California Death Records

Kern County Death Records

Kern County's death records reflect its dual identity as an agricultural powerhouse and oil-producing region. The county attracted waves of Dust Bowl migrants in the 1930s — families from Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas who settled permanently and whose deaths appear in our records decades later. Kern's oil industry, centered around Taft and Oildale, brought additional workers whose occupational histories make these records valuable for industrial health research.

How to Get a Kern County Death Certificate

Death certificates for deaths that occurred in Kern 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.

Kern County Assessor-Recorder

Address: 1655 Chester Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (661) 868-6400
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Fee: $31 per certified copy
As of January 1, 2026 (AB 64 $2 increase). The Recorder does not accept credit cards — cash, check, or money order only.
Website: https://www.kerncounty.com/government/departments/assessor-recorder/records/birth-marriage-or-death-certificates

By mail: Kern County Recorder, 1655 Chester Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301. Include a check or money order payable to the Kern County Assessor-Recorder for $31 per copy.

Online: Order through VitalChek. 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 Kern 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 Kern County Death Records Free

Our California Death Index includes death records from Kern 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.