California Deaths and Burials - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This is an index of deaths and burials for the years 1776 to 200. This index is not complete for any particular place, region or time period. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index or Vital Records Index collections.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:
 * Name
 * Birth and death place
 * Age at time of death
 * Name of Spouse

Coverage Table
A coverage table for this collection is available is the wiki article California Deaths, Coverage Table - FamilySearch Historical Records

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The approximate residence and date of death

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Search for other vital records, such as birth and marriage
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in census records
 * Search for death or burial information in

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching a nearby locality
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or even initials

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of California.
 * California Guided Research
 * California Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1905 | 1905-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Vital statistics index, California State Library, Sacramento, California : ca. 1800's-1920
 * California State Registrar. death indexes, 1905-1988 ; 1940-1994
 * prepared by the Northern California Historical Records Survey Project, Division of Professional and Service Projects, W.P.A., Guide to public vital statistics records in California [San Francisco, California : Northern California Historical Records Survey, 1941 FS Library 979.4 V2h

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.