Who issues death records in the US
Certified death certificates are issued by the state where the death occurred. The state Department of Health (or its Bureau of Vital Statistics) holds the master record. In some states, the local registrar in the city or county of death also retains a copy that can be ordered slightly faster — particularly useful in the days immediately after a death, when banks, life insurers, and the Social Security Administration may all need certified copies.
Death certificates come in two common variants: the full certificate (which includes cause-of-death information) and a "fact-of-death" or informational copy (which omits cause of death). Most agencies use the full version when settling estates and the informational copy when proving the death itself for genealogy or for transferring deeds.
What you'll need to provide
To order a certified death certificate, you will generally need:
- Proof of identity. A government-issued photo ID such as a driver license, state ID card, US passport, military ID, or permanent resident card. Some agencies accept a notarized application instead of an ID copy.
- Proof of relationship (when the record is restricted). Most states restrict full birth and death certificates to the registrant, immediate family, legal representatives, and certain government agencies. Be ready to identify your relationship and, in some states, attach supporting documentation (your own birth certificate, marriage certificate, or court appointment as executor).
- Specifics about the record. Full legal name on the record, date of the event, place of the event (city and county), and the names of parents (for births) or spouse (for marriages and deaths).
- The fee. Personal check, money order, or — for online and in-person requests — a credit or debit card. State fees range from about $5 to about $35 per copy, plus shipping and any expedited-service surcharge.
How long it takes
Mail-in turnaround varies enormously, from about two weeks (Vermont, North Dakota, Iowa) to nine months in some California counties. In-person and approved-online requests are almost always faster, and many states offer same-day service at the central office in the capital. If you need a record on a deadline — for example, before a passport appointment — order in person if you can, or use the state-approved online vendor.
Compare all states
Sort the table below to find the cheapest fee or the fastest typical turnaround for a death certificate across every US state and territory we cover. Figures come from the same dataset as each state page — see data sources.
| State ▲ | Fee | Typical turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama (AL) | $15 | 8-10 weeks by mail; same-day in person |
| Alaska (AK) | $30 | 4-6 weeks by mail; 1-2 weeks in person |
| American Samoa (AS) | $5 | 6-10 weeks by mail |
| Arizona (AZ) | $20 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Arkansas (AR) | $10 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| California (CA) | $24 | 6-9 months by mail; faster from county recorder |
| Colorado (CO) | $20 | 15-25 business days by mail |
| Connecticut (CT) | $20 | 3-4 weeks by mail |
| Delaware (DE) | $25 | 6-8 weeks by mail |
| District of Columbia (DC) | $18 | 3-5 weeks by mail |
| Florida (FL) | $5 | 3-5 business days by mail; same-day in person |
| Georgia (GA) | $25 | 8 weeks by mail |
| Guam (GU) | $5 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Hawaii (HI) | $10 | 8-10 weeks by mail |
| Idaho (ID) | $16 | 2-3 weeks by mail |
| Illinois (IL) | $19 | 6-8 weeks by mail |
| Indiana (IN) | $8 | 6-8 weeks by mail |
| Iowa (IA) | $20 | 2-4 weeks by mail |
| Kansas (KS) | $15 | 10-12 weeks by mail |
| Kentucky (KY) | $6 | 30-35 business days by mail |
| Louisiana (LA) | $7 | 2-4 weeks by mail |
| Maine (ME) | $15 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Maryland (MD) | $10 | 3-4 weeks by mail |
| Massachusetts (MA) | $20 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Michigan (MI) | $34 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Minnesota (MN) | $13 | 3-4 weeks by mail |
| Mississippi (MS) | $17 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Missouri (MO) | $14 | 5-7 weeks by mail |
| Montana (MT) | $15 | 8-12 weeks by mail |
| Nebraska (NE) | $16 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Nevada (NV) | $25 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| New Hampshire (NH) | $15 | 2-4 weeks by mail |
| New Jersey (NJ) | $25 | 6-12 weeks by mail |
| New Mexico (NM) | $5 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| New York (NY) | $30 | 6-8 months by mail (NYC handled separately) |
| North Carolina (NC) | $24 | 5-15 business days by mail |
| North Dakota (ND) | $5 | 2-3 weeks by mail |
| Northern Mariana Islands (MP) | $20 | 4-8 weeks by mail |
| Ohio (OH) | $21.50 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Oklahoma (OK) | $15 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Oregon (OR) | $25 | 3-4 weeks by mail |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | $20 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Puerto Rico (PR) | $4 | 6-8 weeks by mail; same-day in person |
| Rhode Island (RI) | $22 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| South Carolina (SC) | $12 | 3-4 weeks by mail |
| South Dakota (SD) | $15 | 2-3 weeks by mail |
| Tennessee (TN) | $15 | 5-7 weeks by mail |
| Texas (TX) | $20 | 6-8 weeks by mail |
| US Virgin Islands (VI) | $25 | 8-12 weeks by mail |
| Utah (UT) | $20 | 3-5 weeks by mail |
| Vermont (VT) | $10 | 2-4 weeks by mail |
| Virginia (VA) | $12 | 4 weeks by mail; same-day in person |
| Washington (WA) | $25 | 4-8 weeks by mail |
| West Virginia (WV) | $12 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Wisconsin (WI) | $20 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Wyoming (WY) | $25 | 2-4 weeks by mail |
Browse death records by state
Each state link below opens a guide tailored to that jurisdiction's office, fees, processing time, and rules. We cover all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Puerto Rico
- US Virgin Islands
- Guam
- American Samoa
- Northern Mariana Islands
Common questions
Can I order a death certificate from another state on someone else's behalf?
Sometimes. Most states allow immediate family members and legal representatives (with documentation) to order. Distant relatives, friends, and unrelated third parties typically cannot order a full certified copy of a recent record, but they may be able to order an informational or genealogical copy of an older record.
Do I need an apostille?
Only if you are submitting the certificate to a foreign government that is party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State of the state that issued the certificate, not by the vital records office itself. Order the certified copy first, then send it to the Secretary of State for authentication.
Can I get a same-day copy?
In many states, yes — if you visit the central office in the state capital in person with ID and the fee. A few states also offer same-day service through approved courthouse pick-up. Mail and standard online orders almost never qualify for same-day turnaround, regardless of how much you pay.