California Death Certificate Apostille Guide
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When someone has died and you need their death certificate accepted abroad, an apostille is the step that makes it official. You order a certified copy from California's vital-records office, then have the state authenticate it — and this guide walks you through doing it yourself for the state apostille fee only: Apostille fee: $20.00 per Apostille.
- Apostille fee: $20 per apostille certificate
- Certified copy: $26
- Processing Time: Varies by current queue (checked 2026-02-24); same-day in person where offered
- Requirements: Original certified copy with the registrar's seal and signature
- Issuing Authority: California Secretary of State
- Note: Only works for California-issued documents
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Quick Answer
To apostille a California death certificate, order an official certified copy from California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR), then submit it to California Secretary of State with the $20 apostille fee. Plan for the time to get both the certified copy and the apostille.
En español
Para apostillar un certificado de defunción de California, solicite una copia certificada oficial a California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR) y luego envíela a California Secretary of State junto con la tarifa de apostille de $20. Tenga en cuenta el tiempo necesario para obtener tanto la copia certificada como el apostille.
What It Is
An apostille authenticates an official certified copy of a Death Certificate issued by the state vital-records office. It does not verify the facts on the certificate or confirm anything about the death itself — it only certifies that the signature and seal of the issuing official are genuine, so the document is recognized in another country that belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention.
Because of this, a hospital-issued copy, a funeral-home keepsake, a souvenir certificate, or a plain photocopy cannot be apostilled. You need the sealed, official certified copy from the vital-records office.
That sealed copy is the only thing the apostille authority will attach an apostille to.
When You Need an Apostille
People most often apostille a California death certificate for:
When You Don't Need an Apostille
- The document will only be used inside the United States — an apostille is for use abroad.
- The destination country is NOT a member of the Hague Apostille Convention; those countries require consular legalization through their embassy or consulate instead of an apostille.
- The receiving institution has confirmed in writing that a plain or notarized copy is enough.
Who Can Apply
California limits who may order a certified copy of a death certificate, and a valid government-issued photo ID is required. In general, eligible requesters include
- The surviving spouse, parent, child, sibling, or another member of the immediate family
- The estate's legal representative or executor
- Anyone who can show a direct legal interest, along with proof of relationship or that legal interest
Document Requirements
Certified original
State-issued certified copy with a raised or multicolor seal — not an informational copy
Original signature
The registrar's original (not stamped) signature
Eligible requester
Usually the surviving spouse, parent, child, sibling, or the estate's legal representative/executor; a valid photo ID and proof of relationship or legal interest are typically required
- •Photocopies or scans of a certified copy
- •Funeral-home or hospital-issued copies
- •Informational copies marked 'not a valid document to establish identity'
- •Stamped (non-original) signatures
- •Damaged or altered certificates
Fees & Processing Times
Budget for two separate fees: the certified copy of your death certificate and the apostille itself.
$26
Certified death certificate (California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR))
$20
Per apostille certificate
Payment method: Mail: check or money order (payable to Secretary of State) — Los Angeles in-person: Visa/Mastercard credit card, check, money order; cash not accepted
| Fee Category | Details / Value |
|---|---|
| Certified copy | $26 — Certified death certificate (California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR)) |
| Apostille fee | $20 — per apostille certificate |
| Payment | Mail: check or money order (payable to Secretary of State) — Los Angeles in-person: Visa/Mastercard credit card, check, money order; cash not accepted |
| Processing — by mail | Our Sacramento office is currently processing Apostille requests received: 1. Through the mail on 02/06/2026 2. In person on the 3rd floor on 02/23/2026 |
| Processing — in person | Sacramento 3rd floor counter: in-person same-day service |
| Same-day / expedited | In-person same-day service is offered in Sacramento/Los Angeles and via SOS Apostille Pop-Up Shops |
Fees and processing times verified 2026-02-24 against official state sources. Always confirm the current amount before sending payment.
Step-by-Step How-To
- 1
Order a certified death certificate
Start by ordering the certified copy from the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR).
- Mail to CDPH-VR (forms + notarized sworn statement where required)
- In-person at county registrar/recorder offices where event was registered
- Electronic submission through CDPH-designated third-party vendor channel
- 2
Submit it for apostille
Once you have the sealed certified copy, assemble your apostille packet: the certified copy, the completed request form, your payment, and a self-addressed return envelope. Use the Required form(s) (https://notary.
Secretary of State
Notary Public Section
P.O. Box 942877
Sacramento
CA 94277-0001 - 3
Receive your apostille
Your apostilled certificate is returned in your prepaid envelope (or handed back at the counter for same-day service). Keep the apostille attached to the certificate when using it abroad.
🌍 Next step: Certified Translation
Many countries require a certified translation of your apostilled death certificate — especially for immigration, USCIS, or university admissions. Get a USCIS-accepted translation at CertTranslate.com.
Contact Information
Secretary of State
Notary Public Section
P.O. Box 942877
Sacramento
CA 94277-0001
Phone
(916) 653-3595
Hours
Notary Public Section (Sacramento): Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Common Reasons Apostilles Get Rejected
Photocopies or scans of a certified copy
Funeral-home or hospital-issued copies
Informational copies marked 'not a valid document to establish identity'
Stamped (non-original) signatures
Damaged or altered certificates
Official Resources
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Verified Sources
Every fee, address, and processing time on this page was checked against the official government sources below (last verified 2026-02-24).
- sos.ca.gov· checked 2026-02-24
- cdph.ca.gov· checked 2026-02-24
Sources & Methodology
Official Sources
- California Secretary of State, Notary Public and Special Filings Section (Apostille services)
- California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR)
- Hague Conference on Private International Law
Our Process
- Verified against official .gov sources
- Reviewed by document-authentication specialists
- Fee and processing-time monitoring
Disclaimer: This information is general guidance and not legal advice. Always verify current information directly with the California Secretary of State, Notary Public and Special Filings Section (Apostille services) before submitting your application.
"Getting an apostille for your California death certificate is straightforward once you have the right certified copy — the most common rejection is submitting a photocopy instead of a sealed original."
Amelia Rivera
Document Processing Specialist
15+ years in document authentication
Verification & Updates Log
Tracking content accuracy and improvements
- 2026-06-09Updated
Refreshed this guide and added a Spanish-language summary (En español), the two-fee cost breakdown (certified copy + apostille), and direct links to every official .gov source.
- 2026-06-06Updated
Added the certified-copy cost alongside the apostille fee, refreshed the current processing times, and linked the official .gov pages every fact was verified against.
- 2026-06-06Improved
Expanded the accepted-document and rejection-reason checklists so applicants can avoid the most common returns.
- 2026-02-24Verified
Confirmed the $20 apostille fee and California Secretary of State as the issuing authority.
- 2026-02-24Verified
Verified where to order a certified death certificate (California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR)) and the apostille submission addresses.
Save ~$200 • Refund if rejected