How to get an Arkansas death certificate

In Arkansas, order a certified death certificate from the Arkansas Department of Health, Vital Records.¹ Local health units also offer vital records services.¹ The first copy costs $10¹ and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $8¹. You can order online, by mail, in person or by phone. Anyone may order a certified copy. The fastest published option is in person: same day¹.

Last checked November 5, 2026 against official sources.

On this page

Ways to order
What an Arkansas death certificate costs
How long it takes
Who can order an Arkansas death certificate
ID you need
What the application asks for
Forms
Years held and older records
Special situations
Warnings from the office
The state office
Questions people ask
Sources

Ways to order

How	Cost per copy	Processing time	Payment
Online	$10¹ first, $8¹ each extra copy, plus $5² standard processing fee and $1.85³ identification verification fee	7 to 14 business days¹	Card¹
By mail	$10¹ first, $8¹ each extra copy	–	Check and money order¹
In person	$10¹ first, $8¹ each extra copy	Same day¹	Cash, card, check and money order¹
By phone	$10¹ first, $8¹ each extra copy	–	Card¹

Online

Run by: ADH's 'Vital Records' online service at ar.gov/vitalrecords (vitalrecords.egov.com). ADH sends technical problems to the 'Tyler Arkansas Help Center'.¹
Fees: First copy $10¹
Each additional copy in the same order $8¹
Standard processing fee $5²
Identification verification fee $1.85³
Processing time: 7 to 14 business days¹
Expedited service: Expedited shipping only; no official page offers faster processing. Shipping prices are not published.¹
Payment: Card¹

Good to know

Electronic identity verification through LexisNexis: name, address, date of birth and driver license number.⁵
Proof of relationship documents must be attached where applicable.⁵
Orders can be refunded only before processing starts.⁶

Go to the ordering site⁴

By mail

Fees: First copy $10¹
Each additional copy in the same order $8¹
Payment: Check and money order¹
Make payable to: Arkansas Department of Health¹
Mail to: Arkansas Department of Health, Vital Records, Slot 44, 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205
⁷

Good to know

Include a copy of acceptable ID; no cash or temporary checks.¹

Open the application or mail instructions¹

In person

Fees: First copy $10¹
Each additional copy in the same order $8¹
Processing time: Same day¹
Payment: Cash, card, check and money order¹
Make payable to: Arkansas Department of Health¹
Office: 4815 West Markham St., Little Rock, AR 72205
⁷
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00am until 5:00pm; closed state holidays¹

Good to know

Not guaranteed same day for non-routine requests.¹

Open the official page¹

By phone

Fees: First copy $10¹
Each additional copy in the same order $8¹
Expedited service: Expedited shipping; price not published.¹
Payment: Card¹
Phone: 866-209-9482¹

What an Arkansas death certificate costs

First certified copy: $10¹
Each additional copy, same order: $8¹

No-fee copies

One free copy of a birth or death certificate for the Veterans Administration to determine eligibility for benefits (form VR-40).⁸

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

How you order	Processing time	Counted
Online	7 to 14 business days¹	Before shipping
In person	Same day¹	–

Who can order an Arkansas death certificate

Anyone may order a certified copy.⁹

The office also names these requesters and conditions. Each line gives the official wording.

A parent named on the record¹⁰
Child¹⁰
Spouse¹⁰
Grandchild¹⁰
Grandparent¹⁰
Informant¹⁰
Funeral director¹⁰
Beneficiary (with proper documentation)¹⁰
Attorney or legal representative: The term "authorized representative" shall include an attorney, physician, funeral director, or other authorized agent acting in behalf of the registrant or his or her family.⁹

Who cannot order a certified copy

The natural parents of adopted children, when neither has custody, and commercial firms or agencies requesting listings of names and addresses shall not be authorized to obtain copies or abstracts of the record.⁹

Records open to the public after: 50 years⁹

ID you need

Photo ID: Required³
Accepted ID: United States issued Driver's License or Identification card
United States Territories Driver's License or Identification Card
Tribal Identification Card that contains bearer's signature
U.S. Military Identification Card that contains bearer's signature
Passport-United States or Foreign issued
Visa - in a passport and the bearer's signature is on the passport not the Visa
Resident Alien Card (Form I-551)
Employment Authorization Card (Form I-766)
Employment Authorization Card (Form I-688A)
Temporary Resident Card (Form I-688)¹¹
Without that ID: Without valid photo ID: at least two other documents that together show current address and signature, such as a signed Social Security or Medicare card, car registration or title, voter card, filed federal tax form, or bank statement or utility bill.¹¹
Notarization: Notarized statements do not replace government ID unless the notary verified identity through documents required by state law.¹¹
ID copy with a mail order: Include a copy of your ID¹

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.³

Full name of deceased
Date of death
Age and sex of deceased
Place of death or last place of residence
Name and address of funeral home
Name and address of attending certifier
Whether a deceased infant was stillborn
Relationship
Reason
Signature and telephone number

Forms

Death Certificate Application (VR-8) R 8/11³
Death Certificate Application (Spanish)¹
Request for Veteran's Free Copy of Birth or Death Certificate (VR-40) R 8/11⁸
Vital Records Authorization Form Revised 02/17¹²

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds: February 1, 1914 to today²
Older records: Some city records on microfilm at the Arkansas State Archives¹³

Special situations

If no record is found: ADH keeps $10.00 as the search fee and refunds the rest, except the online processing fees.¹

Warnings from the office

Knowingly false statements on an application can bring a fine of up to $10,000, up to five years in prison, or both.³

The state office

Office: Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records Office⁷
Phone: (501) 661-2134¹⁴
Email: [email protected]⁷
Mailing address: Arkansas Department of Health, Vital Records, Slot 44, 4815 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205
⁷
Walk-in address: 4815 West Markham St., Little Rock, AR 72205
⁷
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, except state holidays⁷
Website: Official website¹⁵

Questions people ask

How much is a certified Arkansas death certificate?

The first copy costs $10 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $8.¹

How long does it take to get an Arkansas death certificate?

Online: 7 to 14 business days. In person: same day.¹

Can I order an Arkansas death certificate online?

Yes. Online: ADH's 'Vital Records' online service at ar.gov/vitalrecords (vitalrecords.egov.com). ADH sends technical problems to the 'Tyler Arkansas Help Center'.¹

Who do I make the check or money order payable to?

Write it exactly as the office prints it: Arkansas Department of Health.¹

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: United States issued Driver's License or Identification card; United States Territories Driver's License or Identification Card; Tribal Identification Card that contains bearer's signature; U.S. Military Identification Card that contains bearer's signature; Passport-United States or Foreign issued; Visa - in a passport and the bearer's signature is on the passport not the Visa; and the other documents listed above.¹¹

Where are older Arkansas death certificates kept?

Some city records on microfilm at the Arkansas State Archives.¹³

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

Order death recordsArkansas Department of Health
Pricing InformationArkansas Department of Health online portal
Application DC Vital Records (PDF)Arkansas Department of Healthdated August 1, 2011
Application Birth Certificate Vital Records (PDF)Arkansas Department of Health
Select MunicipalityArkansas Department of Health online portal
Vital records supportArkansas Department of Health
Order birth recordsArkansas Department of Health
RESOURCE Application BC DC Veteran (PDF)Arkansas Department of Healthdated August 1, 2011
2022 Vital Records Rule (PDF)Arkansas Department of Healthdated May 2, 2022
Eligible Individuals for Birth and or Death Certificates (PDF)Arkansas Department of Health
RESOURCE ID Requirements ENGLISH (PDF)Arkansas Department of Healthdated December 1, 2010
RESOURCE Vital Records Authorization Form (PDF)Arkansas Department of Healthdated February 1, 2017
Research faqs and tipsArkansas State Archives
2025 Apostille brochure folds (PDF)Arkansas Secretary of Statedated February 13, 2025
Certificates recordsArkansas Department of Health