How to Get a Death Certificate in California & the California Small Estate Limit
If someone close to you has died in California, two pieces of paperwork come up again and again in the first weeks: certified copies of the death certificate, and the question of whether the estate is small enough to skip full probate. This page puts both California answers in one place, with links to the official sources so you can check the current rules yourself.
How to get a death certificate in California
Certified copies in California come from California Department of Public Health, Vital Records (and county recorders).
CDPH charges $26 per certified copy of a death record (effective January 1, 2026). Pay by check or money order to "CDPH - Vital Records"; do not send cash.
California issues two kinds of certified copies. An authorized copy, which banks and agencies usually need, requires a sworn statement signed under penalty of perjury (notarized if you apply by mail). An informational copy is marked as not valid to establish identity.
County recorders or county health departments where the death occurred can also issue copies and are often faster for recent deaths.
In most families the funeral home places the first order, so ask them to include enough copies up front. Additional copies ordered later cost the same or more and can take weeks by mail. See how many death certificates you need for a realistic count.
California small estate procedure: Small estate affidavit (Probate Code § 13100)
For deaths on or after April 1, 2025, the affidavit can transfer personal property if the gross value of the California estate is $208,850 or less. The figure is adjusted every three years (Judicial Council form DE-300 lists the current amounts).
You must wait at least 40 days after the death, attach a certified death certificate, and give the bank or holder the sworn affidavit. It is not filed with the court.
Real property does not transfer by this affidavit. A primary residence up to $750,000 can pass through a simpler court petition (Probate Code § 13151), and other small real property has its own affidavit procedure.
What counts toward the limit
A common mistake is adding up every asset and concluding the estate is too big. In California, as in other states, property that already has a beneficiary or co-owner (retirement accounts, life insurance, POD/TOD accounts, joint accounts with survivorship, trust property) typically passes outside probate. Only what is left counts toward the small estate limit. See how beneficiary designations work.
Step by step in California
- Order certified death certificates from California Department of Public Health, Vital Records (and county recorders) (or through the funeral home).
- List every asset and note which ones have a beneficiary, a co-owner or a trust; those usually pass outside probate.
- Add up the remaining probate assets and compare them with the California limit described above, using the official link to confirm the current figure.
- Check the waiting period and paperwork requirements, then prepare the Small estate affidavit (Probate Code § 13100) using the official form or court instructions.
- Give the paperwork to each bank or holder (or file it with the court, if California requires that), keep copies, and pay valid debts before distributing anything.
When the small estate route doesn't fit
The small estate route is not a fit for every family. If the probate assets are over the California limit, if there is real estate the procedure does not cover, if heirs disagree, or if there are significant debts or a lawsuit, regular probate (often with an executor or administrator appointed by the court) is usually the safer path. An estate attorney or the court's self-help center in your county can tell you which procedure applies. Our executor checklist covers the full process.
Quick answers
How much does a death certificate cost in California?
CDPH charges $26 per certified copy of a death record (effective January 1, 2026). Pay by check or money order to "CDPH - Vital Records"; do not send cash. Always confirm the current figure with the official source linked below.
What is the small estate limit in California?
For deaths on or after April 1, 2025, the affidavit can transfer personal property if the gross value of the California estate is $208,850 or less. The figure is adjusted every three years (Judicial Council form DE-300 lists the current amounts). Always confirm the current figure with the official source linked below.
After that
After the certificates and the small estate question, the rest is mostly administration: accounts, subscriptions, final bills and taxes. Keep going with who to call when someone dies, getting a free estate EIN and what not to do when someone dies.
Keep it all in one place
The After-Loss Admin Kit is a calm, printable executor workbook: the first 48 hours through closing the estate, a who-to-notify list, 12 letter templates (including bank and agency letters) and an estate tracker spreadsheet for every asset and debt. It works with the California steps above.
See the After-Loss Admin Kit — $19Loss & planning bundle (4 kits) — $34