Death certificates
What if I don't know the cause of death?
Short answer
The coroner or medical examiner determines cause of death and certifies the certificate. If you are waiting for toxicology, the certificate may be filed with "pending investigation" — which can delay some insurance claims.
What this usually means
The coroner or medical examiner determines cause of death and certifies the certificate. If you are waiting for toxicology, the certificate may be filed with "pending investigation" — which can delay some insurance claims.
What to do next
- Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
- Find California county phone numbers for coroner, vital records, and local offices.
- Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
- Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.