Birth & Death Certificates

^{For death certificates online click HERE.} 

Death Certificates by Mail

Obtain a copy of a death certificate by coming to the County Recorder’s office or by mail:

• Only “authorized persons” will be able to purchase a Certified Copy of the decedent's Death Certificate.
• You must fill out a form prior to purchase, and indicate whether or not you are an authorized person by signing “under penalty of perjury” statement.
• Click here to open the Forms page where you can find the form you need. Click to download the form, fill in the information and print it out.
• If you are not an authorized person, you will receive a certified copy with the statement INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY across the face of the document, and you will also have to fill out a form.
• You will need to download the forms available on this site.
• You will need to sign both the Sworn Statement (and sign under penalty of perjury), and have the Certificate of Acknowledgment notarized if you want a certified copy. (As an authorized person)
• All these forms must be mailed to the Santa Cruz County Recorder office along with the proper fee.
• Please note the instructions for requesting an “Informational” copy. You only need to fill out the Applicant and Registrant portions, and send the proper fee.
• If we receive only the Applicant and Registrant portion filled out, we will keep the fee and send you an “Informational” copy.
• Only “Authorized Persons” are required to fill out the perjury and acknowledgement forms. You will receive a certified copy for your records.
• Please read the INSTRUCTIONS page regarding the above.
• Call us at 831-454-2800.

To request a certified copy of a Death Certificate by mail you will need to provide us with the following information. On a piece of paper, type or print the following:

·The decedent's full name at the time of death.
·The date of death.
·The decedent's date of birth, if known.
·The address where copy is to be mailed.

The cost is $24.00. Please DO NOT send cash. Send your request and information along with a postal or bank money order or cashier's check for $24.00 (personal checks are not accepted by mail). For out of country requests payment must be by International Money Order. Make payment payable to:
Santa Cruz County Recorder.
The cost for searching a record is not refundable if the record is not found. Please allow three working days after receipt to process your request.

^{For more information, please call us during office hours, at (831) 454-2800, Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm. Fax 831-454-3169. Click to E-Mail We are located at 701 Ocean St., Rm. 230, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060. Se Habla Español.}