How Do I Get a Death Certificate?
Use our free calculator to determine how many certified death certificates to order based on your specific situation, and see exactly what it will cost in your state.
Most people need 10-15 certified copies. The exact number depends on how many financial accounts, insurance policies, and properties need to be handled. Ordering extra copies upfront is typically cheaper, since additional copies ordered at the same time cost less than ordering more later.
Death certificates can be ordered from the funeral home at the time of death (usually the fastest option), from your state's vital records office, or from the county where the death occurred. Most states also offer online ordering through authorized vendors like VitalChek.
Costs vary by state, from $5 to $35 for the first copy. Most states charge a higher fee for the first copy and a reduced fee for additional copies ordered at the same time. Online ordering through third-party vendors typically adds a processing fee.
Processing times vary widely. Ordering through the funeral home is usually fastest. Each state's vital records office publishes its own processing time, from days to months, shown on the state page. 15 states publish an expedited option for an additional fee.
Eligibility varies by state but typically includes immediate family members (spouse, children, parents, siblings), legal representatives, funeral directors, and those with a demonstrated legal interest in the record. 32 states restrict access for a period after death, from 10 to 115 years; 17 make the record public at once.
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Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Death of a Parent
A step-by-step guide to what happens after a parent dies: the documents to find, the certificates to order, and whether probate is even required.
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Loss of a Spouse
What a surviving spouse needs to do: death certificates, survivor benefits, whether probate is even required, and the tax election that expires.
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Named as Executor
What an executor actually does: getting appointed, notifying creditors, paying debts and taxes, and where personal liability starts.
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Named as Trustee
Being named trustee means managing trust assets and carrying out the grantor's wishes. Your duties, timeline, compensation, and how to get started.
Learn moreForms for Settling an Estate
Free forms for settling an estate: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter
Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
Petition for Probate and Letters
Open probate and ask the court to appoint you and issue Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Notice to Creditors
Notify estate creditors and start the claim period — the published notice plus mailed copies for known creditors.
Renunciation of Executor
Decline an appointment as executor named in a will — the writing filed with the court before anyone is appointed.
Affidavit of Heirship
Prepare the sworn statement of a deceased person's family history and heirs for recording in the county land records, with your state's recording instructions.
Small Estate Affidavit
Collect a small estate's property without probate — the sworn affidavit presented to banks and other holders, with a presentation letter for each.
Tools for Settling an Estate
Free tools for settling an estate: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.
Do I Need Probate?
Find out if an estate needs probate or qualifies for simplified procedures.
Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Find out which tax returns need to be filed after someone dies and whether tax clearance is required.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away.
What Do I Do When Someone Dies?
A step-by-step checklist for the days, weeks, and months after a death, with state rules noted where they apply.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax, and inheritance tax for an estate.
What Taxes Apply to My Inheritance?
Inheritance tax by state, federal tax on inheritance, and timeline estimates for receiving money, property, or retirement assets.
