San Francisco County · You are not behind · one step at a time

What to Do After Someone Dies in San Francisco County, California

You do not have to read everything or solve everything today.

Go to checklist setup

Primeros pasos en español

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.

Find a direct answer

Search PathAfter

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

Source-backed local snapshot

San Francisco County first-week local resource starting points

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

Coroner / medical examiner

San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical ExaminerPhone: 415-641-36001 Newhall Street, San Francisco, CA 94124

Use for non-emergency questions when the Medical Examiner is involved after a sudden, unexpected, violent, suspicious, or otherwise reportable death. For emergencies, call 911 first.

Open source

Probate court / court help

San Francisco Superior Court — Probate CourtPhone: 415-551-3673Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister St., Department 204, San Francisco, CA 94102-4514

Use later for wills, decedent estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, probate filings, probate calendars, and court self-help direction.

Open source

Death certificates / vital records

San Francisco DPH — Death Certificate Within Last 3 YearsPhone: (415) 554-2700Office of Vital Records, City Hall, Room 160, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102

Use for San Francisco death certificates when the death occurred within the last 3 years. SF.gov lists the cost at $26 per copy.

Open source

Death certificates / vital records

San Francisco County Clerk — Older Death Certificate RecordsPhone: 415-554-4950San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102

Use for older San Francisco death certificate records and County Clerk questions. The County Clerk page points to death certificate services and fee resources.

Open source

Last checked: 2026-06-26 · 9 source links packaged · Report outdated info · Start the interactive checklist

San Francisco 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

  • San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner: 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.
  • San Francisco DPH — Death Certificate Within Last 3 Years: 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 San Francisco 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.

Open the app tools

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

      Progress saved ✓