Tennessee Department of Health - Office of Vital Records
Tennessee · Vital Records
tn.gov/health/vr.htmlState 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.
Steps to take when someone dies
- •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
- •Completed and signed application
- •Photocopy of government-issued ID with signature (not needed if the application is notarized)
- •If not a parent, child, or spouse: documents supporting entitlement (e.g., letters testamentary, an insurance policy naming the beneficiary)
State Vital Records in Tennessee: key facts
What Tennessee says9
- Administering office
Tennessee Department of Health - Office of Vital Records.1
- Office location and hours
1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243. Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.1
- Mail orders
Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243.1
- Certificate fee
$15 for the first certified copy; $15 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.1
- Processing time
3 days by mail or online. Expedited: Same day in person.1
- Who may order
Mother, father, son, daughter, husband, or wife; Funeral directors; With documentation: beneficiaries, executors of the estate, legal guardians, legal representatives, attorneys; Ex-spouse for Social Security benefits, with the Social Security letter stating the certificate is needed.1
- Filing deadline
The death certificate must be filed within 5 days.2
- Public record
Death records become public 50 years after the death.1
- Records available from
1908. Records over 50 years old available at TN State Library and Archives (death records 1908-1912 and 1914-1975; no statewide death records exist for 1913). 1975 death, marriage, and divorce records released to the Archives in January 2026; OVR itself holds 1976-present.1
Governing law: T.C.A. § 68-3-502
Tennessee vital records offices
Tennessee Department of Health - Office of Vital Records
Phone
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Tools for Settling an Estate in Tennessee
Free tools for settling an estate in Tennessee: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
In Tennessee, certified death certificates come from the Tennessee Department of Health - Office of Vital RecordsTennessee Department of Health - Office of Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source; the first copy costs $15Tennessee Department of Health - Office of Vital RecordsVerified Oct 15, 2026View source.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Tennessee: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 60 daysTenn. Code Ann. § 30-2-301Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsT.C.A. §§ 30-2-306, 30-2-307, 30-2-310, 30-2-314, 30-2-317Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.
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