To get a copy of a death certificate, contact the state or local vital records office where the death occurred. Certified copies can usually be ordered online, by mail, or in person. If the death was recent, the funeral home may also help you order copies. You will generally need the deceased person’s full name, date and place of death, identification, and payment of the required fee.
A certified death certificate is often required for probate, life insurance claims, financial accounts, government benefits, and property transfers. Therefore, obtaining copies is usually one of the first steps when settling a loved one’s affairs.
Requirements vary by state, but you may need:
For a recent death, start with the funeral home. It may be able to help you order the initial certified copies. Additional copies can generally be ordered later from the appropriate vital records office.
If you do not have all the information needed to request a certificate, The U.S. Will Registry offers a free Death Certificate Search that may help identify details about the deceased or the death.
The information found may help you identify the correct vital records office or provide details needed to request the official record.
The search does not provide an official or certified death certificate. Certified copies must come from the appropriate government vital records office.
For most deaths, the funeral home or cremation provider begins preparing the death certificate. The funeral director collects personal information from the family.
A physician, medical examiner, or coroner provides the required medical certification. The completed death certificate is then filed with the appropriate state or local vital records authority.
The family generally does not prepare or file the certificate themselves.
Importantly, death records are generally maintained based on where the person died, not where surviving family members live. If someone lived in Florida but died in another state, for example, the family may need to request the certificate from the state where the death occurred.
Depending on the state and type of copy issued, a death certificate may include:
The information available can vary by jurisdiction and type of copy. Families should carefully review information provided to the funeral home because errors can cause problems when the certificate is later used for legal or financial purposes.
Yes. If you do not know the exact date or location of death, a death notice or obituary may help you find the information needed to locate the correct record.
A death notice may provide the deceased person’s full name, date of death, location, and funeral home.
The U.S. Will Registry also provides a Death Notices and Obituaries resource that may help families locate this information.
However, a death notice is not the same as a death certificate. A death notice can help you gather information, but it does not replace the official certificate required for legal and financial matters.
If you are settling an estate or handling financial matters, you will generally need a certified death certificate.
Certified copies may be required for:
Some jurisdictions also provide informational or uncertified copies. These may be useful for genealogy or personal records but generally cannot replace a certified copy when official proof of death is required.
You may need several certified copies when settling an estate. However, before ordering a large number, ask each organization whether it requires a certified copy or will accept another form of documentation.
Eligibility depends on state law. Depending on the jurisdiction, certified copies may be available to:
Identification or proof of eligibility may be required.
Death certificates may be considered public records in some circumstances, but that does not necessarily mean anyone can obtain a certified copy. Access requirements and restrictions vary by state.
Request the certificate from the vital records office responsible for the location where the person died.
The CDC provides a directory that can help you find the appropriate state or territorial office:
Find a State Vital Records Office
Once you find the correct office, check its eligibility requirements, identification rules, fees, and ordering options. These requirements differ by state.
The time required depends on the state, ordering method, and whether the death certificate has been completed and filed.
For a recent death, medical certification must be completed first. An autopsy, medical examination, or investigation can delay the final certificate.
After filing, some offices may provide in-person copies quickly, while online or mail requests can take longer. Expedited processing may also be available for an additional fee.
A certified death certificate provides official proof of death. Courts, financial institutions, insurance companies, and government agencies may require it before completing certain transactions.
Once you have the necessary death certificates, another important step may be locating the deceased person’s will.
If the will cannot be found, see How to Find a Will for steps families can take to locate it.
You can also conduct a Missing Will Search through The U.S. Will Registry to determine whether information about the location of a will was registered.
Contact the state or local vital records office where the person died. Most jurisdictions allow eligible individuals to request certified copies online, by mail, or in person. For a recent death, the funeral home may also help the family order copies.
Certified copies are generally available through the state or local vital records agency responsible for the location where the death occurred. Check the agency’s identification, eligibility, fee, and ordering requirements before submitting your request.
For a recent death, yes. Funeral homes commonly help families order certified copies as part of the arrangements. If you need additional copies later, you can usually request them directly from the appropriate vital records office.
Yes. A death notice, obituary, or death-record search may help if you are missing the date, location, or other information needed to request the certificate. The U.S. Will Registry’s free Death Certificate Search may also help identify information needed to locate the official record.
Processing times vary. A recent death may take longer if medical certification, an autopsy, or an investigation is pending. Once the certificate is filed, processing can range from same-day service at some offices to several weeks for mail requests.
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This article was prepared by estate planning researchers and reviewed by S. Miller and staff. With more than 25 years of experience in estate planning documentation and probate processes, our editorial oversight ensures clarity and accuracy. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
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