California Death Index 1940-1997 - FamilySearch Historical Records (2024)

FAQs

Can I view California death certificates online for free? ›

FamilySearch offers the largest collection of online genealogical and historical records in the world. There is no fee to use this website. Create a free account and login to view digital images of original documents from censuses, churches, courthouses, military draft cards, state vital records, and much more.

Since obituaries were often printed in the newspaper, accessing historical California newspapers is one way to approach this task. You may also be able to find an old California obituary by searching genealogy websites like Ancestry.

The California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR) maintains birth, death, fetal death/still birth, marriage, and divorce records for California. Services provided by CDPH-VR include issuing certified copies of California vital records and registering and amending vital records as authorized by law.

Index includes name, sex, date and place of birth, date and county of death, father's last name, and mother's maiden name. "California Death Index, 1940-1997." Database. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 6 October 2023.

With a name and general publication date, you can start searching obituary records like the Newspapers.com Obituary Index: 1800s to current on Ancestry now.

Many funeral homes publish obituaries on their websites. These can usually be located with a Google search on the person's name. Local genealogical and historical societies, public libraries, and some newspaper publishers maintain clipping files of obituaries.

No, it is not legally required to publish an obituary for the deceased in California. It is a personal choice made by the family or executor of the estate.

Pursuant to California Health & Safety Code 103550, a death certificate is a permanent record of the fact of death for an individual. It provides important personal information about the decedent and about the circ*mstances and cause of death.

Is it possible to see someone who has passed away? ›

It's normal to see, hear or sense someone who has died. While this might be scary and unsettling, it doesn't mean there is anything wrong with you.

If you search the person's full name online, you may pull up newspaper obituaries or other information about them that will lead you to a date of death. This type of search typically yields better results if the person has a somewhat unusual name.

The California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR) maintains a permanent, public record of every death that has occurred in California since July 1905.

The statewide registration of births and deaths began in July 1905, and was generally complied with by 1920. 1905-1995 California, Birth Index, 1905-1995 at FamilySearch — How to use this collection. 1812-1988 California Births and Christenings, 1812-1988 at FamilySearch — How to use this collection.

Online Form: The best way to request a copy of DOJ records is to complete an online request form. This form goes directly to the Public Records Coordinator who is charged with facilitating the DOJ's response to record requests.

only authorized individuals, such as family members, law enforcement, or legal representatives can request a death certificate. You must include all pertinent information about the deceased, such as their full legal name, date of birth, date of death, and location of death.

For 25 years, VitalChek has been an official, government-authorized service for citizens to securely order certified birth certificates and other vital records from official government agencies nationwide.

In 2014 Federal legislation changed the rules for access to the Social Security Death Master File. Records for the most recent 3 years are not available.