Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - Vital Records
Colorado · Vital Records
cdphe.colorado.gov/vitalrecordsState Vital Records in Colorado
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - Vital Records issues certified copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred in Colorado. Executors and surviving family order certified copies to close accounts, file insurance claims, and transfer titles; the office sets the fees, eligibility rules, and processing times.
Steps to take when someone dies
- •Online: Order online through the approved vendors linked from CDPHE (VitalChek or GoCertificates)
- •By mail: Mail the completed, signed application with a copy of ID, proof of relationship or interest, and fees to the VitalChek mailroom for Colorado Vital Records (checks payable to VitalChek)
- •In person: By appointment only - no walk-in services available; local vital records offices also issue death certificates
- •Copy of current photo ID (or two secondary IDs)
- •Proof of relationship or direct and tangible interest
State Vital Records in Colorado: key facts
What Colorado says9
- Administering office
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - Vital Records.1
- Office location and hours
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246. Monday-Friday, excluding holidays. Phone 8:30 am-1 pm and 2-4:15 pm; lobby (by appointment) 9 am-1 pm and 2-3:40 pm.1
- Mail orders
Vital Record Mail Services, ATTN: Colorado Vital Records, P.O. Box 222130, El Paso, TX 79912.1
- Certificate fee
$25 for the first certified copy; $20 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.1
- Processing time
30 business days for online orders.1
- Who may order
Current spouse, parents, children, siblings, stepparents and stepchildren, with proof of relationship; Funeral director or informant listed on the death certificate; Legal representative, or agent under a durable power of attorney; Genealogists, with a notarized release from an immediate family member.1
Others with a direct and tangible interest (beneficiaries, creditors, insurers, ex-spouse), with proof of that interest.1
- Filing deadline
The death certificate must be filed within 3 days.2
- Public record
No time-based public release; eligibility rules apply regardless of how long ago the death occurred.1
- Records available from
1908. Death certificates prior to 1908 are held by Colorado State Archives.1
Governing law: C.R.S. § 25-2-110
Colorado vital records offices
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - Vital Records
Phone
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Tools for Settling an Estate in Colorado
Free tools for settling an estate in Colorado: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
In Colorado, certified death certificates come from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - Vital RecordsColorado Department of Public Health and Environment - Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source; the first copy costs $25Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, additional copies $20Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source each.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Colorado: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysC.R.S. § 15-12-706Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsC.R.S. §§ 15-12-801, 15-12-803, 15-12-805, 15-12-806Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 4 months to 6 months.
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