How To Get a Death Certificate

Introduction

Certified copies of the death certificate are the key that unlocks almost every other task after a death — insurance, banks, benefits, property, and closing accounts. Getting them is usually straightforward once you know who orders them and how many to request.

This is general information, not legal advice. Exact steps, fees, and processing times vary by state and county.

Start here

10 Minute Version

In most cases the funeral home, cremation provider, or vital records office orders the first certified copies for you.
Order certified copies — plain photocopies are not accepted by most organizations.
Request more than one. Many families need around 8 to 12 certified copies.
Keep a list of where each copy is sent, and ask each organization whether it needs an original or accepts a copy.
You can usually order additional copies later from the state or county vital records office.

Who orders it and how

If a funeral home or cremation provider is involved, they usually file the death and order your first certified copies.
The certificate is registered with the state or county vital records office, which issues certified copies.
If no funeral provider is involved, contact the vital records office in the state or county where the death occurred.
Certified copies generally must be requested by eligible people, often the next of kin, executor, or personal representative, and there is usually a fee per copy.
You will typically need to provide identification and basic details about the person who died.

How many copies do you need?

Order one certified copy for each organization that requires an original, plus a couple of spares. Common places that ask for a certified copy include:

Life insurance policies (one per policy).
Banks, credit unions, and investment or retirement accounts.
Social Security, pensions, annuities, and veteran benefits.
Property, vehicle, and real estate transfers.
The probate court or estate process.

Many organizations now accept a scan or return your copy, so you may not need as many as it first seems — but it is easier to order a few extra up front than to reorder later.

Common Mistakes

Ordering photocopies instead of certified copies.
Ordering only one and having to wait to reorder.
Mailing an original without tracking, or when a copy would have been accepted.
Not keeping a list of where each certified copy went.
Sharing the certificate more widely than needed, which raises identity-theft risk.

Last Reviewed

Last reviewed: July 5, 2026

This page is reviewed periodically. State and county procedures and fees may change.

Sources And Further Help

USAGov: how to get a certified copy of a death certificate.
CDC / NCHS: where to write for vital records in each state.