How to Get a Copy of a Death Certificate

Getting a death certificate involves two separate decisions before you even submit a request: which office to contact, and which type of copy you actually need — and getting either wrong can mean starting the process over.

Like birth certificates, death certificates are managed at the state level, not federally, so the request has to go to the vital records office in the state where the death occurred, not where the person lived or where you live now.

Who's allowed to request a copy depends heavily on the state. Many restrict certified copies to immediate family — spouse, parent, child, sibling — along with an estate's executor or an attorney handling the estate. Some states are more permissive and allow any adult to request one, especially for records old enough to be considered public.

The certified-versus-informational distinction matters practically. A certified copy carries an official seal and is what's required for legal and financial purposes — settling an estate, claiming life insurance, transferring property, or arranging burial or cremation. An informational copy, where available, is typically for personal recordkeeping only and isn't accepted for those official processes.

In practice, the first certified copies usually come through the funeral director handling the arrangements, who requests an initial batch on the family's behalf. Additional copies beyond that go through the state vital records office directly, often available online, by mail, or in person, and typically require proof of your identity and your relationship or legal interest in the deceased's affairs.