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CDPH Issued · Vital Records · Hague Certified

California
Death Certificate Apostille

We file California death certificates directly at the Secretary of State in Sacramento — confirming CDPH or county recorder issuance before any state fee is paid.

Call (415) 439-0289Start $45 Document Check →
At a glance
DocumentCertified copy · CDPH or county recorder
Not acceptedInformational copies, photocopies
Common usesEstate, inheritance, pension, insurance
Turnaround2–4 weeks · standard mail-in
Price$180 mail-in · $450 same-day · $650 for 3
Is this page right for me?

You need this page if…

01Your loved one passed away in California and the death was registered with CDPH or a California county recorder.
02You need the death certificate recognized in a foreign country — for estate settlement, inheritance, pension, insurance, or immigration.
03Your document is an official certified copy (not a photocopy or informational copy).

If the death occurred outside California, get the certificate authenticated by the state that issued it. If you need authentication of a U.S. federal agency document, see the Federal Apostille route →

Requirements

What You Need to Submit

Gather these before submitting. We verify each item during the $45 Document Check.

01

Certified Copy from CDPH or County Recorder

Must be an official certified copy with the registrar’s seal and signature — not an informational copy or photocopy.

02

Destination Country

Tell us the country requiring the apostille. We confirm Hague membership and any additional authentication requirements before filing.

03

Your Name & Return Address

The apostilled document ships back to you by tracked carrier. SOMA drop-off at 416 Bryant also available.

04

Purpose of Authentication (optional)

Helpful for time-sensitive cases — estate filing, pension claim, inheritance — so we can prioritize accordingly.

Note: Certified copies signed by a local Health Officer or County Registrar (rather than CDPH or the county recorder) may require county clerk certification before the SOS will accept them. Our $45 Document Check catches this before any filing fee is paid.

Our fees

Price & Turnaround

Starting Priceper apostille · standard mail-in$180
Standard Turnaroundstandard mail-in2–4 weeks

Same-day Sacramento counter: $450 (notary +$100). 3-Apostille Concierge Package: $650 for up to 3 documents (notary +$100). All SOS filing fees included.

Same-day Sacramento filing available when SOS counter capacity allows. Estate and probate cases can be flagged for priority handling.

What you get

What’s Included

01

$45 Document Check

We verify your death certificate is CDPH-issued, certified, and SOS-eligible before any state fee is paid.

02

Sacramento Filing

Couriered to the CA Secretary of State — mail filing or same-day in-person counter when capacity allows.

03

Tracked Return

Apostilled certificate returned by tracked carrier with status updates. SOS state fees included.

$45 Document Check ($20 applied toward your apostille)

California SOS state filing fee

Courier to Sacramento SOS counter

Tracked return shipping

Status updates throughout

Hague destination verification

Process

How Your Death Certificate Apostille Gets Filed

01

Send Your Certified Copy

Mail to 416 Bryant St or arrange Bay Area pickup. We log it in and confirm receipt same day.

02

Document Check ($45)

We verify the certified copy is CDPH-issued, registrar-sealed, and accepted by the CA Secretary of State.

03

Sacramento Filing

Couriered to the SOS counter — standard mail processing or same-day in-person when capacity allows.

04

Returned to You, Tracked

Apostilled death certificate shipped back by tracked carrier. Estate attorneys and consulates typically accept within days.

$180Per apostille · mail-in
How we handle it

We confirm CDPH or county recorder issuance, file at the Secretary of State, and return it tracked.

$45 Document Check, $20 applied toward your apostille. Mail-in at $180, 2–4 weeks. Same-day Sacramento counter: $450 (notary +$100). Up to 3 documents: $650.

Call (415) 439-0289Start Document Check →

Death Certificate Apostille — Common Questions

01

Which California death certificates qualify for an apostille?

Certified copies issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) or an authorized county recorder qualify. Informational copies, photocopies, and out-of-state death records do not.
02

Why does my Italian consulate / German embassy need an apostille?

Hague Convention member countries require an apostille in place of full legalization. It confirms the document was issued by a recognized California authority. We verify your destination country’s requirements before filing.
03

Can I get an apostille on a death certificate for estate or inheritance?

Yes — this is one of the most common uses. Foreign courts, notaries, and banks often require an apostilled death certificate to process estate claims. Flag your case as estate-related and we prioritize accordingly.
04

How long does the apostille process take?

Standard mail processing usually takes 2–4 weeks, depending on Secretary of State volume. Same-day Sacramento filing is available when SOS counter capacity allows — call to confirm availability.
05

Do I send the original death certificate?

The SOS apostilles the certified copy itself — so yes, you send the official certified copy (not a photocopy). We return it to you with the apostille attached. Order extras from CDPH if you need multiple apostilles.
06

What if the country isn’t in the Hague Convention?

Non-Hague countries (UAE, Egypt, etc.) require full legalization: apostille + consular authentication. We confirm your destination route before any filing so you don’t pay for the wrong process.
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Apostille San FranciscoCA Secretary of State apostille service Start Document Check Call (415) 439-0289