How to get a Colorado death certificate
In Colorado, order a certified death certificate from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics.1 County Local Vital Records offices also issue birth and death certificates.2 The first copy costs $251 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $201. You can order online, by mail, in person or at a local office. Only the people the state lists below can order a certified copy. The fastest published option is by mail: 21 to 25 business days3.
On this page
Ways to order
| How | Cost per copy | Processing time | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online through VitalChek | $251 first, $201 each extra copy + one extra charge | Up to 30 business days4 | Card4 |
| Online through GoCertificates | $251 first, $201 each extra copy | Up to 30 business days4 | Card4 |
| By mail | $253 first, $203 each extra copy + one extra charge | 21 to 25 business days3 | Card, check and money order3 |
| In person | $251 first, $201 each extra copy | – | – |
| At a local office | $251 first, $201 each extra copy | – | – |
Online through VitalChek
Good to know
- GoCertificates handles birth and death requests only.4
Online through GoCertificates
By mail
- Run by
- VitalChek (the state form sends mail orders to "Vital Record Mail Services" in El Paso, TX, payable to VitalChek)3
- Fees
- Processing time
- 21 to 25 business days3
- Expedited service
- $21. UPS Air return shipping only; no faster processing stated3
- Payment
- Card, check and money order3
- Make payable to
- VitalChek5
- Mail to
- Vital Record Mail Services, ATTN: Colorado Vital Records, P.O. Box 222130, El Paso, TX 799123
- Appointment
- Not required2
In person
- Run by
- Colorado Vital Records Section (state office)6
- Office
- 710 S Ash St (Building C), Denver, CO 802466
- Hours
- Monday-Friday, excluding holidays. Lobby 9:00 am - 12:40 pm and 2:00 pm - 3:40 pm.6
- Appointment
- Required2
Good to know
- Temporary office during renovation: 710 S Ash St, Denver, 80246 (Building C).6
At a local office
- Run by
- County Local Vital Records offices2
What a Colorado death certificate costs
- First certified copy
- $251
- Each additional copy, same order
- $201
- Each extra year searched
- $11
- If no record is found
- The fee is kept as a search fee2
- Fees in effect since
- Jan. 1, 20261
Types of copies
| Copy | Accepted for | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy1 | Prima facie evidence in all courts and places of the facts stated.7 | $251 |
| For Genealogical Use Only3 | – | – |
| No record found1 | – | $251 |
No-fee copies
- No fee for certified birth or death copies provided to another state agency, a county department of human or social services, an individual with a referral letter from such a department, or a delegate child support enforcement unit.7
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 through VitalChek | Up to 30 business days4 | From receipt |
| Online through GoCertificates | Up to 30 business days4 | From receipt |
| By mail | 21 to 25 business days3 | – |
Who can order a Colorado death certificate
The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.
- Spouse3
- Ex-spouse Must present proof of direct & tangible interest (i.e. Social Security3
- A parent named on the record3
- Brother or sister3
- Child3
- Funeral director3
- Attorney or legal representative3
- Attorney-in-fact/Agent (Power of Attorney) Must present a Durable Power of Attorney that has been signed by the3
Other kinds of copies
- Genealogy copy Genealogist or family researcher3
- Genealogy copy In-laws/grandparents/aunts/uncles/nephews/ For death certificate 25 years or younger- Must present proof of direct & For death certificates over 25 years- Must present proof of relationship (a3
ID you need
- Photo ID
- Required8
- Accepted ID
- Alien Registration Receipt/Permanent Resident Card
- Certificate of U.S. Citizenship
- Jail Temporary Inmate ID: Denver or Pueblo County
- Colorado Department of Corrections ID card
- Colorado Department of Human Services Youth Corrections ID
- Colorado Temporary Driver's License/State ID (must be current)
- Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- Foreign Passport
- Government Work ID
- Job Corps ID Card
- US Merchant Mariner Card/Book
- Driver's License/ID Card (DMV - U.S.)
- Foreign Driver's License/ID Card (issued directly from foreign country's government - not state or province)
- School, University or College ID Card (must be current - cannot be accepted if expired)
- Temporary Resident Card
- U.S. B1/B2 Card with I-94
- U.S. Certificate of Naturalization
- U.S. Citizenship ID Card (I-197)
- U.S. Military ID Card
- U.S. Passport Book or Card9
- Without that ID
- Two documents from the Secondary list if you have no Primary list document; documents expired more than six months are not accepted. Or ask a spouse, parent, sibling or adult child with acceptable ID to request it (proof of relationship required).9
- ID copy with a mail order
- Include a copy of your ID2
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 or range of dates
- Date of birth or age at death (optional)
- State of birth (optional)
- Place of death: city, county
- Requestor name, addresses, phones, relationship to deceased, reason for request
- Signature
Forms
- Application for Certified Death Certificate REV. 12/20253
Years held and older records
Special situations
Warnings from the office
- State and Attorney General warned about unapproved third-party sites that charge for the free application: "Some consumers spent 3-4 times the fee charged by the state".12
- Penalties for obtaining a record under false pretenses, as printed on the forms.13
The state office
- Office
- Vital Records Section; Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics1
- Phone
- 303-692-22006
- [email protected]6
- Mailing address
- Vital Record Mail Services, ATTN: Colorado Vital Records, P.O. Box 222130, El Paso, TX 799123
- Walk-in address
- 710 S Ash St (Building C), Denver, CO 802466
- Hours
- Monday-Friday, excluding holidays. Phone 8:30 am - 4:15 pm, closed 1:00-2:00 pm. Lobby 9:00 am - 12:40 pm and 2:00 pm - 3:40 pm.6
- Appointments
- Required2
- Website
- Official website4
Questions people ask
How much is a certified Colorado death certificate?
The first copy costs $25 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $20.1
How long does it take to get a Colorado death certificate?
Can I order a Colorado death certificate online?
Yes. Online through VitalChek. Online through GoCertificates.2
Who do I make the check or money order payable to?
Write it exactly as the office prints it: VitalChek.5
What ID do I need?
The state accepts: Alien Registration Receipt/Permanent Resident Card; Certificate of U.S. Citizenship; Jail Temporary Inmate ID: Denver or Pueblo County; Colorado Department of Corrections ID card; Colorado Department of Human Services Youth Corrections ID; Colorado Temporary Driver's License/State ID (must be current); and the other documents listed above.9
Where are older Colorado death certificates kept?
Colorado State Archives.11
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked between November 5, 2026 and November 6, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.
- Fee schedule, effective 1/1/2026Colorado Department of Public Health and Environmentdated January 1, 2026
- Order certificate nowColorado Department of Public Health and Environmentdated July 27, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
- Application for Certified Death Certificate, REV. 12/2025Colorado Department of Public Health and Environmentdated December 1, 2025
- Birth, death, and other vital recordsColorado Department of Public Health and Environmentdated July 29, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
- Colorado death certificate mail application (CDPHE)Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Office of Vital Recordsdated December 1, 2025
- Contact Vital RecordsColorado Department of Public Health and Environmentdated April 23, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
- Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 25 Article 2 (Vital Statistics Act)Colorado General Assembly, Office of Legislative Legal Servicesdated September 27, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
- Other topics regarding Vital RecordsColorado Department of Public Health and Environmentdated April 20, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
- ID and Eligibility Requirements, October 2024Colorado Department of Public Health and Environmentdated October 1, 2024
- Where to Write for Vital Records: ColoradoCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated January 23, 2019read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
- Death recordsColorado State Archivesdated February 6, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
- Press release: obtain birth certificates through approved partnersColorado Department of Public Health and Environmentdated February 20, 2020read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
- Birth Certificate Application, REV. 10/2024Colorado Department of Public Health and Environmentdated October 1, 2024