Death certificates by state
This table covers 50 states, Washington, DC, and New York City. Choose the office where the death was recorded to find its ordering page, copy fees and quoted eligibility wording. New York State outside New York City has a separate row, so confirm the record type and ordering conditions with the office.
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| Jurisdiction | Issuing office | Official order page | Online vendor named by the office | First copy | Each extra copy | Fee basis | Fee conditions | Eligibility summary | Who may order, office quote | Stated processing time | Certified copy note | Informational copy note | County issuance | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Center for Health Statistics | https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/vitalrecords/death-certificates.html | VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/Campaign?site=2&clickid=600386559116115970 | $15.00 | $6.00 | Standard state mail order for a certified death record. | Additional copies are of the same record in the same order. Search fees are nonrefundable. Expedited and online-vendor fees are separate. | Restricted records under 25 years are available to listed family members, documented grandchildren, estate or family representatives, and the informant. Older records are public. | Death certificates less than 25 years old may be obtained by the following persons, upon payment of the proper fee: Mother or father of person named on certificate Husband or wife of person named on certificate Son or daughter of person named on certificate Sister or brother of person named on certificate Grandchild of person named on certificate when demonstrating entitlement Legal representative of family or estate Informant listed on death certificate as providing information | State mail about 7 to 10 days. County offices can issue most copies while waiting. | The search fee includes one certified copy when the record is found. | Not published | Any Alabama county health department can issue an Alabama certified death certificate. | Alabama Department of Public Health; Alabama Department of Public Health |
| Alaska | Health Analytics and Vital Records | https://health.alaska.gov/media/bp1dn2g4/death_form_v042026.pdf | VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/ | $30.00 | $25.00 | Standard certified state mail order. | Same record, ordered at the same time. Regular mail has no charge; priority shipping and online service cost more. | Listed spouse, listed parents, children and siblings can apply with required relationship documents. Public Advocacy and documented attorneys or agencies have separate rules. | Spouse listed on the certificate. Parent(s) listed on the death certificate. Child(ren) of decedent. Sibling of decedent. Attorneys & Government Agencies must have a letter on their letterhead stating who they represent and why the record is needed. Supporting original certified or notarized documentation must be provided. Alaska Vital Records will determine entitlement. | Not published | Certified death records and public-record white copies are different products. | A public-record white copy applies to deaths more than 50 years before the application. | Not published | Alaska Department of Health; Alaska Department of Health |
| Arizona | Arizona Department of Health Services | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Arizona Department of Health Services |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Department of Health | https://healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/certificates-records/order-death-records/ | Not published | $10.00 | $8.00 | Standard certified state mail order. | Same record and same order. Online processing and identity fees and expedited shipping are separate. | The office lists mother, qualifying father, child, spouse, grandchild, maternal grandparents, informant, funeral home and documented beneficiary. | Death Records Mother Father (if named on birth certificate) Child Spouse Grandchild Maternal Grandparents of deceased Informant Funeral Home Beneficiary (with proper documentation) | Mail processing 10 to 14 days, plus delivery time. | Mail requests are for a certified copy. | Not published | Not published | Arkansas Department of Health; Arkansas Department of Health |
| California | California Department of Public Health Vital Records | https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Vital-Records-Obtaining-Certified-Copies-of-Death-Records.aspx | Not published | $26.00 | $26.00 | CDPH-VR standard certified copy by mail, per-copy schedule. | State fees differ from some county fees. A notarized sworn statement is required for an authorized copy. Direct CDPH applications are mail-only. | The office lists authorized-applicant categories for vital-record copies. Its quoted adoption clause concerns birth records. Read the informational-copy note for other formats. | Authorized Copy California law defines individuals who can obtain an authorized copy of a birth, death, and marriage certificate as: The registrant or a parent, legal guardian, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of the registrant. A party entitled to receive the record as a result of court order or an attorney or licensed adoption agency seeking the birth record in order to comply with the requirements of Section 3140 or 7603 of the Family Code. (Please include a copy of the court order.) A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business. (Companies representing a government agency must provide authorization from the government agency. Any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the registrant or the registrant’s estate (Include a copy of the power of attorney or documentation identifying you as executor.) An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant’s estate. Any agent or employee of a funeral establishment who acts within the course and scope of employment and on behalf of persons specified in HSC § 7100 (a) (1)-(8). Surviving next of kin (As specified in HSC § 7100). | State certified-copy requests average 4 to 6 weeks from receipt. County turnaround and fees differ. | Authorized copies can establish identity. A notarized sworn statement is required. | Informational copies are also certified, but cannot establish identity and bear a warning legend. | Copies can be obtained in person from the county where the death was registered. | California Department of Public Health; California Department of Public Health; California Department of Public Health; California Department of Public Health; California Department of Public Health |
| Colorado | Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics | https://cdphe.colorado.gov/order-certificate-now | VitalChek https://cdphe.colorado.gov/order-certificate-now; GoCertificates https://cdphe.colorado.gov/order-certificate-now | $25.00 | $20.00 | Standard certified state mail copy, fee schedule effectiveJanuary 1, 2026. | Additional copies ordered at the same time. Regular mail has no charge. Card convenience, express shipping and online service may add fees. | Proof of relationship or direct and tangible legal interest and identification is required. | Proof of your relationship or direct and tangible interest is required. Applicants must submit proof of their relationship or documentation to establish their legal interest in obtaining vital records (e.g., birth or marriage certificates, certified court orders, insurance policies). | Not published | Not published | Not published | The state lists local Vital Records offices as additional places to obtain birth and death copies. | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment |
| Connecticut | State Vital Records Office | https://portal.ct.gov/dph/vital-records/death-certificates?language=en_US | VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/ | $20.00 | $20.00 | State-issued certified death copy by mail, each copy. | Eligible veteran-family requests may receive one fee-waived copy. Online processing and shipping charges are separate. | Anyone at least 18 may buy a certified copy. Access to the Social Security number is restricted to spouse or next of kin with proof. | A certified copy of a Connecticut death certificate may be purchased for a fee by anyone at least 18 years old. Note that the decedent's social security number can only be accessed by the decedent's spouse or next of kin. | State processing varies and can take up to 12 weeks; town requests are generally faster. | The copy can omit the Social Security number when the requester is not eligible for it. | Not published | Orders can go to the town where the event occurred or the State Vital Records Office. | Connecticut Department of Public Health; Connecticut Department of Public Health |
| Delaware | Office of Vital Statistics | https://dhss.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/dph/pdf/death24.pdf | VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/; GoCertificates https://www.gocertificates.com/ | $25.00 | $25.00 | State mail application, $25 per copy. | The fee is retained for a search if the record is not found. Online vendor service charges are separate. | Application lists current spouse, child, parent, documented legal guardian, genealogy with proof and authorized representatives. Other family relationships need office confirmation. | RELATIONSHIP TO THE PERSON WHOSE DEATH CERTIFICATE YOU ARE REQUESTING (PLEASE CHECK ONE BOX) My current husband or wife* My child My parent* Other* ______________________________ (Specify familial relationship) I am the legal guardian (court order required) Genealogy (proof required) I am the authorized agent, attorney or legal representative of the person listed in 1-5 options | Not published | The application is for a certified Delaware death copy. | Not published | Not published | Delaware Health and Social Services, Office of Vital Statistics; Delaware Health and Social Services, Office of Vital Statistics |
| District of Columbia | DC Health Vital Records Division | https://dchealth.dc.gov//service/death-certificates | Not published | $18.00 | Not published | Office fee schedule lists a death certificate at $18. Additional-copy pricing is not explicit. | Not published | The office lists family relationships, documented legal interests and authorized applicants. Each category has its own proof requirements. | However, you ARE entitled if you are a: Spouse You must be named as a spouse on the death certificate. Domestic partner You must be named as a domestic partner on the death certificate. Parent You must be named as a parent on the death certificate. Adult child, Adult Grandchild or sibling You need to have the stated relationship supported by actual certified birth records and provide the actual certificate for births outside of the District of Columbia.* Grandparent You need to have the stated relationship supported by actual certified birth records and provide the actual certificate for births outside of the District of Columbia.* Legal guardian You need an original copy of the court order (with a seal) naming you as guardian. Legal representative You need a copy of the retainer agreement, bar card AND a typed letter on the firm’s letterhead authorizing retrieval of this document. Law enforcement You need the DC Superior Court subpoena or other documents ordering issuance AND your unexpired work ID with a photo. Interested party You need proof of tangible interest (that the need for the certificate is related to personal or property rights) or legal need (court, insurance, or estate settlement documents). | Not published | Recent records require legal entitlement and personal documentation. Records become public after 75 years. | Not published | Not published | DC Health; DC Health |
| Florida | Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics | https://www.floridahealth.gov/certificates-records/death-certificates/ | VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/v/?click_id=1043709647435399170&ppc=0 | $5.00 | $4.00 | Standard Bureau of Vital Statistics mail order, for a known calendar year. | The $5 search includes one copy. Additional copies cost $4. Mail shipping and handling adds $1. Rush, extra search years and vendor service fees are separate. | Any adult can order a certified copy without cause of death. Recent cause-of-death copies require listed family, documented interest, representation or court authority. | Any person of legal age (18 or over) may apply for a certified copy of a death record without the cause of death. Death records less than 50 years old with the cause of death and full social security number are confidential and may only be issued to: Decedent’s spouse or parent Decedent’s child, grandchild or sibling, if of legal age (18) Any person who provides a will, insurance policy or other document that demonstrates his or her interest in the estate Any person who provides documentation that he or she is acting on behalf of any of the above-named persons By court order | Deaths from 2009 onward normally take 3 to 5 business days, excluding shipping. Earlier records need more processing. | Public copies omit cause of death and redact Social Security number digits. Restricted copies require eligibility. | Not published | Local county health departments can provide deaths from 2009 onward, with varying county fees. | Florida Department of Health |
| Georgia | Georgia Office of Vital Records | https://dph.georgia.gov/ways-request-vital-record/death | VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/v/vital-records/georgia/georgia-department-of-public-health?lp=1&click_id=578150035955974146&ppc=0; GO Certificates https://www.gocertificates.com/new/Georgia.aspx | $25.00 | $5.00 | State standard mail certified-copy schedule. | The state mail schedule applies. Online vendor and ROVER charges differ. Search fees are nonrefundable once service is provided. | Certified copies require a direct and tangible interest, including primary family or family legal representatives. | Certified death certificates are available to requestors having a direct and tangible interest to the decedent, including primary family members or legal representatives of the family. | State mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. | Certified copies are restricted; the public may order plain-paper redacted copies. | Public requesters can receive a plain-paper copy with the Social Security number redacted. | County vital-records offices may hold older death records and may be contacted directly. | Georgia Department of Public Health; Georgia Department of Public Health; Georgia Department of Public Health; Georgia Department of Public Health |
| Hawaii | Office of Health Status Monitoring, Issuance/Vital Statistics Section | https://vitrec.ehawaii.gov/vitalrecords/ | Not published | $10.00 | $4.00 | Standard certified state mail copy, with a separate administration charge. | Additional copies are of the same copy, ordered together. Add $2.50 for each block of up to 5 copies. Other optional delivery charges are not included. | A direct and tangible interest is required. Categories include spouse, parents, descendants, common-ancestor relatives, guardians, representatives and specific documented interests. | A certified copy of a vital record (death certificate, divorce certificate, birth certificate, or marriage certificate) is issued only to an applicant who has a direct and tangible interest in the record. | Not published | Certified copies require direct and tangible interest. | Not published | Not published | Hawaii Department of Health |
| Idaho | Idaho Bureau of Vital Records | https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/birth-marriage-death-records/order-record | VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/ | $16.00 | $16.00 | Standard certified death copy by mail, per-copy fee. | Not published | Direct and tangible interest is required. Immediate family, legal representatives or documented property-right requesters may qualify. | To receive a certified copy, you must have “direct and tangible interest” in the record. Only the individual named on the certificate, their immediate family, their legal representatives, or individuals who can show the record is needed to claim a property right may request legally confidential certificates. | Standard non-rush copy orders take 3 to 5 weeks after a complete order arrives, excluding mailing. | Confidential copies require documented eligibility and identification. | Not published | Not published | Idaho Department of Health and Welfare; Idaho Department of Health and Welfare |
| Illinois | Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records | https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/birth-death-other-records/death-records/obtain-death-certificate.html | VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/vital-records/illinois/illinois-dept-of-public-health?click_id=567735461817679874&ppc=0 | $19.00 | $4.00 | State standard certified long-form copy by mail. Short forms have a different fee. | The fee basis is the long form. The state also lists short-form and genealogical products with different fees. Online handling and shipping charges are separate. | Personal or property-right interest is required. Nonrelatives need a requesting-office or agency letter or document. | Death records are not public records and are only available to those who have a personal or property right interest (“property right” is defined as something that it is owned, tangible such as a car title or a property deed) with the decedent. If you are not a relative of the deceased person, a letter or document from the office or agency that needs the death certificate must accompany the request. | Regular state mail requests take approximately 12 weeks from receipt. | The long-form certified copy is accepted for legal use. | Uncertified copies are for genealogy or research and cannot be used for legal purposes. | For records before 1916, contact the county clerk where the death occurred. | Illinois Department of Public Health; Illinois Department of Public Health; Illinois Department of Public Health |
| Indiana | Indiana Department of Health Division of Vital Records | https://www.in.gov/health/vital-records/order-now/ | VitalChek https://www.in.gov/health/vital-records/order-now/ | $8.00 | $4.00 | State standard death-copy mail order. | Additional copies are in the same order. Search fees are nonrefundable. Online, telephone and UPS fees are separate. | The office publishes a general vital-record Direct Interest table. Confirm the applicable death-record category and its proof, identification and age conditions with the office. | Direct Interest Relationship to Individual Listed on Certificate What is Required Parent Be listed on the record Grandparent Show proof of relationship as the parent of a parent listed on the record Sibling (18 years or older) Show proof of relationship Child or Grandchild (18 years or older) Show proof of relationship Current spouse Show proof of marriage Aunt or Uncle Show proof of relationship Stepparent Show both ID Valid marriage certificate Court-Appointed Legal Guardian Show both ID Guardianship papers with seal Attorney Show both ID A document with direct interest spelled out on letterhead or court documents Genealogy Show proof of death Note: Individual named on the certificate must be over 75 years old and deceased Social Agency Show both Work ID Court documents or signed authorization from the client State and Federal Agencies Show both Work ID A document with direct interest spelled out on letterhead, court documents, or signed authorization from the client | State death-copy orders are listed at 60 days; time varies by case. | Not published | Not published | For an in-person death-copy request, use the local health department where the death occurred. | Indiana Department of Health; Indiana Department of Health; Indiana Department of Health |
| Iowa | Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics | https://hhs.iowa.gov/family-community/vital-records/how-request-certified-record | VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/Campaign/?site=4&clickid=602356883953090562 | $20.00 | $20.00 | State certified-record mail order, $20 for each copy. | Mail applications must be notarized and include ID. The search fee is retained if no record is found. Online and phone vendor charges are separate. | Entitled people include the named person, spouse, children, legal parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, legal representative or guardian. Some categories require extra proof. | Entitled persons include the person named on the record or that person’s spouse, children, legal parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, or legal representative or guardian. Legal guardians, legal representatives, and siblings must also provide additional proof of entitlement. | Not published | Not published | Not published | County recorders maintain local event records subject to listed county-record limitations. | Iowa Department of Health and Human Services; Iowa Department of Health and Human Services |
| Kansas | Office of Vital Statistics | https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11006/Death-Application-PDF | VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/ | $20.00 | $20.00 | Standard certified state mail order, per-copy fee. | The initial fee is a 5-year record search and is retained if no record is found. Internet, telephone, app and priority delivery add channel charges. | Requester must be at least 18 and be named on the record, an immediate family member, or show legal proof that it is needed for personal or property rights. | By State law, vital records filed with this office are not open for public inspection and the requestor must meet eligibility requirements -- must be named on the record, an immediate family member, or someone who can provide legal proof the record is necessary for the determination of personal or property rights. [K.S.A. 65-2422d] | Regular or priority-mail requests depend on volume and are listed at 7 to 10 business days. | The application is for a certified Kansas death copy. | Not published | Not published | Kansas Department of Health and Environment; Kansas Department of Health and Environment |
| Kentucky | Office of Vital Statistics | https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dehp/vsb/Pages/death-certificates.aspx | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics |
| Louisiana | Vital Records Registry | https://www.ldh.la.gov/page/how-to-order-death-records | VitalChek https://www.ldh.la.gov/page/how-to-order-death-records | $7.00 | $7.00 | Standard certified copy ordered by state mail | State mail copies cost $7 each, plus $0.50 per order. Clerk-of-court and online vendor charges differ. | The office lists eligible relatives, beneficiaries, representatives, authorized applicants and financial institutions. Starred categories are served by the central office only. Read the full quoted proof requirements. | Who may order a death certificate? Surviving spouse of the person named on the document. (Must be listed as the Surviving Spouse on the document) Parent, adult child, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild of the person named on the document A person named in a court proceeding as a member of the immediate or surviving family of the person named in the certificate. * The beneficiary of an insurance policy or trust (must have a signed copy of the policy listing applicant as beneficiary and written statement on the insurance company's letterhead indicating the listed benificiary). * A universal or general legatee in judgment of possession. * Any beneficiary of a decedent's public pension plan, individual retirement account or other private retirement plan or pension. * Any beneficiary of a decedent's financial institution account, including security accounts, classified as a "payable on death account". * A succession representative (Must provide a certified Letter of Testamentary or Letter of Administration certified by the Clerk of Court ). * An attorney, along with a written declaration that he is preparing a small succession pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure Article 3431 et seq for the deceased person whose death certificate is being requested or is representing one of the above entitled named persons (must be on letterhead, include bar roll number and a copy of current identification). * An agent for the surety of the person named in the certificate when the person named in the certificate is a party to a criminal bail bond. Proper documentation, including a copy of the power of attorney, shall be required by the agent for the surety requesting the certificate. * A notary, when he submits his credentials and a declaration that he is assisting an heir of the deceased in the prepartion of a small sucession on accordance with the Code of Civil Procedure Article 3431 et seq (must be on letterhead, include notary number and a copy of current identification). * A federally insured financial institution. Bank or credit union representative, or authorized agents must provide a formal letter on the institution's official letterhead stating the purpose of the request, the deceased individual's account number, and the last four digits of the decedent's Social Security number. The letter must also include the institution's FDIC Certificate Number or NCUA Charter Number. The representative must present either an official employee photo identification badge or a government-issued photo identification. If presenting a government-issued photo identification, the representative must also provide a business card identifying them as an employee or authorized agent of the institution. * Louisiana Disclosure of Records Statute R.S. 40:41 requires authorization to release birth and death records to individuals who are not entitled. To release birth and death records to individuals who are not entitled, the registrant must submit an Authorization Release of Records and a copy of the ID of the person authorized to receive a certified copy of the document(s). *These requests must be submitted to the Center for Vital Records and Statistics central office in person or by mail. | Allow approximately 8 to 10 weeks for mail delivery. | The state ordering route provides certified death certificates. | Not published | Participating clerks of court offer copies for deaths on or after July 7, 2012, with an additional fee. | Louisiana Department of Health; Louisiana Department of Health |
| Maine | Data, Research, and Vital Statistics (DRVS) | https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/vital-records/request-documents | VitalChek https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/vital-records/request-documents | $15.00 | $6.00 | Standard certified copy ordered by state mail | The search fee includes one certified copy if found. Extras must be requested with the same search; the search fee remains payable if no record is found. | A direct and legitimate interest is required for a certified copy. Read the office's full requirements. | To protect the integrity of vital records, a municipal clerk or the Department must not permit inspection or disclosure of information contained in vital records or issue a copy of all or part of any such record, unless the applicant has a direct and legitimate interest in the record. | Mail applications average 5 to 7 business days after Vital Records receives them. | Not published | Noncertified copies are not legal documents. The published search-and-noncertified-copy fee is $10. | Municipal clerks can issue records subject to the same direct and legitimate interest requirement. | Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention |
| Maryland | Division of Vital Records | https://health.maryland.gov/vsa/Pages/death.aspx | VitalChek https://health.maryland.gov/vsa/Pages/death.aspx | $10.00 | $12.00 | Standard certified copy ordered by state mail | First copy is $10, and each extra copy of the same copy in the same transaction is $12. Mail payment uses check or money order. | A surviving relative or authorized representative of the deceased, or the funeral director responsible for final disposition. | The Following Persons May Apply: Surviving relative or authorized representative of the deceased Funeral director who was in charge of the final disposition of the body of the deceased. Funeral directors can click here for information on online ordering. | Not published | DVR provides certified copies for Maryland deaths in 2012 or later; earlier records go through the Maryland State Archives. | Not published | Not published | Maryland Department of Health; Maryland Department of Health |
| Massachusetts | Registry of Vital Records and Statistics | https://www.mass.gov/how-to/order-a-birth-marriage-or-death-certificate | VitalChek https://www.mass.gov/how-to/order-a-birth-marriage-or-death-certificate | $32.00 | $32.00 | Standard certified copy ordered by state mail | Standard state mail service costs $32 per copy and includes a ten-year search. In-person, expedited and online prices differ. | This passage concerns death records with a full Social Security number. It lists accepted relationships, authority and supporting documents. Ask the office about other record formats. | Access to death records with a Social Security number (SSN) are restricted to: The spouse or domestic partner of the decedent identified in the record of death The parent or legal guardian of the decedent identified in the record of death The child of the decedent identified in the record of death The grandchild of the decedent identified in the record of death The grandparent of the decedent identified in the record of death The sibling of the decedent identified in the record of death The informant listed on the record of death A funeral director, licensed in accordance with M.G.L. c. 112, § 83, who is listed on the record of death A conservator, personal representative, or legal representative of the decedent’s estate A government official who needs access to a decedent’s social security number to fulfill an official government function A person identified through court order to have access to the decedent’s social security number Any other person with a direct tangible interest in the estate of the decedent, at the discretion of the Registrar of Vital Records and Statistics or the local clerk where the death occurred Required documentation for each relationship differs. Review the Death Record SSN guide for more information. | Published mail estimates conflict. The ordering page says within 30 business days, while the 2026 fee schedule says 15 to 20 business days. Confirm with RVRS. | RVRS issues only certified copies, regardless of intended use. | RVRS does not issue an informational-copy alternative through this service. | Not published | Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics; Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics |
| Michigan | Michigan Vital Records Office | https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/doing-business/vitalrecords/order-a-copy-of-a-vital-record | VitalChek https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/doing-business/vitalrecords/order-a-copy-of-a-vital-record | $34.00 | $16.00 | Standard certified copy ordered by state mail | The $34 base fee includes a one-year search and one certified copy or no-find letter. Extra copies cost $16 each. Extra search years and rush service cost more. | Michigan death records are unrestricted. Anyone may request a search with a completed, signed application and the required fee. | Death records are not restricted documents in Michigan. Anyone can request that a search be conducted if the application is completed, signed, and submitted with the required fee paid. | The current ordering page says 10 to 12 weeks for regular orders. The linked application still says approximately 4 to 6 weeks in-office plus mail time. Confirm with the office. | Both short and long forms are certified. The short form omits medical information and manner of death; the long form includes the full registration. | Not published | Not published | Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; Michigan Department of Health and Human Services |
| Minnesota | Office of Vital Records | https://www.health.mn.gov/people/vitalrecords/birthnc.html | Not published | $13.00 | $6.00 | Standard certified copy ordered by state mail | The first certified copy costs $13, and each additional copy costs $6. Faster processing and express delivery may cost more. | Eligibility depends on the record classification and relationship to the deceased. Identification and a signature before a notary or county vital-records staff are required; consult the full eligibility table. | A requester is eligible to receive a certificate based on the data classification of the record and the requester’s relationship to the subject of the record. All certificate requesters must provide identification and sign the request form in front of a notary public or county vital records staff, attesting to their eligibility to receive the certificate. | Not published | A death certificate is a certified legal document issued from a death record. | Anyone may buy a noncertified informational death record, which is different from a certified copy. | Many records can be requested through county offices. Death records from before 1908 must be requested from the county where the death occurred. | Minnesota Department of Health; Minnesota Department of Health; Minnesota Department of Health |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Vital Records | https://www.msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/31%2C1248%2C109%2C62.html | Not published | $17.00 | $6.00 | Standard certified copy ordered by state mail | The first certified copy costs $17, and each extra copy ordered at the same time costs $6. | Applicants need a legitimate and tangible interest. Listed relatives, the informant, guardians, authorized legal representatives, a court-order applicant or the funeral home on record may qualify, with required proof. | Eligibility: A certified copy of a death certificate can be issued only to a person with legitimate and tangible interest as defined by the Rules Governing the Registration and Certification of Vital Events. Primarily this is: 1) Parent(s) listed on the death record. 2) Spouse, sibling(s), or grandparent(s)/child(ren) of registrant; proof of relationship required. 3) Informant; must be listed on death record. 4) Legal Guardian; guardianship papers must be provided. 5) Legal representative of one of the above persons; proof of representation must be provided. 6) Other person(s) by court order; certified copy of court order must be provided. 7) Funeral Home: must be the funeral home on record that took possession of the body. | Generally 7 to 10 business days after receipt of the request. | Not published | Plain-paper copies are provided for genealogy, with the genealogy purpose and relationship stated. | Not published | Mississippi State Department of Health; Mississippi State Department of Health |
| Missouri | Bureau of Vital Records | https://health.mo.gov/vital-records-registries/vital-records/order-copy-vital-record | VitalChek https://health.mo.gov/vital-records-registries/vital-records/order-copy-vital-record | $14.00 | $11.00 | Standard certified copy ordered by state mail | The $14 state search fee includes one certified copy if found. Extra copies of that death record ordered at the same time cost $11 each. | The applicant needs a direct and tangible interest. Family members, guardians or official representatives can qualify, with required identification and supporting documents. | State law only allows a certified copy of a vital record to be issued to a person with a direct and tangible interest in the record. Pursuant to 19 CSR 10-10 , the registrant, a member of his/her family, his/her guardian, or one of their official representatives shall be considered to have a direct and tangible interest and may be issued a certified copy of a vital record such as a birth or death certificate. | Standard state mail requests take approximately 4 to 8 weeks. Errors or additional research can extend this. | Not published | Not published | Local public health agencies can provide death records from 1980 onward. State records cover 1910 onward, with short and long forms. | Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services; Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services; Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services |
| Montana | Montana Office of Vital Records | https://www.dphhs.mt.gov/vitalrecords/BirthDeathCertificates | VitalChek and VitalRecordsOnline https://www.dphhs.mt.gov/vitalrecords/BirthDeathCertificates | $16.00 | $16.00 | Standard certified copy ordered by state mail | Certified death certificates cost $16 each. Online vendor service charges are separate. The state names VitalChek and VitalRecordsOnline; both are optional third-party channels. | Anyone submitting a completed application, proving identity and stating a reason may obtain a certified copy. Pending autopsy or investigation records omit the cause of death. | Complete copies of a certified death certificate will be issued to anyone who submits a completed application, establishes their identity, and lists the reason for needing the copy. If a death certificate lists the cause of death as "pending autopsy" or "pending investigation", a certified copy which has the cause of death information removed will be issued. | The office says processing varies with staffing and workload; it gives no fixed duration on the order page. | Certified abstract and long-form versions are available. | Informational copies use plain paper and are not valid for legal identification. | Any Montana County Clerk and Recorder office can issue a death certificate, regardless of which Montana county the death occurred in. | Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services; Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services; Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services |
| Nebraska | Office of Vital Records | https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/vital-records.aspx | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services |
| Nevada | Office of Vital Records | https://www.dpbh.nv.gov/programs/birth-death-marriage-divorce-records/birth-death-vital-records-faqs/ | VitalChek https://www.dpbh.nv.gov/programs/birth-death-marriage-divorce-records/birth-death-vital-records-faqs/ | Not published | Not published | Standard certified state-mail fee varies with county of death | Copies cost $25 each for Carson, Clark, Douglas, Lyon, Mineral or Washoe deaths, and $22 each for other Nevada counties. No single statewide price is used. | A blood, marriage or legal relationship, or a need to facilitate a legal process, must be established with proof. The official application describes the proof requirement. | NRS 440.650 and NAC 440.070 requires the applicant to establish a direct relationship by blood or marriage, a legal relationship or a need to facilitate a legal process to receive a certified copy of a certificate. | Not published | The state application requests a certified copy of a death certificate. | Not published | Not published | Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health; Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health |
| New Hampshire | Division of Vital Records Administration | https://www.sos.nh.gov/vital-records-0/purchasing-correcting-vital-records/request-certificates | Not published | $15.00 | $10.00 | Standard certified copy ordered by state mail | The search fee is $15, whether or not found. Extra copies of the same record issued at the same time cost $10. | The Division of Vital Records Administration issues certified copies to qualified individuals and agencies with a direct and tangible interest. Read the office's full requirements. | In addition to all 234 local City and Town Clerks, the Division of Vital Records Administration (DVRA) issues certified copies of birth, death, marriage, divorce and civil union certificates to qualified individuals and agencies that provide a "direct and tangible" interest in obtaining a record. | Not published | The application offers death records with cause and manner, manner only, or neither; ask the receiving organization which version it needs. | Not published | Certified records may also be requested from New Hampshire city and town clerks. | New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration; New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration |
| New Jersey | Office of Vital Statistics and Registry | https://nj.gov/health/vital/order-vital/non-genealogical-records/ | VitalChek https://nj.gov/health/vital/order-vital/non-genealogical-records/ | $25.00 | $2.00 | Standard certified copy ordered by state mail | State fees are $25 for search and one copy or no-record statement, plus $2 for each extra same-record copy ordered together. Municipal fees vary. | The subject's parent, legal guardian or representative, spouse or civil-union partner, adult child, grandchild or sibling, official agencies and court-order applicants may qualify with identity and relationship proof. | To get a certified copy of a person’s vital record, you must provide proof of your relationship to the person listed on the record and the proof must establish you are one of the following: The subject of the record The subject’s parent, legal guardian or legal representative The subject’s spouse/civil union partner; child, grandchild or sibling, if of legal age A state or federal agency for official purposes Pursuant to court order | Official pages conflict. The contact page says mailed requests take 8 to 10 weeks from approval; the order page says vendor mail requests typically take 2 to 4 weeks, excluding delivery and deficient applications. | A certified copy requires proof of relationship. | A certification is an uncertified informational copy, not valid for establishing identity or legal purposes; identification is still required. | Local municipal vital-records offices also process requests; their fees and processing times vary. | New Jersey Department of Health; New Jersey Department of Health |
| New Mexico | Bureau of Vital Records & Health Statistics | https://www.nmhealth.org/about/erd/bvrhs/vrp | VitalChek https://www.nmhealth.org/about/erd/bvrhs/vrp | $5.00 | $5.00 | Standard certified copy ordered by state mail | A $5 death-record search includes one copy if available, and extra copies are $5 each. Search fees are nonrefundable. | Immediate family or people with tangible proof of legal interest may obtain restricted death records. Death certificates become public after 50 years. | Birth and death certificates are restricted to the registrant, their immediate family, or people who have a tangible proof of legal interest in the record. Death certificates are public after 50 years. | The current application states an average of 6 to 12 weeks, subject to application volume. | Not published | Not published | Death certificates are available from the Santa Fe office, in person or by mail. | New Mexico Department of Health; New Mexico Department of Health |
| New York City | NYC Health Department | https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/services/birth-death-records-death.page | VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/v/death-certificates/new-york/new-york-city-dept-of-health-and-mental-hygiene?click_id=855402888016363522&ppc=0 | $15.00 | $15.00 | NYC Health non-premium mail application for a certified death copy | Non-premium mail $15 per copy. Use the non-premium application for this fee basis; premium mail and online are separate options. | Family and listed authorized parties; others must document the right to a copy. Cause-of-death reports have a narrower entitled-party list. | Only the following relations to the deceased can request both a death certificate and the confidential cause of death medical report: Spouse Domestic partner Parent Child Sibling Grandparent Grandchild Informant listed on the certificate Person in charge of disposition If you would like a death certificate and cause of death report and are not listed above as an eligible relation to the deceased, you must document your right to get the certificate and report. | Non-premium mail 8 to 12 weeks. This estimate does not apply to premium or online orders. | Since 2019 NYC copies have no raised seal; certified security paper supplies the authentication features. | Not published | Not published | New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene |
| New York State outside New York City | Vital Records Certification Unit | https://www.health.ny.gov/vital_records/death.htm | VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/death-certificates/new-york/ny-state-vital-records | $30.00 | $30.00 | Standard certified copy ordered by state mail | State mail orders are $30 per copy. Online and phone orders have a different per-copy fee and a separate vendor transaction fee. | Spouse, parent, child or sibling of the deceased, or other applicants with a documented lawful right or claim, medical need, or New York State court order. | Who is eligible to get a copy of a death certificate? The spouse, parent, child or sibling of the deceased Other people who have a: documented lawful right or claim documented medical need New York State Court Order | The state reports significant order-processing delays without a general duration on this page. | This state route excludes all five New York City boroughs. | Not published | Death records are also available from the local Registrar of Vital Statistics where the death occurred. | New York State Department of Health |
| North Carolina | NC Vital Records | https://vitalrecords.nc.gov/order.htm | VitalChek https://vitalrecords.nc.gov/order.htm | $24.00 | $15.00 | Standard mailed death certificate application routed to VitalChek by NC Vital Records | Nonrefundable $24 search includes one copy if found; $15 each additional copy. A $13.95 VitalChek processing fee also applies. | Listed family, people establishing personal or property rights, and their authorized agents, attorneys or legal representatives; identity and eligibility proof required. | A person requesting a copy of his or her own vital records or that of the person's spouse, sibling, direct ancestor, direct descendant, stepparent, or stepchild A person seeking information for a legal determination of personal or property rights or An authorized agent, attorney, or legal representative of a person described above NOTE: Proof of identity and proof of eligibility are required. | Regular death records from 2022 onward average 2 business days; 1930 to 2021 average 11 business days, from system entry to shipment. This excludes intake and delivery. | Certified copies have the registrar signature and raised seal and serve most legal or official purposes. | Uncertified copies are on plain white paper, marked Uncertified, for informational use; they are not accepted for legal purposes. | The Register of Deeds in the county where the event occurred can also issue copies, usually the same day. | North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services; North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services; North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services; North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services |
| North Dakota | Vital Records | https://www.hhs.nd.gov/vital/death | Not published | $15.00 | $10.00 | Standard state mail order for certified death copies | First certified copy $15; additional copies $10 when ordered at the same time. | Complete record for qualifying relatives, authorized representatives, reporting funeral directors or court order. Facts-of-death copies also serve licensed attorneys for a bona fide legal determination. | A certified copy of a COMPLETE DEATH RECORD may be issued to a relative*, an authorized representative, a funeral director reporting the facts of death, or by the order of a court of competent jurisdiction. (*) Relative - Based on NDCC 23.02-1, for the purposes of disclosing death information, means a person's current or surviving spouse, a parent or legal guardian, a child, a grandparent, a grandchild or a genetic sibling. | Usually mailed 3 to 5 business days after receipt; return mail time excluded. | Complete certified records contain cause of death and SSN. Certified facts-of-death copies include SSN but omit cause of death. | Its public informational copy is also certified, omits cause of death and SSN, and is available to the general public. The office issues no uncertified copies. | Not published | North Dakota Health and Human Services |
| Ohio | Bureau of Vital Statistics | https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/vital-statistics/how-to-order-certificates | Not published | $21.50 | $21.50 | Standard state mail order for certified death copies | Certified death copies $21.50 each. The $21.50 search charge applies even if no record is found. | Anyone who can supply the basic copy facts may request a copy, according to the office's Spanish-language guidance. | Registros vitales (registros de nacimientos, muertes, muertes fetales y paternidad) son registros públicos en Ohio. Esto significa que cualquier persona que pueda presentar los hechos básicos de un certificado podrá solicitar una copia. | Mail-in orders typically take 4 to 6 weeks to process; expedited mail service is not offered. | Not published | Not published | Local vital-statistics offices offer certified copies; pre 1971 death copies must be requested from the local office where death occurred. | Ohio Department of Health; Ohio Department of Health; Ohio Department of Health |
| Oklahoma | Vital Records Service | https://oklahoma.gov/health/services/birth-and-death-certificates/faqs.html | VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/ | $15.00 | $15.00 | Standard state mail order for certified death copies | Mailed certified death copies are $15 each. Online and phone convenience, vendor and shipping fees use a separate channel. | The applicant must work in the record subject's best interest and provide proof of familial or legal relationship; supporting documents may be required. | Eligible applicants must be working in the best interest of the subject of the record. Death Records Applicant must provide proof of familial or legal relationship, i.e. birth, death or marriage certificates; court orders, legal will and testament, contracts, etc. | Official FAQ conflicts. One mail section says approximately 6 weeks; its death-copy FAQ says allow at least 16 weeks. Confirm with the office before relying on a date. | Not published | Not published | Not published | Oklahoma State Department of Health |
| Oregon | Oregon Vital Records | https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/birthdeathcertificates/pages/orderdeathcertificate.aspx | VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/ | $25.00 | $25.00 | Standard state mail order for certified death copies | Mail initial nonrefundable search and first copy $25; each additional copy $25. | At least 18 years old; prove an eligible relationship or another listed authority/property right. Access is restricted for 50 years after death. | According to Oregon law, access to death records is restricted for 50 years after the date of the death. Be at Least 18 Years Old. Meet Eligibility Requirement to Receive the Certificate and, if Necessary, Provide Proof of Eligibility. | Mail orders approximately 3 to 5 weeks after office receipt. Missing information, eligibility review, amendments or missing records can delay processing. | Short form omits cause of death; long form includes it. Both cost $25. Check the receiving organization's requirements. | Not published | Local Oregon county health departments are another official route for certified copies. | Oregon Health Authority |
| Pennsylvania | Division of Vital Records | https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/programs/vital-records/death-certificates | VitalChek https://mycertificates.health.pa.gov/ | $20.00 | $20.00 | Standard state mail order for certified death copies | Standard death copies $20 each, regardless of quantity. This copy-fee basis excludes online service charges. | Applicants must be 18 or older. Listed relatives, estate representatives and people with a documented direct financial interest may qualify; extra documents apply. | Eligible applicants must be 18 years of age or older, and include the following: Spouse Parent or step-parent (step-parent must provided marriage certificate) Sibling or half-sibling Child or step-child (step-child must provide parent’s marriage certificate) Grandparent or great-grandparent Grandchild or great-grandchild Other family members not listed above, including ex-spouses, must submit documentation to support direct interest. Attorney or legal representative of the estate (with additional documents) Executor or Administrator of the estate (with additional documents) Individual with direct financial interest (must provide additional documents) | Paper death applications mailed to Vital Records take approximately 3 weeks; delivery time is additional. | Certified legal document on security paper with raised seal. With-medical and without-medical versions are copy types; without-medical is available for deaths after 2019. | Not published | Not published | Pennsylvania Department of Health; Pennsylvania Department of Health |
| Rhode Island | Center for Vital Records | https://health.ri.gov/vital-records/requesting-vital-record-state | VitalChek https://health.ri.gov/vital-records/requesting-vital-record-state | $25.00 | $18.00 | Standard state mail order for certified death copies | State mail/drop-box first copy $25; extra copies $18 when purchased the same day. Rush and extended-search charges are separate. | Listed relatives, guardians, attorneys/title examiners, incorporated genealogical societies, court-ordered applicants, funeral directors and people protecting personal or property rights; identification required. | Registrant (name on the record) if of legal age (18) His or her issue (child, child’s child, etc.) Spouse (or legally registered partner) Parent(s) listed on the Birth Record, sibling, or l egal guardian (must provide guardianship papers) Attorneys-at-law, title examiners, or members of legally incorporated genealogical societies By Court Order (must provide copy of court order) Funeral Directors Persons requiring information for the determination or protection of a personal or property right | Standard state mail/drop-box processing 4 to 6 weeks; rush 5 to 7 business days costs extra. | Not published | Not published | Not published | Rhode Island Department of Health |
| South Carolina | Vital Records Section | https://dph.sc.gov/public/vital-records/death-certificates | Go Certificates https://www.gocertificates.com/; VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/ | $12.00 | $3.00 | Standard state mail order for certified death copies | Mail $12 nonrefundable search includes one certified copy if found; extra copies of the same type ordered together $3 each. Mail cannot be expedited. | Immediate family or an immediate family member's legal representative. Other applicants may receive a death statement, not a certified copy. | Immediate family members of the decedent's family or the legal representative of an immediate family member may obtain a certified copy of a death certificate. Other applicants may be provided a statement that the death occurred, including the date and county of death, but not an actual certified copy of a death certificate. | Mail approximately 4 weeks after receipt, excluding amendments. | Not published | After 50 years death records become public; noncertified public copies are issued unless an entitled party specifically requests certification. | State and regional Vital Records offices can issue death copies from any South Carolina county. | South Carolina Department of Public Health; South Carolina Department of Public Health |
| South Dakota | Vital Records Office | https://doh.sd.gov/licensing-and-records/vital-records/order-vital-records/ | VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/ | $15.00 | $15.00 | Standard state mail order for certified death copies | Mail/in-person record copies $15 each. Phone/online expedited and vendor fees are separate. | Listed spouse/child, parent/guardian, next of kin, authorized/designated agent or applicant with a personal/property right; identification required. | Individuals eligible for a certified copy include the following: Registrant - Individual listed on the record Spouse, Child Parent, Guardian Next of Kin - grandparents and siblings Authorized Agent - attorney, physician, funeral director (documentation may be required) Designated Agent - someone given authority by an individual who has authority to obtain the vital record to act on their behalf. Must complete the designated agent section of the application. Personal or Property Right - a right to the record not included in the categories above. Individuals will be asked to provide information about the right. | Processing times vary by location; the state gives no fixed mail turnaround on this order page. | Certified copies use security paper, raised seal and the issuing agent's signature for identification/legal purposes. | Informational copies use plain paper, no raised seal/signature, and say they are not legal proof of identification. | Mail and in-person requests may also go to any South Dakota Register of Deeds. | South Dakota Department of Health; South Dakota Department of Health; South Dakota Department of Health |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Vital Records | https://vitalrecords.tn.gov/hc/en-us/articles/36323891148435-How-do-I-get-my-certificate-In-Person-Local-County-Health-Department-Mail-or-Online | VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/ | $15.00 | $15.00 | Standard state mail order for certified death copies | $15 per copy; a search fee is nonrefundable if the record is not on file. | Parent, child or spouse qualifies; other applicants must supply documents proving entitlement. Cause-of-death access has its own restricted list. | IF you are not a qualified applicant, (parent, child, or spouse), you will also need to present any documents to support your right to the certificate. Entitlement documents can include custody orders, letters of testamentary, insurance policies denoting the beneficiaries, etc. | The official table dated June 23, 2026 lists 3 days for mail copy requests requiring no changes. Estimates change with workload; delivery is additional. | Cause of death is available only to the parent, child, spouse, or attorney/agency acting for the estate or qualifying family member. | Not published | All county health departments can issue registered Tennessee birth/death certificates statewide. | Tennessee Department of Health; Tennessee Department of Health; Tennessee Department of Health; Tennessee Department of Health |
| Texas | Vital Statistics | https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics/death-records | Not published | $20.00 | $3.00 | Standard state mail order for certified death copies | First death copy $20; additional copies ordered together $3 each. Default USPS First Class return mail has no charge. Expedited charges are separate. | For deaths within 25 years, immediate family may apply. Others must document a direct, tangible interest, such as a court order or beneficiary policy. | For deaths within the past 25 years, only the immediate family members of the person whose name is on the death certificate are eligible to request a copy. All other applicants must provide legal documentation (such as a court order establishing guardianship, an insurance policy listing the applicant as the beneficiary, etc) that documents a direct, tangible interest in the birth or death certificate. | Mail-in certified death orders average 25 to 30 business days. Texas.gov online orders average 20 to 25 business days. | A verification letter does not replace a certified death copy; check the receiving organization's required product. | Death-verification letters are not legal substitutes for certified death certificates. | Not published | Texas Department of State Health Services; Texas Department of State Health Services; Texas Department of State Health Services; Texas Department of State Health Services |
| Utah | Office of Vital Records and Statistics | https://vitalrecords.utah.gov/order-a-vital-record-certificate | Not published | $35.00 | $10.00 | Domestic standard state mail order for certified death copies | Effective July 1, 2026. Initial certified death copy $35; additional copies $10 for the same record ordered on the same day. Standard shipping adds $1 per order; international shipping is $2 instead. | Immediate family, guardian of the deceased, or designated legal representative must show a direct, tangible and legitimate interest. | Persons entitled to obtain a certified copy of a death record must demonstrate a “direct, tangible, and legitimate interest.” Utah Code Section 26B-8-125(3) states “A direct, tangible, and legitimate interest is present only if the applicant is a member of the deceased person’s immediate family; the guardian of the deceased; or a designated legal representative.” | Allow at least 6 weeks for mail processing and mailing. | Not published | Not published | Local Utah health departments can provide certified copies with the required application, fees and identification. | Utah Department of Health and Human Services; Utah Department of Health and Human Services; Utah Department of Health and Human Services |
| Vermont | Department of Health | https://www.healthvermont.gov/stats/vital-records/order-vital-records | Not published | $10.00 | $10.00 | Standard state mail order for certified death copies | Certified copies $10 per copy. The $2 processing fee applies only when ordering online. Noncertified copies are free. | Family, legal guardians, certain court-appointed parties or their legal representatives; funeral homes/crematoriums may apply for death copies. Valid identification required. | Only family members, legal guardians, certain court-appointed parties or their legal representatives can apply for a certified copy of a birth or death certificate. For death certificates, a funeral home or crematorium may apply for a certified copy. For death certificates, a funeral home or crematorium may apply for a certified copy. | Not published | State engraved security paper with raised seal. | Noncertified copies use plain white paper and a noncertified watermark and are free. | Town/city clerks can issue certified or noncertified death copies from January 1, 1909 onward; older copies if filed locally. | Vermont Department of Health |
| Virginia | Office of Vital Records | https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/applications-for-a-vital-record/ | VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/ | $15.00 | $15.00 | Standard state mail order for certified death copies | Effective July 1, 2026, $15 for each certified vital-record copy or unsuccessful search. Mail/check or money-order payment is available. | Full certified death copies for immediate family. Other people with a direct, tangible interest may receive a Verification of Death. Death records become public after 25 years. | Only immediate family members are entitled to full certified copies of death certificates. However, non-immediate family members can receive a Verification of Death if they have a direct and tangible interest for the certificate. | Office's Standard Processing option states 2 weeks, with untracked USPS shipping. | Virginia certification paper has met state requirements without a raised seal since February 1, 2001. | Non-immediate family with direct and tangible interest may get Verification of Death with limited details; this differs from a full certified copy. | Local health departments and DMV locations offer many records; check office availability. | Virginia Department of Health; Virginia Department of Health |
| Washington | Washington State Department of Health | https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/vital-records/ordering-vital-record | VitalChek https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/vital-records/ordering-vital-record | $25.00 | $25.00 | Standard state mail order for certified death copies | Fees start at $25 per certified copy or noncertified informational copy, are nonrefundable, and may have ordering/shipping charges. | Certified copies require a listed qualifying relationship, identity proof and relationship proof. Short-form eligibility includes additional title/property-right applicants. | For security of personal information, only individuals with specific qualifying relationships, also known as qualified applicants, to the subject of the requested record can receive a death certificate or fetal death certificate. Identity and proof of qualifying relationship documentation is required. | By mail, receive the order within 8 to 10 weeks after payment is received and processed, with full payment and required documents. | Long and short forms are certified legal documents. Long form includes cause/manner of death and SSN; short form omits these. | Noncertified informational copies cannot serve legal purposes; anyone may request one without identity/relationship proof. | Local Washington health departments also issue copies; many offer same-day service, sometimes with an additional fee. | Washington State Department of Health |
| West Virginia | Vital Registration Office | https://dhhr.wv.gov/HSC/VR/CR/Pages/default.aspx | VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/v/vital-records/west-virginia | $12.00 | $12.00 | Standard state mail order for certified death copies | Mail $12 per copy, including a nonrefundable search. Additional three-year searches cost $12. Check/money order only by mail. | Listed informant, parents/grandparents, adult children/grandchildren/siblings, spouse or legal representatives. Proof of relationship and valid identification may be required. | Who is entitled to obtain records: ● Informant listed on the death certificate; ● Parents/grandparents; ● Adult children/grandchildren; ● Adult siblings; ● Spouse; and ● Legal representatives (proof of legal representation also required). Proof of relationship may also be required. | Not published | Vital Registration issues certified death copies. | Not published | Not published | West Virginia Department of Health, Health Statistics Center; West Virginia Department of Health, Health Statistics Center |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Vital Records Office | https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/vitalrecords/record.htm | VitalChek https://www.vitalchek.com/ | $20.00 | $3.00 | Standard state mail order for certified death copies | State mail $20 first copy of each record; $3 each additional copy of the same record. | Certified copies require direct and tangible interest as specified on the application; identification required. Listed immediate family, authorized representatives and documented personal/property-right applicants may qualify. | Can only be obtained with a direct and tangible interest as defined in Wis. Stat. § 69.20(1). | About 10 business days after the office receives a mailed order; excludes mail to/from the office. | Security paper, raised seal and State Registrar signature. Fact of Death omits cause/manner/final burial; Extended Fact of Death includes more detail. | Uncertified copies use plain white paper and are stamped as unsuitable for legal/identification purposes. Cause-of-death access has additional restrictions. | County Register of Deeds offices issue records; Milwaukee and West Allis city health offices also offer Wisconsin birth/death records. Availability depends on record type/date. | Wisconsin Department of Health Services; Wisconsin Department of Health Services |
| Wyoming | Vital Statistics Services | https://health.wyo.gov/admin/vitalstatistics/orders/ | Not published | $25.00 | $20.00 | Standard state mail order for certified death copies | Mail first death copy $25, each additional $20. A self-addressed stamped envelope is required. Four or more lifetime copies may require the Excessive Copies Form. | Immediate family (parent, spouse, child over 18), lawyer for immediate family or entity paying a death benefit; public entitlement after 50 years. | Entitlement for Death records means an immediate family member (parent, spouse, child over 18), a lawyer representing the immediate family or an entity paying a policy/death benefit on the decedent. Members of the public are entitled after fifty (50) years has lapsed. | Not published | Standard certified computer-generated abstracts are accepted for legal purposes. | Genealogical closed-record verifications are redacted and may not contain all original information; evidence of death and relationship required. | Not published | Wyoming Department of Health; Wyoming Department of Health |
Review benefits and official paperwork
What should you confirm before ordering?
Does every account need a separate certified copy?
Ask each institution before ordering. Count only confirmed requests. Group bank and brokerage accounts by institution. Group life insurers, retirement and pension providers by company. Group real estate by county and vehicles by title office.
Does this confirm who can order?
No. Read the office's quoted eligibility wording and its full instructions. The office decides what proof it accepts. Record age, relationship, legal purpose and record format can change access. Talk with a lawyer in your state about legal questions.
Is this the full order price?
The result shows copy fees and any separately listed office charges. Vendor, shipping, expedited, special-record and search charges can differ. A discount may require the same record, channel and order. Confirm the complete price with the office.
When should I return?
Return when another place asks for a copy or before a new order. We recheck office sources every quarter and sweep fees in January. Ask the office to confirm current prices and timing.
How does this tool work?
- 1What it does
Find the official order page, copy fees, eligibility wording and processing time for every state, DC and New York City.
- 2How it decides
Our editorial rule adds one certified copy for each place that confirms it needs one, plus one or two spares. Count each institution, provider, county, title office or agency once. Ask them before ordering. A count remains provisional while requests are unconfirmed. Copy fees use the selected office's stated record, order and channel conditions. Listed per-order, per-copy and per-block charges stay separate.
- 3Your answers
Your counts stay in this browser. Anonymous tool-use counts contain no answers. A copied link includes your answers in its fragment. Share links and downloads only with people you choose.
- 4What it is based on
Each row links its vital-records office. New York State and New York City have separate offices. Quoted eligibility wording stays unchanged. We recheck every quarter and sweep fees in January. We recheck each official source at least once a year and update this page when one changes.
- 5What it doesn't do
This does not establish eligibility, place an order, choose a legal form or confirm an institution's document policy. Unknown cells say Not published. Copy fees can exclude additional service, shipping, search or vendor charges. Processing times are office estimates, not delivery promises. Talk with a lawyer in your state about legal questions. It covers the United States. This is general information, not legal, medical or financial advice.
Where do these facts come from?
| Fact | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska charges $30 for the first certified death copy and $25 for same-record additional copies in the same order. | Alaska Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Alaska lists spouses, parents, children, siblings and documented attorneys or agencies for death-copy requests. | Alaska Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Health Analytics and Vital Records is the office or agency named on the official death-records source. | Alaska Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Alaska names VitalChek as an online ordering service. | Alaska Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Alaska lists the Office of Public Advocacy with certified delegated conservatorship or guardianship papers. | Alaska Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Alaska lists a separate public-record white copy for deaths more than 50 years before application. | Alaska Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Alaska lists regular mail without tracking at no charge. | Alaska Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Alabama charges $15 for the search and first certified copy, and $6 for each same-record copy ordered at the same time. | Alabama Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Alabama permits certified death record orders through any county health department. | Alabama Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Alabama restricts recent death records to its listed relatives, representatives, and informant. | Alabama Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Alabama Center for Health Statistics is the office or agency named on the official death-records source. | Alabama Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Alabama states that records may be obtained by mail in about seven to 10 days. | Alabama Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Alabama death records more than 25 years old are available to anyone who pays the fee. | Alabama Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Alabama names VitalChek as an online ordering service. | Alabama Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Arkansas charges $10 for the first death copy and $8 for same-record copies ordered together. | Arkansas Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Arkansas lists these family, informant, funeral-home and documented-beneficiary categories for death records. | Arkansas Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Arkansas Department of Health is the office or agency named on the official death-records source. | Arkansas Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Arkansas accepts certified death-copy requests by mail. | Arkansas Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Arkansas states 10 to 14 days of mail processing, excluding delivery. | Arkansas Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Arizona Department of Health Services is the office or agency named on the official death-records source. | Arizona Department of Health Services (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| CDPH-VR increased certified-copy fees effective January 1, 2026 under AB 64. | California Department of Public Health (Fee schedule effective January 1, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| California requires a notarized sworn statement for an authorized certified copy. | California Department of Public Health (Complete official eligibility list checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| California lists relatives, partners and documented authorized representatives among authorized-copy requesters. | California Department of Public Health (Complete official eligibility list checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| CDPH-VR charges $26 for each certified death copy ordered by mail. | California Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| CDPH-VR states an average 4 to 6 weeks for a certified copy and notes that county offices may be faster. | California Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| California directs in-person copy requests to the county where the death was registered. | California Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| California lists the authorized applicants and supporting-document conditions for vital-record copies. | California Department of Public Health (Complete official eligibility list checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| California informational copies cannot establish identity, although they are certified copies. | California Department of Public Health (Complete official eligibility list checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| California Department of Public Health Vital Records is the office or agency named on the official death-records source. | California Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| CDPH-VR stopped accepting online third-party submissions on July 1, 2026 and directly processes mail applications. | California Department of Public Health (Notice effective July 1, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Colorado lists $25 for the first death copy and $20 for additional copies ordered together. | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Colorado requires proof of relationship or direct and tangible legal interest for vital-record requests. | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics is the office or agency named on the official death-records source. | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Colorado permits birth and death copy orders through local Vital Records offices. | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Colorado names GoCertificates and VitalChek as online ordering routes. | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Colorado lists regular mail at no charge. | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Connecticut charges $20 for each state-issued death certificate. | Connecticut Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Connecticut permits adult requesters to buy death copies but restricts Social Security number access. | Connecticut Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| State Vital Records Office is the office or agency named on the official death-records source. | Connecticut Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Connecticut names VitalChek as an online ordering service. | Connecticut Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Connecticut states variable state-office processing of up to 12 weeks and generally faster town service. | Connecticut Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Connecticut accepts copy requests at the event town or state office. | Connecticut Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Connecticut permits a qualifying spouse, child or parent to request one free veteran death copy with required proof. | Connecticut Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| DC Health lists an $18 death certificate fee. | DC Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| DC Health describes specific family and documented interest categories for restricted death copies. | DC Health (Complete official eligibility list checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| DC Health lists the relationships, legal interests and documents it accepts for death-record requests. | DC Health (Complete official eligibility list checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| DC Health Vital Records Division is the office or agency named on the official death-records source. | DC Health (Complete official eligibility list checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| DC Health lists online, phone, mail and kiosk death-copy ordering. | DC Health (Complete official eligibility list checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| DC death records become public after 75 years and other records require documented entitlement. | DC Health (Complete official eligibility list checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Delaware requests a qualifying relationship or documented representative category on its certified-copy application. | Delaware Health and Social Services, Office of Vital Statistics (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Delaware charges $25 per death certificate and retains the fee for an unsuccessful search. | Delaware Health and Social Services, Office of Vital Statistics (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Office of Vital Statistics is the office or agency named on the official death-records source. | Delaware Health and Social Services, Office of Vital Statistics (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Delaware names GoCertificates and VitalChek for online vital-record orders. | Delaware Health and Social Services, Office of Vital Statistics (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Florida state standard orders charge $5 for one search and certified copy, then $4 for additional certified copies. | Florida Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Florida county health departments accept copy requests for deaths from 2009 onward and have varying fees. | Florida Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Florida permits public no-cause-of-death copies for adults and restricts recent confidential records. | Florida Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics is the office or agency named on the official death-records source. | Florida Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Florida lists a $1 shipping and handling fee for state bureau orders. | Florida Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Florida states 3 to 5 business days excluding shipping for death copies from 2009 onward, with longer processing for older records. | Florida Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Florida names VitalChek as an online ordering service. | Florida Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Georgia lists $25 for a death certificate and $5 for additional copies. | Georgia Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Georgia directs requesters to county vital-record offices for potentially older records. | Georgia Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Georgia restricts certified death copies to requesters with direct and tangible interest. | Georgia Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Georgia Office of Vital Records is the office or agency named on the official death-records source. | Georgia Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Georgia states 8 to 10 weeks for state-office mail requests. | Georgia Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Georgia names GO copies and VitalChek as third-party vendors, alongside its state ROVER route. | Georgia Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Georgia permits public requesters to receive plain-paper death records with Social Security number redacted. | Georgia Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Hawaii adds $2.50 for each group of up to 5 copies in an order. | Hawaii Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Hawaii charges $10 for the first death copy and $4 for same-copy additional copies ordered together. | Hawaii Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Hawaii requires a direct and tangible interest for a certified death copy. | Hawaii Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Office of Health Status Monitoring, Issuance/Vital Statistics Section is the office or agency named on the official death-records source. | Hawaii Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Hawaii accepts death-copy orders online, by mail and in person. | Hawaii Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Iowa state mail orders cost $20 for each certified record copy. | Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Iowa county recorders keep records of events that occurred in their counties, subject to stated limitations. | Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Iowa lists relatives and documented guardians or representatives as entitled record requesters. | Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statistics is the office or agency named on the official death-records source. | Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Iowa mail applicants provide a notarized application and a current government-issued photo-ID copy. | Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Iowa names VitalChek as an online ordering service. | Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Iowa retains the$20 fee when a record is not located. | Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Idaho lists a $16 per-copy fee for certified death copies. | Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Idaho restricts confidential copies to people with direct and tangible interest. | Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Idaho Bureau of Vital Records is the office or agency named on the official death-records source. | Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Idaho names VitalChek as an online ordering service. | Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Idaho states 3 to 5 weeks for standard non-rush orders, excluding mailing. | Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Illinois states that a certified death copy can be used for legal purposes. | Illinois Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Illinois directs requests for death records before 1916 to the event county clerk. | Illinois Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Illinois requires personal or property-right interest and documentation for nonrelative requests. | Illinois Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records is the office or agency named on the official death-records source. | Illinois Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Illinois lists $19 for the first certified long-form death copy and $4 for each additional copy. | Illinois Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Illinois states approximately 12 weeks for ordinary mailed vital-record requests. | Illinois Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Illinois names VitalChek as an online ordering service. | Illinois Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Illinois uncertified death copies are informational and cannot be used for legal purposes. | Illinois Department of Public Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Indiana state death-copy mail orders cost $8 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy. | Indiana Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Indiana directs in-person death-copy requests to the event county health department. | Indiana Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Indiana lists adult siblings and descendants, spouses and documented attorneys among direct-interest requesters. | Indiana Department of Health (Complete official eligibility list checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Indiana lists direct-interest categories, documentation and age conditions for vital-record requests. | Indiana Department of Health (Complete official eligibility list checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Indiana Department of Health Division of Vital Records is the office or agency named on the official death-records source. | Indiana Department of Health (Complete official eligibility list checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Indiana names VitalChek as an online ordering service. | Indiana Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Indiana notes that processing times vary by case. | Indiana Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Indiana lists 60 days for death certificates and notes case-by-case variation. | Indiana Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Indiana retains the search fee and includes one copy if a record is found. | Indiana Department of Health (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Kansas charges $20 for each certified death copy. | Kansas Department of Health and Environment (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Kansas restricts vital records to the named person, immediate family or people showing a qualifying legal need. | Kansas Department of Health and Environment (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Office of Vital Statistics is the office or agency named on the official death-records source. | Kansas Department of Health and Environment (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Kansas lists 7 to 10 business days for mail requests, depending on volume. | Kansas Department of Health and Environment (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Kansas names VitalChek as an online ordering service. | Kansas Department of Health and Environment (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Kansas requesters must be age 18 or older. | Kansas Department of Health and Environment (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Kansas retains the initial$20 search fee if the record is not found. | Kansas Department of Health and Environment (Current official source captured October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Kentucky's Office of Vital Statistics maintains death records from 1911 onward for deaths that occurred in Kentucky. | Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics (Actual official reader opened October22,2026. Routing only; fees not verified.) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Participating Louisiana clerks of court issue certified copies for deaths on or after July 7, 2012, for an additional fee. | Louisiana Department of Health (Complete official eligibility list checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Louisiana permits listed close relatives and specified legal or beneficiary applicants to request death certificates. | Louisiana Department of Health (Complete official eligibility list checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Louisiana lists eligible death-record applicants, supporting-document requirements and categories served only by its central office. | Louisiana Department of Health (Complete official eligibility list checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Louisiana identifies Vital Records Registry as its vital-records ordering office. | Louisiana Department of Health (Complete official eligibility list checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Louisiana adds a $0.50 state charge to each mail-in or VitalChek order. | Louisiana Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Louisiana asks mail applicants to allow approximately 8 to 10 weeks for delivery. | Louisiana Department of Health (Complete official eligibility list checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Louisiana officially names VitalChek for online ordering. | Louisiana Department of Health (Complete official eligibility list checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Louisiana charges $7 per certified death certificate. | Louisiana Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Massachusetts RVRS issues only certified copies regardless of intended use. | Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (Official browser-rendered page, including July 1, 2026 change, checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Massachusetts restricts access to death records containing a full Social Security number to the applicants and conditions listed by the office. | Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (Official browser-rendered page, including July 1, 2026 change, checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Massachusetts identifies Registry of Vital Records and Statistics as its vital-records ordering office. | Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (Official browser-rendered page, including July 1, 2026 change, checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| The Massachusetts 2026 fee schedule says standard mail requests are processed and shipped within 15 to 20 business days. | Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (Browser-rendered official page checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| The Massachusetts ordering page says mail requests are processed within 30 business days of receipt. | Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (Official browser-rendered page, including July 1, 2026 change, checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Massachusetts officially names VitalChek for online ordering. | Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (Browser-rendered official page checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Massachusetts requires identification, may require relationship documentation, and restricts access to death records containing a Social Security number. | Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (Official browser-rendered page, including July 1, 2026 change, checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Massachusetts standard mail service costs $32 per copy and includes a ten-year search. | Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (Browser-rendered official page checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Maryland charges $10 for the first death certificate and $12 for each extra copy in the same transaction. | Maryland Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Maryland DVR issues certified copies for deaths in 2012 or later and directs older requests to the state archives. | Maryland Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Maryland permits surviving relatives, authorized representatives and the funeral director responsible for final disposition to apply. | Maryland Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Maryland identifies Division of Vital Records as its vital-records ordering office. | Maryland Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Maryland officially names VitalChek for online ordering. | Maryland Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Maine requires a direct and legitimate interest before the department or a municipal clerk releases a certified record. | Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Maine charges $15 for a record search and one certified copy if found, plus $6 for each extra certified copy requested with that search. | Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Maine identifies Data, Research, and Vital Statistics (DRVS) as its vital-records ordering office. | Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Maine states that mail applications average 5 to 7 business days after receipt. | Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Maine charges $10 for a search and a noncertified copy if found, which is not a legal document. | Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Maine officially names VitalChek for online ordering. | Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Michigan's linked mail application states approximately 4 to 6 weeks of in-office regular processing before mailing. | Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Browser-rendered official page checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Michigan charges a $34 base search fee including one certified death record or no-find letter, plus $16 for each extra certified copy. | Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Browser-rendered official page checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Michigan identifies Michigan Vital Records Office as its vital-records ordering office. | Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Browser-rendered official page checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Michigan officially names VitalChek for online ordering. | Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Browser-rendered official page checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Michigan's current ordering page lists 10 to 12 weeks for regular death-record processing. | Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Browser-rendered official page checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Michigan's short death record omits medical information and manner of death, while its long record contains the full death registration. | Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Browser-rendered official page checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Michigan death records are unrestricted and anyone may request a search by submitting a signed completed application and fee. | Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Browser-rendered official page checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Minnesota describes birth and death certificates as certified legal documents. | Minnesota Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Minnesota charges $13 for a first certified death record and $6 for each extra copy. | Minnesota Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Minnesota makes many vital records available through counties and directs pre-1908 death records to the county of death. | Minnesota Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Minnesota bases certified-copy eligibility on relationship and record classification and requires identification and a witnessed or notarized signature. | Minnesota Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Minnesota allows anyone to buy an informational noncertified death record. | Minnesota Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Minnesota identifies Office of Vital Records as its vital-records ordering office. | Minnesota Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Missouri charges $14 for a death-record search with one certified copy if found, plus $11 for each extra same-record copy ordered at the same time. | Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Missouri requires a direct and tangible interest for a certified vital record, including qualifying family members, guardians and official representatives. | Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Missouri identifies Bureau of Vital Records as its vital-records ordering office. | Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Missouri local offices offer death records from 1980 onward, while the state offers short and long forms from 1910 onward. | Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Missouri officially names VitalChek for online ordering. | Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Missouri states that standard mail requests take approximately 4 to 8 weeks and can take longer for errors or research. | Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Mississippi charges $17 for the first certified death certificate and $6 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. | Mississippi State Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Mississippi limits certified death records to people with a legitimate and tangible interest under its listed categories. | Mississippi State Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Mississippi provides plain-paper copies for genealogy when the purpose and relationship are stated. | Mississippi State Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Mississippi identifies Mississippi Vital Records as its vital-records ordering office. | Mississippi State Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Mississippi generally processes copy requests in 7 to 10 business days after receipt. | Mississippi State Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Montana certified death certificates cost $16 each. | Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Montana treats both abstract and long-form records as certified. | Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Montana permits in-person requests at any County Clerk and Recorder office regardless of the county of the vital event. | Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Montana issues a certified death record to anyone who completes the application, establishes identity and states the reason, omitting pending cause information when applicable. | Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Montana informational records are for genealogy or personal records and cannot be used for legal identification. | Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Montana identifies Montana Office of Vital Records as its vital-records ordering office. | Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Montana officially names VitalChek and VitalRecordsOnline for online ordering. | Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Montana states that processing times vary with current staffing and workload. | Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| North Carolina certified copies have its registrar signature and raised seal. | North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| North Carolina mail copy fees are $24 first and $15 additional, plus the stated VitalChek processing fee. | North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| North Carolina allows birth, death and marriage copies from the event county Register of Deeds. | North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| North Carolina restricts certified death copies to its listed eligible applicants. | North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| North Carolina uncertified copies are informational and not accepted for legal purposes. | North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| North Carolina directs copy requests to its NC Vital Records. | North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| North Carolina names VitalChek for copy orders. | North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| North Carolina lists a $13.95 VitalChek processing fee. | North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| North Carolina publishes different regular death certificate processing estimates by record year. | North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| North Dakota offers complete and facts-of-death certified products with different content. | North Dakota Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| North Dakota death copies cost $15 first and $10 additional in the same order. | North Dakota Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| North Dakota restricts certified death copies to its listed eligible applicants. | North Dakota Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| North Dakota also permits licensed attorneys with a bona fide legal determination to obtain a facts-of-death copy. | North Dakota Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| North Dakota calls its public informational death product certified and issues no uncertified copies. | North Dakota Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| North Dakota directs copy requests to its Vital Records. | North Dakota Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| North Dakota usually mails received death requests within 3 to 5 business days. | North Dakota Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Nebraska's Office of Vital Records maintains the state's death records. | Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (Actual official web page opened October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New Hampshire's death certificate application prices the first copy at $15 and each extra at $10. | New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration (Browser-rendered official page checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New Hampshire's application offers versions containing cause and manner, manner only, or neither. | New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration (Browser-rendered official page checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New Hampshire DVRA and city or town clerks issue certified records to qualified applicants with a direct and tangible interest. | New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration (Browser-rendered official page checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New Hampshire identifies Division of Vital Records Administration as its vital-records ordering office. | New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration (Browser-rendered official page checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New Hampshire collects its $15 search fee whether or not a record is found. | New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration (Browser-rendered official page checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New Jersey requires relationship proof for a certified copy but not an informational certification, which is invalid for legal or identity purposes. | New Jersey Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New Jersey's contact page lists 8 to 10 weeks from approval for mailed requests. | New Jersey Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New Jersey requires proof that the applicant belongs to an eligible relationship or legal category for a certified copy. | New Jersey Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New Jersey identifies Office of Vital Statistics and Registry as its vital-records ordering office. | New Jersey Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New Jersey local vital-records fees and processing times vary by office. | New Jersey Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New Jersey officially names VitalChek for online ordering. | New Jersey Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New Jersey state fees are $25 for search and one copy or no-record statement, plus $2 for each extra same-record copy ordered together. | New Jersey Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New Jersey's order page lists 2 to 4 weeks for mail requests through VitalChek, excluding delivery and deficiencies. | New Jersey Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New Mexico says death certificates are available only at the Santa Fe office, in person or by mail. | New Mexico Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New Mexico restricts death certificates to immediate family or documented legal-interest applicants until the record is public after 50 years. | New Mexico Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New Mexico identifies Bureau of Vital Records & Health Statistics as its vital-records ordering office. | New Mexico Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New Mexico's application lists average processing of 6 to 12 weeks and warns that volume can change this. | New Mexico Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New Mexico officially names VitalChek for online ordering. | New Mexico Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New Mexico charges $5 for a death-record search with a copy and $5 for each extra copy. | New Mexico Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Nevada publishes an application for a certified copy of a death certificate. | Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Nevada charges $25 per death certificate for six listed counties and $22 for the other counties. | Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Nevada requires a direct blood, marriage or legal relationship or a need to facilitate a legal process for a certified record. | Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Nevada identifies Office of Vital Records as its vital-records ordering office. | Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Nevada officially names VitalChek for online ordering. | Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New York State permits close listed relatives and applicants with documented legal or medical grounds or a state court order to obtain death certificates. | New York State Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New York State outside New York City identifies Vital Records Certification Unit as its vital-records ordering office. | New York State Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New York death records are also available from the local registrar where the event occurred. | New York State Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New York State warns of significant order-processing delays. | New York State Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New York State Vital Records excludes the five New York City boroughs. | New York State Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New York State lists mail death certificate orders at $30 per copy. | New York State Department of Health (Official page accessed October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| NYC certified death copies no longer use a raised seal. | New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| NYC non-premium mail copies cost $15 each. | New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New York City restricts certified death copies to its listed eligible applicants. | New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New York City directs copy requests to its NYC Health Department. | New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| New York City names VitalChek for copy orders. | New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| NYC lists 8 to 12 weeks for non-premium mail requests. | New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Ohio charges $21.50 for its death record/search even if no record is located. | Ohio Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Ohio restricts certified death copies to its listed eligible applicants. | Ohio Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Ohio directs copy requests to its Bureau of Vital Statistics. | Ohio Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Ohio directs certified pre 1971 death requests to the local health department where death occurred. | Ohio Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Ohio's current death application prices each certified copy at $21.50. | Ohio Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Ohio mail-in copy orders typically take 4 to 6 weeks. | Ohio Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Oklahoma lists mailed death certificates at $15 per copy. | Oklahoma State Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Oklahoma restricts certified death copies to its listed eligible applicants. | Oklahoma State Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Oklahoma directs copy requests to its Vital Records Service. | Oklahoma State Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Oklahoma names VitalChek for copy orders. | Oklahoma State Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Oklahoma publishes conflicting standard-mail estimates on the same FAQ. | Oklahoma State Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Oregon issues short and long death certificate forms. | Oregon Health Authority (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Oregon mail certified death copies cost $25 first and $25 each additional. | Oregon Health Authority (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Oregon names county health departments as an official certified-copy route. | Oregon Health Authority (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Oregon restricts certified death copies to its listed eligible applicants. | Oregon Health Authority (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Oregon directs copy requests to its Oregon Vital Records. | Oregon Health Authority (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Oregon names VitalChek for copy orders. | Oregon Health Authority (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Oregon states approximately 3 to 5 weeks for mail processing. | Oregon Health Authority (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania offers death certificates with or without medical information. | Pennsylvania Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania death copies cost $20 each regardless of quantity. | Pennsylvania Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania restricts certified death copies to its listed eligible applicants. | Pennsylvania Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania directs copy requests to its Division of Vital Records. | Pennsylvania Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania names VitalChek for copy orders. | Pennsylvania Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania lists approximately 3 weeks for mailed death certificate applications. | Pennsylvania Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Rhode Island mail/drop-box copies cost $25 first and $18 additional on the same day. | Rhode Island Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Rhode Island restricts certified death copies to its listed eligible applicants. | Rhode Island Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Rhode Island directs copy requests to its Center for Vital Records. | Rhode Island Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Rhode Island names VitalChek for copy orders. | Rhode Island Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Rhode Island states 4 to 6 weeks to process a standard mail request. | Rhode Island Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| South Carolina mailed death copies cost $12 first and $3 additional in the same order. | South Carolina Department of Public Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| South Carolina restricts certified death copies to its listed eligible applicants. | South Carolina Department of Public Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| South Carolina distinguishes noncertified public death copies after 50 years. | South Carolina Department of Public Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| South Carolina directs copy requests to its Vital Records Section. | South Carolina Department of Public Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| South Carolina Vital Records offices issue records from any county. | South Carolina Department of Public Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| South Carolina names Go copies and VitalChek for copy orders. | South Carolina Department of Public Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| South Carolina gives approximately 4 weeks for ordinary mailed death requests. | South Carolina Department of Public Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| South Dakota certified copies use security paper, raised seal and signature. | South Dakota Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| South Dakota mail record copies cost $15 each. | South Dakota Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| South Dakota allows mail requests to a Register of Deeds. | South Dakota Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| South Dakota restricts certified death copies to its listed eligible applicants. | South Dakota Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| South Dakota informational copies are not legal proof of identification. | South Dakota Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| South Dakota directs copy requests to its Vital Records Office. | South Dakota Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| South Dakota names VitalChek for copy orders. | South Dakota Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Processing times may vary depending on location. | South Dakota Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Tennessee restricts who may receive cause-of-death details. | Tennessee Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Tennessee death copies cost $15 each. | Tennessee Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Tennessee county health departments can issue registered statewide death certificates. | Tennessee Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Tennessee restricts certified death copies to its listed eligible applicants. | Tennessee Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Tennessee directs copy requests to its Tennessee Vital Records. | Tennessee Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Tennessee names VitalChek for copy orders. | Tennessee Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Tennessee's June 23,2026 table lists 3 days for unchanged mail copy requests. | Tennessee Department of Health (Processing table as of June 23, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Tennessee's search fee is nonrefundable if the death record is not on file. | Tennessee Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Texas distinguishes verification letters from certified death copies. | Texas Department of State Health Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Texas charges $20 first and $3 additional death copies ordered at the same time. | Texas Department of State Health Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Texas restricts certified death copies to its listed eligible applicants. | Texas Department of State Health Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Texas directs copy requests to its Vital Statistics. | Texas Department of State Health Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Texas lists 25 to 30 business days for mailed certified death copies. | Texas Department of State Health Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Texas includes default USPS First Class return shipping at no cost. | Texas Department of State Health Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Texas death-verification letters do not replace certified copies. | Texas Department of State Health Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Utah additional copies of the same record ordered on the same day cost $10. | Utah Department of Health and Human Services (Fee schedule effective July 1, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Utah initial certified death copies cost $35. | Utah Department of Health and Human Services (Fee schedule effective July 1, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Utah restricts certified death copies to its listed eligible applicants. | Utah Department of Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Utah directs copy requests to its Office of Vital Records and Statistics. | Utah Department of Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Utah offers certified copies through local health departments. | Utah Department of Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Utah asks mail applicants to allow at least 6 weeks. | Utah Department of Health and Human Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Utah lists standard shipping $1 and international shipping $2. | Utah Department of Health and Human Services (Fee schedule effective July 1, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Virginia changed certification paper effective February 1,2001. | Virginia Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Virginia's July 1,2026 fee is $15 for each certified copy or search. | Virginia Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Virginia death records become public 25 years after the event. | Virginia Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Virginia restricts certified death copies to its listed eligible applicants. | Virginia Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Virginia directs copy requests to its Office of Vital Records. | Virginia Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Virginia identifies local health departments and DMV locations for most records. | Virginia Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Virginia names VitalChek for copy orders. | Virginia Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Virginia lists 2 weeks normal processing for its standard option. | Virginia Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Virginia offers limited Verification of Death to qualifying non-immediate family. | Virginia Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Vermont certified copies have security paper and raised seal. | Vermont Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Vermont certified copies cost $10 per copy. | Vermont Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Vermont restricts certified death copies to its listed eligible applicants. | Vermont Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Vermont noncertified copies are plain-paper watermarked copies available free. | Vermont Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Vermont directs copy requests to its Department of Health. | Vermont Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Vermont town/city clerks can issue the listed death records. | Vermont Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Washington issues long and short certified legal death products. | Washington State Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Washington fees start at $25 per certified or noncertified informational death copy. | Washington State Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Washington restricts certified death copies to its listed eligible applicants. | Washington State Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Washington informational copies cannot serve legal purposes. | Washington State Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Washington directs copy requests to its Washington State Department of Health. | Washington State Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Washington directs customers to local health departments for copy availability. | Washington State Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Washington names VitalChek for copy orders. | Washington State Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Washington states 8 to 10 weeks for mailed death orders after payment processing. | Washington State Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Wisconsin certified records use security paper, raised seal and registrar signature. | Wisconsin Department of Health Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Wisconsin mailed record copies cost $20 first and $3 additional. | Wisconsin Department of Health Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Wisconsin offers county and city vital-record routes. | Wisconsin Department of Health Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Wisconsin distinguishes Fact of Death from Extended Fact of Death. | Wisconsin Department of Health Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Wisconsin restricts certified death copies to its listed eligible applicants. | Wisconsin Department of Health Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Wisconsin uncertified copies cannot serve legal or identification purposes. | Wisconsin Department of Health Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Wisconsin directs copy requests to its Wisconsin Vital Records Office. | Wisconsin Department of Health Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Wisconsin names VitalChek for copy orders. | Wisconsin Department of Health Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Wisconsin mail processing takes about 10 business days after receipt. | Wisconsin Department of Health Services (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| West Virginia charges $12 for additional three-year searches. | West Virginia Department of Health, Health Statistics Center (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| West Virginia Vital Registration provides certified death copies. | West Virginia Department of Health, Health Statistics Center (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| West Virginia mailed death copies cost $12 each. | West Virginia Department of Health, Health Statistics Center (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| West Virginia restricts certified death copies to its listed eligible applicants. | West Virginia Department of Health, Health Statistics Center (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| West Virginia directs copy requests to its Vital Registration Office. | West Virginia Department of Health, Health Statistics Center (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| West Virginia names VitalChek for copy orders. | West Virginia Department of Health, Health Statistics Center (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Wyoming standard certified abstracts are acceptable for legal purposes. | Wyoming Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Wyoming certified death copies cost $25 first and $20 additional. | Wyoming Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Wyoming restricts certified death copies to its listed eligible applicants. | Wyoming Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Wyoming applicants may need an Excessive Copies Form for four or more lifetime copies. | Wyoming Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Wyoming genealogy verifications are redacted rather than full records. | Wyoming Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Wyoming directs copy requests to its Vital Statistics Services. | Wyoming Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Wyoming mail applications require a self-addressed stamped return envelope. | Wyoming Department of Health (Official page or form checked October 22, 2026) | Oct 22, 2026 |
This tool is general information, not legal advice. Plan Before You Die isn't connected with Medicare or the U.S. government. Something wrong here? Tell us.
Cite this. Plan Before You Die, Death certificates by state, version 1, planbeforeyoudie.app/guides/death-certificates-by-state, CC BY 4.0.