State Vital Records in Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Health - Office of Vital Records issues certified copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred in Tennessee. 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.
Administering agency
Tennessee Department of Health - Office of Vital Records
State Vital Records in Tennessee: key facts
- Administering office
- Tennessee Department of Health - Office of Vital Records.
- Office location
- 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243. Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
- Certificate fee
- $15 for the first certified copy; $15 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.
- Processing time
- 3 days by mail or online. Expedited: Same day in person.
- Who may order
- Mother, father, son, daughter, husband, or wife; Funeral directors; With documentation: beneficiaries, executors of the estate, legal guardians, legal representatives, attorneys.
- Filing deadline
- The death certificate must be filed within 5 days.
- Public record
- Death records become public 50 years after the death.
- Records available from
- 1914. Records over 50 years old available at TN State Library and Archives. 1975 death, marriage, and divorce records released to the Archives in January 2026; OVR itself holds 1976-present.
Steps to take when someone dies
- Confirm the death occurred in Tennessee — the record belongs to the state where the death occurred, regardless of where the deceased lived.
- Order certified copies through any of the office's channels:
- Online: Order through VitalChek - only authorized state vendor
- By mail: Mail completed application with check/money order and photocopy of government-issued ID
- In person: Visit Office of Vital Records (no appointment needed) or any county health department statewide
- Include what the office requires with the order:
- Completed and signed application
- Photocopy of government-issued ID with signature
- Allow the office's processing time (3 days by mail or online); expedited handling is available.
Tennessee Department of Health - Office of Vital Records
Visit the agency website →Frequently asked questions
by mail: Mail completed application with check/money order and photocopy of government-issued ID. in person: Visit Office of Vital Records (no appointment needed) or any county health department statewide. The office is at 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243.
The death certificate must be filed within 5 days. The funeral director or person in charge of disposition files the certificate with the state; the family orders certified copies once the record is registered.
Completed and signed application; Photocopy of government-issued ID with signature. The office also asks for the deceased's full name, date of death, and place of death to locate the record.
The record belongs to the state where the death occurred, not the state of residence. Order from the state of death, following its fees and eligibility rules.
Sources
Data sourced from State Vital Records in Tennessee primary sources (1 page reviewed). How we research.
Administering agency
Tennessee Department of Health - Office of Vital Records