How to Get a Death Certificate: Who Can Order, Where, Cost and How Many Copies

In the US, you get a certified death certificate from the vital records office of the state where the person died, not where they lived. The funeral home can usually order the first copies for you. You can also order online, by mail or in person, and you will need the date and place of death. Each state sets its own fee, and banks, insurers and government agencies usually want a certified copy, not a photocopy.

What is a death certificate and who creates it?

A death certificate is the official record of a person's death. It lists the date, place and cause of death, and the demographic details that identify the person. A doctor, medical examiner or coroner certifies the cause, and the state's vital records office issues the certified copies once the record is filed.

Two things make this slower than it should be. The cause of death may take time to certify, especially if it is under investigation, and the record has to be filed with the state before anyone can order a copy. The funeral home usually handles the filing. Ask them what date it was filed and how to order copies.

How do you get a certified copy? Step by step

1. Ask the funeral home first. Funeral homes often order certificates as part of their service, but confirm this with yours. Give them the number of copies you want when you make arrangements.
2. Gather the details the state asks for. USAGov says you need the date and place of death, and you may have to show your relationship to the person or the reason you need it. Keep the person's full legal name, date of birth, parents' names and Social Security number to hand.
3. Find the right office. Contact the vital records office of the state where the death occurred. The CDC's "Where to Write for Vital Records" page links to every state and territory's office, with its fees and application rules.
4. Order online, by mail or in person. USAGov lists all three. Texas, for example, says online orders are the fastest and in-person orders are usually filled the same day, though some applications take 24 hours or more.
5. Send proof of identity and relationship if asked. Expect to show a photo ID, and some offices also ask for something that shows your connection to the person, such as a marriage certificate or your own birth certificate.
6. Check the certificate when it arrives. Look at the spelling of the name, the date of birth, the Social Security number and the marital status before you send it anywhere.

Who can get a death certificate?

Certified copies are restricted to protect against identity theft. USAGov says immediate family, meaning a spouse, children and siblings, can get them soon after the death, and some states release them to anyone only after 25 years or more.

State rules differ. In Florida, a death record less than 50 years old that shows the cause of death is restricted, and only certain people can order it. These include a spouse or parent, an adult child, grandchild or sibling (18 or older), and someone who can show legal documentation of an interest in the estate, such as a will or insurance policy. Photo ID is required, and others need a notarized affidavit from an eligible person plus supporting documents. Check the state's own rules for who counts as acting on behalf of the estate.

How much does a death certificate cost?

Fees are set by each state, and sometimes by county, so there is no national price. Texas, as one example, lists $20 for the first certified copy and $3 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Standard return by first-class mail is free, and there is a $25 fee to expedite processing plus paid express shipping options. Florida's site shows a $7 processing fee when you order through VitalChek, the online vendor that many states use.

Check your state's own page on the CDC directory before paying a third-party site. Third-party ordering sites add their own fees on top of the state's.

How many copies do you need?

The right number depends on how many organizations will each want an original. USAGov says certified copies are needed for most agencies and programs, for closing or transferring financial accounts and for life insurance and pension claims. Common recipients are:

• banks and brokerage or retirement account companies
• life insurance companies
• the county land records office for each property, and the motor vehicle office for vehicle titles
• Social Security and other government benefit offices (see notifying government agencies after a death)
• the probate court, if the estate goes through probate

Some organizations will return your original after they scan it. Others keep it. USAGov says you may only need a photocopy for tasks like cancelling a subscription, and advises checking with each organization. Our guide to how many death certificates you need explains how to count.

What is the difference between certified and informational copies?

A certified copy carries the state's official seal or security features and is accepted for legal and financial business. An informational copy is usually stamped to show it cannot be used to establish identity or for legal purposes, and is often used for family history. Some states also offer a version with the cause of death and one without. See certified vs informational death certificates.

What if the cause of death is still pending?

If the death is under investigation, the record may not be complete when you first ask. The medical examiner or coroner has to finish before the cause is certified, and some states issue an interim or amended record later. Ask the funeral home and the vital records office how your state handles it. Insurers may want the final version before they pay, so ask the insurer what it needs. See coroner vs medical examiner and interim vs full death certificates.

What if the person died abroad or the certificate has a mistake?

For a US citizen who dies abroad, USAGov says the embassy or consulate issues a Consular Report of Death Abroad, with up to 20 free certified copies at the time of death, and the State Department can provide more.

If you spot an error, tell the funeral home or the vital records office straight away. The process to correct a death record differs by state, and usually needs proof of the correct information. See death certificate corrections. If you are in the UK, the process is different. Start with our guide to registering a death in the UK.

What to do next

1. Ask the funeral home to confirm the filing date and to order your copies.
2. Work out how many you need and order them all at once.
3. Check each certificate on arrival.
4. Keep a log of where each certified copy went. The after-death checklist can help.