California Death Records

Why Does the California Death Index Stop at 1997?

If you're searching for a death that occurred after 1997, you've probably noticed that neither this site nor any other free source has those records. That's not an oversight — it's California law.

What Happened

In 2002, the California Legislature passed SB 1614 (authored by Senator Jackie Speier), which made all birth, death, and marriage record indices confidential and exempt from the California Public Records Act. The bill was signed by Governor Gray Davis on September 19, 2002.

On January 1, 2003, all birth and death indices were removed from public access. The data that had already been released — covering deaths from 1940 through 1997 — remained in circulation, but no new years were ever added.

Why 1997 Specifically?

The California Department of Public Health released the death index in periodic batches. The last batch released before the law took effect covered deaths through 1997. The state simply hadn't released the 1998+ data before the window closed permanently.

The Identity Theft Problem

The death index included exactly the information identity thieves need: full names, Social Security numbers, mothers' maiden names, and dates of birth. Deceased individuals are particularly vulnerable because fraudulent use of their identity can continue for years before anyone notices.

Three related bills in 2002 created the current framework:

SB 1614 (Speier) — Made vital records indices confidential under Health and Safety Code Section 102230. The State Registrar can release indices to government agencies but not the general public.

SB 247 (Speier) — Created the authorized/informational copy distinction for death certificates. Only family members and legal representatives can get a full certified copy; everyone else gets an informational copy stamped "NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY."

AB 2550 (Nation) — Required an electronic death registration system to enable faster birth/death cross-matching for fraud prevention.

The Social Security Death Index Also Restricted

The California Death Index wasn't the only casualty. The Social Security Death Index (SSDI) — once freely searchable and covering deaths nationwide — was also severely restricted.

In November 2011, the Social Security Administration stopped including state-reported death data in the public Death Master File. Then in December 2013, Section 203 of the Bipartisan Budget Act imposed a three-year blackout period on all new death records and created a federal certification program for access.

The practical result: the freely searchable SSDI is essentially frozen at a November 2011 snapshot. For genealogists, this means yet another door has closed.

Where to Find Post-1997 Death Records

Free Options

Newspaper obituaries — Many California newspapers have online archives. Your local public library may provide free access to databases like NewsBank or Newspapers.com.

Find a Grave — Over 250 million memorials with burial records, tombstone photos, and obituary transcriptions. Community-contributed, so coverage varies. Completely free at FindAGrave.com.

FamilySearch — Free access to the California Death Index (1940–1997), the SSDI (frozen at 2011), and extensive county-level record collections at FamilySearch.org.

County records — Some county clerk/recorder offices will confirm whether a death record exists, even if they can't provide details over the phone.

Paid Options

Informational death certificate ($26) — Anyone can request an informational copy of a death certificate from CDPH Vital Records, regardless of relationship to the deceased. This covers deaths from July 1905 to present. See our guide to getting a death certificate for details.

Ancestry.com — Hosts the California Death Index (1940–1997) and SSDI (to 2014) behind a subscription ($25–50/month). Free access available at many public libraries through Ancestry Library Edition.

GenealogyBank — Obituary archives and SSDI searching. Subscription required.

Our Recommendation

For deaths from 1940–1997, start right here — our index is free and includes Social Security numbers, parents' names, and county of death. Search our California Death Index.

For deaths after 1997, your best free starting points are Find a Grave and newspaper obituary archives. If you need an official document, request an informational copy from CDPH Vital Records for $26 — you don't need to be related to the deceased to get one.

For the most authoritative record, contact the county clerk's office in the county where the death occurred. County offices are often faster than the state and may have information that didn't make it into centralized databases.