Kansas Department of Health and Environment - Office of Vital Statistics

Kansas · Vital Records

kdhe.ks.gov/1193/Death-Certificate

State Vital Records in Kansas

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment - Office of Vital Statistics issues certified copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred in Kansas. 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 takeKey facts

Steps to take when someone dies

1
Confirm the death occurred in Kansas; the record belongs to the state where the death occurred, regardless of where the deceased lived.
2
Order certified copies through any of the office's channels:
  • •Online: Order through VitalChek with a credit card; VitalChek charges a $15 expedited service fee
  • •By phone: Call VitalChek at 877-305-8315 (24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year; Spanish interpreters available)
  • •Online: Order through the iKan - State of Kansas mobile app (one certified copy per order; credit card or ACH)
  • •In person: Will Call: order in the iKan app and pick up at the office after the ready email; only the applicant may pick up, with a current government-issued photo ID
  • •In person: Walk in to the Customer Service Lobby and request at a kiosk (cash, check, money order or credit card)
  • •By mail: Mail the signed application, a copy of ID and a check or money order payable to "Kansas Vital Statistics" to the Office of Vital Statistics
3
Include what the office requires with the order:
  • •Completed application signed by the requester
  • •Copy of the front and back of a current government-issued photo ID, or photocopies of two secondary documents showing the requester's current address
  • •Proof of direct interest where the requester is not named on the record or immediate family
  • •Self-addressed stamped envelope with mail requests
4
Allow the office's processing time (7 to 10 business days by mail; 3 to 5 business days after receipt for internet and telephone orders).

State Vital Records in Kansas: key facts

What Kansas says9

Administering office

Kansas Department of Health and Environment - Office of Vital Statistics.1

Office location and hours

Curtis State Office Building, 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 120 (first floor, main entrance off 10th and Jackson Street), Topeka, KS 66612-2221. Walk-in 9 am to 4 pm, telephone 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, except holidays.1

Mail orders

Office of Vital Statistics, Curtis State Office Building, 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 120, Topeka, KS 66612-2221.1

Certificate fee

$20 for the first certified copy; $20 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.1

Processing time

7 to 10 business days by mail; 3 to 5 business days after receipt for internet and telephone orders.1

Who may order

Person named on the record; Immediate family age 18 or older: parents, current spouse, adult children, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews; Court-appointed legal guardian (with a copy of the guardianship papers).1

Anyone who can provide legal proof the record is necessary to determine personal or property rights.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

July 1, 1911. For death records prior to July 1, 1911, visit Kansas Historical Society.1

Governing law: K.S.A. 65-1713b

Sources2

  1. 1.Kansas Department of Health and Environment - Office of Vital Statistics
  2. 2.Kansas death-certificate filing rule (K.S.A. 65-1713b; K.S.A. 65-2412; K.S.A. 65-2426a; K.S.A. 65-2428a; K.S.A. 65-1734; K.S.A. 17-1305; K.A.R. 63-3-10; K.A.R. 63-3-11; K.A.R. 63-3-16)

Kansas vital records offices

Kansas Department of Health and Environment - Office of Vital Statistics

Phone

785-296-1400

Hours

Walk-in 9 am to 4 pm, telephone 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, except holidays

Mailing address

Office of Vital Statistics, Curtis State Office Building, 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 120, Topeka, KS 66612-2221
Verified Oct 2026

Tools for Settling an Estate in Kansas

Free tools for settling an estate in Kansas: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?

In Kansas, certified death certificates come from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment - Office of Vital StatisticsKansas Department of Health and Environment - Office of Vital StatisticsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source; the first copy costs $20Kansas Department of Health and Environment - Office of Vital StatisticsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source.

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How Do I Settle an Estate?

Settling an estate in Kansas: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 30 daysK.S.A. 59-1201, 59-1202, 59-1203Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsK.S.A. 59-2239, 59-2236, 59-709, 59-1301Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.

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