California Death Records

Fresno County Death Records

Fresno County sits at the heart of California's Central Valley — the most productive agricultural region in the world. Death records reflect the county's farming heritage and its diverse immigrant communities, including significant Armenian, Mexican, Japanese, and Southeast Asian populations. The Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s brought thousands of families from Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas, many of whom appear in Fresno County death records decades later.

How to Get a Fresno County Death Certificate

Death certificates for deaths that occurred in Fresno County can be obtained from the county clerk's office or from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). The county office is typically faster for in-person requests.

Fresno County County Recorder

Address: 2281 Tulare Street, Room 302, Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (559) 600-3476
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Fee: $34 per certified copy
As of January 1, 2026
Website: https://www.fresnocountyca.gov/Departments/Recorder/

By mail: Fresno County Recorder, P.O. Box 766, Fresno, CA 93712. Include a check or money order payable to the Fresno County County Recorder for $34 per copy.

Online: Order through the county's online portal. Additional service fees may apply for online orders.

What You'll Need to Request a Death Certificate

— Full legal name of the deceased
— Date of death (or approximate range)
— Place of death (city or county)
— Your relationship to the deceased
— Valid government-issued photo ID
— Social Security number of deceased (if known — helps locate the record)

Tip: If you're missing some of this information, try searching our free death index first. Our database includes dates of birth and death, county of death, parents' names, and Social Security numbers for deaths from 1940–1997.

Authorized vs. Informational Copies

California issues two types of death certificates. Authorized copies are available only to family members and legal representatives — they can be used for legal purposes like settling estates. Informational copies are available to anyone regardless of relationship — useful for genealogy and family history research. Both cost the same fee. See our complete guide to getting a death certificate for details.

Alternative: Order from CDPH

The California Department of Public Health can issue death certificates for any death that occurred in California, not just Fresno County. This is useful if you're unsure which county the death occurred in. Processing takes 5–7 weeks by mail or 1–3 days through VitalChek online. The fee is $26 per copy. See our death certificate guide for complete CDPH ordering instructions.

Search Fresno County Death Records Free

Our California Death Index includes death records from Fresno County covering 1940 through 1997. Each record includes the deceased's name, dates of birth and death, parents' names, and Social Security number (where available). Search our free death index →

Looking for records after 1997? Learn why the index stops and where to find more recent records.