How to Get a Death Certificate

A death certificate is issued by the government office that registered the death, not by a hospital or a funeral home. To get a certified copy, you apply to the vital records office for the state where the death occurred, show that you are eligible, and pay that office's fee. This guide explains how to find the right office, who can order, what to have ready, and where to find step-by-step instructions for your state.

Start with the state where the death occurred

USAGov, the federal government's information site, says to contact the vital records office of the state where the death occurred. That is true even if your loved one lived somewhere else. A person who lived in Arizona and died while visiting California has a California death certificate.

Many states also let a county or city office issue copies. Which one is faster, and which one holds older records, differs from state to state.

Find your state guide

After has a guide for each state where we operate. Each one covers the issuing offices, eligibility, fees and timing for that state.

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Florida
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Nevada
• Oregon
• Texas
• Utah
• Washington
• Wisconsin

If your state is not listed

Use the CDC's Where to Write for Vital Records directory, which USAGov links to. It lists the vital records office for every state, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories. Follow the link to that state's own website for current fees and forms.

If the death occurred outside the United States

When a U.S. citizen dies abroad, the U.S. embassy or consulate gets a death certificate or notification from the foreign government and issues a Consular Report of Death Abroad. USAGov says families can get up to 20 free certified copies at the time of death, and that the report is used as proof of death for closing accounts and handling legal tasks. Further copies come from the Department of State.

Who can request a certified copy?

There is no single national rule. Each state decides who can order and what they must show.

Family members, legal representatives and other eligible applicants

USAGov says only certain family members may be able to get a death certificate, and names a spouse, siblings and children. Most states also allow parents, a legal representative of the estate, and people who can document a legal or financial interest, such as the beneficiary of an insurance policy.

The details vary. Arizona asks every applicant for proof of the relationship. Florida lets any adult order a copy without the cause of death, and limits the version with cause of death to close family and people with a documented interest. Your state guide lists the rule that applies.

Certified, informational and other copy types

A certified copy is the official version that agencies and financial institutions ask for. Some states also issue an informational or uncertified copy, which anyone can order and which cannot be used for legal purposes.

Several states issue more than one certified version. Washington and Oregon have a long form with cause of death and a short form without it. Ask each organization which version it needs before you order.

What to gather before you apply

USAGov says you will need to know the date and place of death, and that the state may ask how you are related or why you want the certificate. Most applications also ask for:

• Your loved one's full legal name
• The date of death, and the city or county where it happened
• Your relationship to your loved one
• A government-issued photo ID
• Proof of your relationship or legal interest, where the state requires it
• Payment in the form that office accepts

Ways to request a death certificate

The funeral or cremation provider handling arrangements

The provider handling arrangements usually files the death certificate with the state and can order certified copies for the family at that time. If arrangements are under way, ask your provider how many copies they are ordering before you place your own order.

State or local vital-records offices

You can apply to the state office by mail, and in many states in person. County and city offices often issue copies too. Local offices are sometimes quicker for a recent death, and some hold records only for certain years or only for deaths in that county.

Official online ordering and authorized vendors

Many states take online orders through their own website or through a vendor they have contracted. Start from the state agency's website so you reach the vendor that office uses. Several states warn about unofficial sites that charge high fees to pass your application along.

Not every state uses the same vendor. Utah, for example, runs its own ordering site.

Download the online ordering guide

If the office you are ordering from uses VitalChek, our companion guide walks through the order screen by screen.

Download the online death certificate ordering guide (PDF).

Authorized vendors and online availability depend on the issuing agency. This guide does not apply to every state or county.

Fees, processing and delivery

Government fees versus service and shipping charges

The issuing office sets the fee for each certified copy, and the amounts differ widely. On November 10, 2026, Indiana's health department listed $8 for a first copy, Texas listed $20, and Utah listed $35. Additional copies ordered at the same time often cost less.

Online orders usually add a vendor or processing fee, and faster shipping costs extra. These charges are separate from the government fee. Many offices keep the fee as a search fee even when no record is found.

Registration, processing and delivery are separate stages

Three things have to happen before a copy reaches you. The death has to be registered. The office has to process your application. The certificate has to be delivered. A faster shipping option only shortens the last stage.

Processing times vary by office and by channel. Texas lists 20 to 25 business days for online orders, while many county offices issue copies the same day in person. For more, see how long it takes to get a death certificate.

How many copies do you need?

USAGov notes that certified copies are needed for tasks such as notifying the Social Security Administration and claiming life insurance or a pension, while a photocopy may be enough for something like canceling a subscription. Make a list of the organizations you need to contact and ask each one whether it needs a certified copy and whether it will return it.

These guides can help you count:

• How many death certificates do you need?
• Who needs a copy of a death certificate?
• What death certificates are used for

If you need a correction or an additional copy

You can order more certified copies at any time from the same office, using the same application.

If something on the certificate is wrong, contact the issuing state's vital records office. States generally handle personal details, such as a name or date of birth, through an affidavit with supporting documents. Changes to medical information, such as cause of death, usually have to come from the physician, coroner or medical examiner who certified the death. Some states charge an amendment fee, and some waive it in the first year.

How After can help with the next steps

After arranges cremations online and by phone in certain areas of 12 states. Families who arrange with us have a dedicated care team that explains the paperwork, including how death certificates are ordered in their state.

We can't order records for deaths we did not handle, change a state's eligibility rules or speed up a government office. What we can do is tell you what your state will ask for.

"The process was so easy and the representative was knowledgeable, patient and kind. Definitely would recommend this company to everyone." Kathy, customer review on After.com

See where we operate, compare funeral homes in your area, or view pricing for your location. You can also call us at (844) 905-2639. We provide cremation services only where we hold the required state licenses.

Questions families ask

Where do I order if the person died in another state? From the vital records office of the state where the death occurred, not the state where they lived.

Can I request a copy if I am not a family member? Sometimes. Many states allow legal representatives and people with a documented legal or financial interest. Some also issue informational copies to anyone.

Can I get a death certificate online? In many states, yes, through the state's own site or its contracted vendor. Start from the state agency's website.

What is the difference between a certified copy and an informational copy? A certified copy is the official version used for legal and financial matters. An informational copy shows the facts but cannot be used for legal purposes.

How much will it cost, including shipping or vendor charges? It depends on the issuing office. The government fee, the vendor fee and shipping are charged separately, so check all three before you pay.

How long does ordering take after the death is registered? From the same day at some local offices to several weeks by mail. Each state guide gives that state's posted times.

Can the funeral or cremation provider help me request copies? Yes. The provider handling arrangements can usually order certified copies when the death is registered.

How do I request more copies or correct an error? Order more copies from the same office. For an error, contact the issuing state's vital records office about its correction process.

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