Fresno County · You are not behind · one step at a time

What to Do After Someone Dies in Fresno County, California

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No names, Social Security numbers, or account numbers. Use this quietly, save a backup if you need it, and reset progress on a shared device when you are done. View sources.

How PathAfter helps

Use it to find the next right step
  • Answer a few basicsCounty, situation, role, and anything urgent you already know.
  • Get a focused checklistIt separates what needs attention now from what can usually wait.
  • Use scripts and printoutsCopy words for calls, print a handoff sheet, and share tasks with family.

If this is an emergency, call 911 first. After that, use PathAfter to sort the next calls and paperwork.

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Search death certificates, cremation, probate, benefits, county offices, documents, and scripts.

Source-backed local snapshot

Fresno County first-week local resource starting points

These are crawlable starting points from the packaged Fresno County guide. Call or open the official source before visiting because hours, fees, and procedures can change.

Coroner / medical examiner

Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner — Coroner/Public AdministratorPhone: 559-600-34003333 E. American Ave, Suite G, Fresno, CA 93725

Use the public Coroner/Public Administrator contact for non-emergency questions after official responders are involved. For an unexpected death happening now, call 911 or local dispatch first.

Open source

Probate court / court help

Fresno Superior Court — Probate / B. F. Sisk CourthousePhone: 559-457-20001130 O Street, Fresno, CA 93721-2220

Use later for probate questions, wills, estate administration, probate forms, and filing information. Fresno Superior Court lists Probate, Conservatorship, and Guardianship at the B. F. Sisk Courthouse; this is usually not a first-24-hours task.

Open source

Death certificates / vital records

Fresno County Recorder — Death CertificatesPhone: (559) 600-59561250 Van Ness Ave, Fresno, CA

Use for Fresno County death certificate requests by online, in-person, or mail. Fresno County Recorder lists death certificates at $26 and says in-person pickup is available the same day in most cases after kiosk application, ID, and payment.

Open source

Death certificates / vital records

Fresno County Department of Public Health — Vital StatisticsPhone: 559-600-33101221 Fulton Street, 1st Floor, Room 128, Fresno, CA 93721

Use for Fresno County Vital Statistics questions involving recent birth/death records and burial permits. Fresno County Public Health says it registers all births and deaths occurring in Fresno County, maintains records for 2 years, and lists death certificates at $26.

Open source

Last checked: 2026-06-26 · 10 source links packaged · Report outdated info · Start the interactive checklist

Fresno County local next steps

First calls, documents, and questions for this county

Use this county page to organize the first calls. Official offices can change hours, fees, forms, eligibility rules, and procedures, so verify details before you visit, mail forms, or pay fees.

1 · First calls in this county

Start with the office that controls release, records, or the case

  • Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner — Coroner/Public Administrator: call or open the official page if the death was unexpected, unattended, in public, under investigation, or if you are unsure who has the case.
  • Fresno County Recorder — Death Certificates: use for death certificates, certified copy questions, recorder routing, and current fee or form instructions.
  • Funeral home or cremation provider: ask what they can handle and what you still need to verify with the county.
Open official pageOpen official page

2 · What to ask when you call

Copy this short script

Hi, my name is _____. I am calling about a death in Fresno County. I am trying to confirm the next step, which office has the case, what documents are needed, and whether I should call the coroner, medical examiner, funeral home, or recorder next.

If the death is happening now or there is any immediate danger, call 911 first.

3 · Documents usually needed

Start one folder before the calls scatter

  • Certified death certificates or the order information for them.
  • Your ID and your relationship or authority, if an office asks.
  • Funeral home or cremation provider contact information.
  • Case number, hospital/facility contact, hospice contact, or agency name if available.
  • Notes showing who you spoke with, what they said, and what to verify next.

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Need to act on this now?

Start checklistLocal contacts and county guidancePhone scriptsDocumentsPrintoutsBills trackerTimelineCommon QuestionsFAQ cluster linksDeath Certificate helpFuneral Home helpMoney/BenefitsHard Situations

Use official pages for current phone numbers, hours, fees, statutes, deadlines, eligibility rules, and office procedures. This page is an organizer, not legal, medical, tax, financial, or government advice.

View the official sources behind this checklist

Most families can skip this. These links are here when you want to verify a rule, office, fee, or county resource.

California sources

    Local county sources

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