How to get a death certificate in California

To initiate probate in California, you will need a death certificate / death record.

You will need to contact the BIA office in writing where the land is located and supply the Real Estate/Probate Division with a certified copy of the death record and a request to begin a probate.

Again, contract the BIA office in the area where your land is located. This is not necessarily the office in the part of California where you live. The BIA has offices in:

Northern California
Central California
Southern California
Palm Springs

Each of these offices falls under the Pacific Regional office of the BIA.

A certified copy of the death record will cost $24 (as of May 20, 2025).

Here is a link for more information including a pricing chart for the Vital Record Fees:
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Vital-Records-Fees.aspx