement is required. At the Public Health office, eligible in-person applicants sign the statement before registrar staff. Informational-copy requests do not require a notarized sworn statement.
Can I order a San Bernardino County death certificate online?
Yes. The Recorder-Clerk provides an online Vitals Access ordering route, and County Public Health links to online certificate purchasing for recent records. Additional vendor service charges and identity-verification requirements may apply.
What address should I use to mail a death certificate request?
For recent records, Public Health lists 340 N. Mt. View Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0038. For Recorder-Clerk requests, use 222 W. Hospitality Lane, 1st Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0022. Follow the chosen office’s application and payment instructions.
How soon after death will the Recorder have the death certificate?
The Recorder-Clerk states that it generally receives San Bernardino County death certificates 30–60 days after the event. For a newly registered death, contact the Public Health Vital Statistics Registration Office rather than assuming the Recorder already has the record.
About This Independent Death Certificate Guide
This guide uses published information from the San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk, Department of Public Health Vital Statistics Registration Office and California Department of Public Health. The 2026 fee information distinguishes the Recorder’s payment rules from those of the Public Health office.
This is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with San Bernardino County government, the Recorder-Clerk, the Vital Statistics Registration Office or the California Department of Public Health.
Death-certificate availability, eligibility, notarization, processing times, mailing costs and service fees can change. Always review the responsible office’s current instructions before submitting identity documents, sworn statements or payment.
This guide is not legal advice, probate advice or an official vital-record ordering service. It does not collect or process death-certificate applications.