State Vital Records (Vital Records)
Death notification procedures and required documents
CDC/NCHS Where to Write for Vital Records (directory of every state office)
Death certificates are issued by the vital records office of the state where the death occurred. Each state sets its own fees, processing times, ordering methods, and rules for who may receive a certified copy. Executors and surviving family order certified copies to close accounts, file insurance claims, transfer titles, and notify agencies — most estates need several copies, and institutions often require certified copies rather than photocopies.
Death notification
There is no notification to file with a vital records office — the death is registered where it occurred, and the certificate becomes the record other institutions ask for. The executor or family orders certified copies from the state where the death occurred, following that state's fee, identification, and eligibility rules.
Deadline: No deadline — certified copies can be ordered at any time
Frequently asked questions
Banks, insurers, government agencies, and title offices often each require a certified copy. Ordering the copies at once is usually cheaper, since many states discount additional copies in the same order.
CDC/NCHS Where to Write for Vital Records (directory of every state office)