Death certificates are usually issued within days of someone passing away, but that may not be the case if the cause of death involves suspicious or accident circumstances. In these situations, the cause of death must be issued by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office at:
4800 Broadway, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95820
As an investigation is required to determine the cause of death, it may be weeks – even months – before an official death certificate can be issued. During this time, family members can contact the coroner’s office at (916) 874-9320 if they have any questions. However, the coroner only issues the cause of death; loved one cannot get a copy of a death certificate from Sacramento County coroner’s office. Therefore, it’s not surprising that so many people have questions about how to get a certified copy of a death certificate from Sacramento County. Keep reading for more information on this topic, along with answers to other important questions, such as:
- Can a family member get a copy of a death certificate from Sacramento County?
- How much does it cost to get a certified copy of a death certificate?
- How long will it take to get a Sacramento County death certificate?
- Is there a way to obtain a free copy of a death certificate from Sacramento County?
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How to Order a Death Certificate from Sacramento County
Certified copies of a death certificate are issued to family members and other authorized individuals, such as lawyers that are representing the estate or family members. To obtain a copy of the death certificate, you will need to visit or contact the Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder’s Office, which has three locations:
- Downtown Sacramento – 600 8th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
- County Service Center East – 5229 Hazel Avenue, Suite B, Fair Oaks, CA 95628
- County Service Center South – 8239 E. Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95828
We recommend that you visit the county’s website at https://ccr.saccounty.gov/ for important instructions, like what to bring, office hours, etc. However, death certificates can also be ordered by mail or online, which you can read about in the upcoming sections.
Ordering a Sacramento County Death Certificate after an Accident by Mail
To order a certified copy of a death certificate by mail, download and complete the application form, which is available at https://ccr.saccounty.gov/
. Make sure to sign the document in front of a notary public since you will need a notary stamp, and then mail the complete forms with a check or money order to:
Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder
5229 Hazel Avenue, Suite B
Fair Oaks, CA 95628
How to Order a Copy of a Death Certificate Online from Sacramento County
Online orders for copies of death certificates in Sacramento County are processed by VitakChek at www.vitalchek.com. This is the most convenient way to purchase a certified copy of a death certificate, but it’s also the most expensive. Aside from the cost of each certificate, there are shipping and processing fees that are charged per order by VitalChek. You’ll want to read about these carefully on the company’s website before placing an order. You must also pay for the order using a credit or debit card from Mastecard, Visa, Discover, or American Express.
What is the Fee to get a Copy of a Death Certificate from Sacramento County?
Each copy of a certified death certificate from Sacramento County is $24.00, along with any processing fees depending on the ordering method. However, the fees are updated from time to time, so it’s a good idea to check the County Vital Statistics website or call them to verify this information. Mail orders can only be paid by check or money order. If you visit one of the three office locations in person, you can pay by cash, money order, check, or credit/debit card. Please note that there is a $2.50 service fee per transaction for debit or credit card purchases.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Death Certificate from Sacramento County?
Getting a certified copy of a death certificate from Sacramento County takes about two weeks in most cases if you are ordering the documents by mail. However, there are unexpected delays that can add days or weeks to the process. Obviously, this is quite a long period of time, so if it’s possible, you should go down to the Sacramento County Vital Records Office at one of their three locations. Most people are able to obtain a certified copy of the death certificate in just 20 minutes using this method.
If you plan on obtaining a copy of a death certificate online, the wait time depends on various factors, including how long it takes VitalChek to receive the certificate from the Sacramento County Clerk’s Office. You can expedite the process if you’re willing to pay extra fees, including express shipping through USPS.
No matter which method you choose, obtaining copies of a death certificate can be stressful when you are left to pick up the pieces after a loved one’s death. Our law firm is here to help you with any questions or concerns during this time, so please give us a call to speak to a lawyer with experience in wrongful death accident cases.
Can I get a Death Certificate for Free from Sacramento County?
We understand how tight your finances are right now with funeral expenses and other unexpected costs. This is an unfortunate reality for many families, but unfortunately, Sacramento County does not offer financial assistance if you are having trouble paying for certified copies of a death certificate. But help may be available here at Normandie Law Firm if your loved one’s death was caused by someone else’s negligence.
If you have grounds to seek compensation from the at-fault party, we may be able to obtain the death certificate for free as part of a wrongful death lawsuit. This is a legal action that helps loved ones recover the cost of funeral expenses, medical bills, and other monetary damages. A car accident caused by an intoxicated driver is a common example of wrongful death. Another example is premises liability claims, like someone falling at a store due to a dangerous condition.
We will offer you a free consultation, so there’s no risk in taking some time to speak with us and discussing the possibility of how to get a free death certificate from Sacramento County.
Can the Funeral Director Give Me a Free Copy of the Death Certificate?
Getting a death certificate from the funeral director seems like a logical solution if plan to bury or cremate your loved one after an accidental death. After all, the funeral home has to be given a death certificate in order to take possession of the person’s remains. So why not ask them for a copy while you’re making arrangements for the funeral?
This approach is fine if your family member died from natural circumstances. But as we’ve mentioned, deaths involving accidents have to be investigated by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office. Because the investigation can take weeks or months, the office will issue an interim death certificate so that a funeral can take place. These certificates will not list an official cause of death, which means you can only use it for limited purposes. For example, you can apply to be the executor of the decedent’s estate by filing an application with the probate court. However, assets like retirement accounts and life insurance policies cannot be claimed without a cause of death.
In short, a certified copy of a death certificate is necessary to accomplish many of the tasks that are associated with losing someone to an accident. You’ve probably realized this by now and may have looked into private lenders that will advance you money for copies of a death certificate from Sacramento County.
Should I Sign up with a Lawsuit Funding Company?
The number of death certificates you may need depends on the various assets and accounts in the decedent’s estate. Many of the companies in charge of these assets require a certified copy of the death certificate with a cause of death. As a result, many families need about 10 copies of a death certificate in total, just to be on the safe side. This is a significant cost when you think about the cost of each certificate, along with possible mailing and processing fees.
If someone else is liable for your loved one’s passing, you may have looked into lawsuit funding companies that will lend you money against the projected value of your settlement award. It may be a good short-term solution, but the high interest rates can end up hurting you in the long run. Based on how long it takes your lawsuit to settle, you could end up with interest rates that are as high as 60%. As you can imagine, that will take away from a significant portion of your compensation award.
We want to stress that these loans can be helpful to some people, but it’s a big decision to put your settlement on the line for a short-term gain. Thus, you should look into all the possible avenues for how to get a Sacramento County accidental death certificate. Our law firm may have a solution for you, so please take a moment to contact us and speak with a wrongful death lawsuit lawyer.
Legal Advice from an Accidental Death Lawsuit Attorney
As a family member or other authorized individual by law, you are entitled to your loved one’s death certificate after an accident. But getting a certified copy of this essential document can be rather complicated, and many people feel lost and frustrated by the process. Furthermore, the cost of obtaining numerous certified copies of a death certificate places an additional burden on spouses and relatives. This is particularly true if you are due compensation from an accident claim against a negligent party.
Due to the legal issues that may be involved, it’s important to retain the services of a wrongful death attorney as soon as possible. Among other things, they can help you order a copy of a death certificate from Alameda County after an accident. That way, you can begin the process of resolving your loved one’s affairs and seeking justice from the individual or entity that’re responsible for the accident.
However, we know how tight finances can be during this time, which is why we provide our clients with the Zero Fee Guarantee. You pay $0 to hire one of our attorneys, who will wait until the end of your case to receive payment. We only get paid by the way, if we win your case. If not, you pay $0 towards any legal fees.
For a free case evaluation on your rights and legal options, please contact our law firm.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
How to Get a Copy of a Death Certificate from Contra Costa County
How to Get a Copy of a Death Certificate from Alameda County
How to File an Accident Injury Claim against the City of Industry
