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How many death certificates do you need?

Most families need several certified copies: one for each bank, insurer, pension plan or agency that keeps the copy it receives. Ordering them together usually costs less, because many states charge less for each extra copy in the same order.

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Who usually asks for a copy
  2. Social Security
  3. Extra copies cost less in many states
  4. Who may order
  5. Sources

Who usually asks for a copy

  • Each bank, credit union or brokerage where the person had an account
  • Each life insurance company and annuity provider
  • Pension plans and retirement accounts
  • The probate court, if an estate is opened
  • The motor vehicle office, to transfer or cancel a title or registration
  • Real estate: the county recorder, title company or lender
  • Utilities, phone companies and credit card issuers (some accept a photocopy)

Ask each one whether it needs a certified copy or will accept a photocopy, and whether it returns the certified copy. Make the list before you order.

Social Security

Give the deceased's SSN to the funeral director, who usually reports the death to SSA; then contact SSA.1 A one-time payment of $2551 may go to a surviving spouse who lived with the person; other conditions apply. Benefits for the month of death and later must be returned.1

Extra copies cost less in many states

This table lists the first-copy and extra-copy fees each state publishes, with the biggest savings for ordering together first. The copies calculator adds them up for you.

Utah$352$102
New Jersey$253$23
Georgia$254$54
Texas$205$35
Illinois$196$46
Mississippi$177$67
Alabama$158$68
Maine$159$69
North Carolina$2410$1510
Minnesota$1311$611
Hawaii$1012$412
Alaska$3013$2513
Colorado$2514$2014
New Hampshire$1515$1015
North Dakota$1516$1016
Indiana$817$417
Missouri$1418$1118
Arkansas$1019$819
Florida$520$420
Arizona$2021$2022
California$2623$2623
Connecticut$2024$2025
District of Columbia$1826$1826
Idaho$1627$1627
Iowa$2028$2029
Louisiana$730$731
Massachusetts$3232$3233
Nevada$2534$2535
New Mexico$536$537
New York$3038$3039
New York City$1540$1541
Ohio$21.5042$21.5043
Oklahoma$1544$1544
Pennsylvania$2045$2045
South Dakota$1546$1547
Tennessee$1548$1548
Vermont$1049$1050
Virginia$1551$1551
Washington$2552$2553
West Virginia$1254$1255
Guam$556$556
Maryland$1057$1257

Who may order

Death certificates are restricted in most states. See who can order a death certificate and, for executors, death certificates for an estate.

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.

  1. How Social Security Can Help You When a Family Member Dies (Publication No. 05-10008, July 2026)Social Security Administrationdated July 1, 2026
  2. Fee Schedule (Effective July 1, 2026)Utah DHHS Office of Vital Records and Statisticsdated July 1, 2026
  3. Department of HealthNew Jersey Department of Healthdated June 15, 2026
  4. Birth CertificatesGeorgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Recordsdated March 11, 2026
  5. Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Costs and FeesTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  6. Obtain death certificateIllinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records
  7. Death Certificate Application InstructionsMississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated November 4, 2026
  8. Death-certificates pageAlabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated March 27, 2026
  9. Request DocumentsMaine DHHS, Maine CDC, Data, Research and Vital Statistics (DRVS)
  10. NC Vital Records fees pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 13, 2026
  11. Minnesota Department of Health form (PDF)Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated November 1, 2024
  12. Vital Records Ordering and TrackingHawaii State Department of Health, eHawaii.gov
  13. Death form (PDF)Alaska Department of Health, Health Analytics and Vital Recordsdated April 1, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  14. Fee schedule, effective 1/1/2026Colorado Department of Public Health and Environmentdated January 1, 2026
  15. VR201 Application for a Certified Copy of a Vital Record (Rev. 7/2025)New Hampshire Secretary of State, Division of Vital Records Administrationdated July 1, 2025read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  16. Certified Copies of Death RecordsNorth Dakota Department of Health and Human Services
  17. Vital Records: Order CertificatesIndiana Department of Health
  18. Notice of Fees | Missouri Department of Health and Senior ServicesMissouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records
  19. Order death recordsArkansas Department of Health
  20. Death certificatesfloridahealth.gov/certificates-records/death-certificatesFlorida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
  21. ADHS Vital Records: Fee SchedulesArizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Vital Records
  22. ADHS Vital Records: Online Ordering OptionsArizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Vital Records
  23. Vital Records FeesCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated January 29, 2026
  24. How to Obtain a RecordConnecticut Department of Public Health, State Vital Records Office
  25. VS-39DST Death Certificate Request Form, State (Revised 10/2026)Connecticut Department of Public Health, State Vital Records Officedated October 1, 2026
  26. DC Death Application (PDF)DC Health (form hosted by VitalChek; linked from the DC Health vital records page)dated April 1, 2024
  27. Section 160208Idaho Administrative Code
  28. Iowa Admin. Code 641 Ch. 95 Vital Records: General Administration (IAC 6/10/26)Iowa Legislaturedated July 1, 2026
  29. Form 470-5451 Application to Order an Iowa Vital Record (07/26)Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Statisticsdated July 1, 2026
  30. Service feesLouisiana Department of Health, Center for Vital Records and Statistics
  31. Birth CertificateLouisiana Department of Health, Center for Vital Records and Statisticsdated January 1, 2026
  32. Vital records service feesMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
  33. Application for Vital Record (mail order form, DOCX)Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
  34. Birth/Death Vital Records - FAQsNevada DPBH Office of Vital Recordsdated January 8, 2026
  35. Application for a Certified Copy of Death CertificateNevada DPBH Office of Vital Records
  36. NMSA 1978 Ch. 24 Art. 14 Vital Statistics ActNew Mexico Compilation Commission (NMOneSource), NMSA 1978 Chapter 24 Article 14
  37. Death Record Search Application (form 610)New Mexico Department of Health
  38. Death Certificates - New York State Department of HealthNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023
  39. Doh 4376 (PDF)New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated November 1, 2013
  40. Birth and Death Records Fees and Processing Times - NYC HealthNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  41. VR 220 (Rev. 2/26) 1NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygienedated February 1, 2026
  42. How to Order CertificatesOhio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statisticsdated December 31, 2024
  43. HEA 2701 & HEA 2709 (PDF)Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statisticsdated January 1, 2025
  44. Death Certificate Request Form (Oct 2026)Oklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Recordsdated October 1, 2026
  45. Death certificatespa.gov/agencies/health/programs/vital-records/death-certificatesPennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records
  46. Vital records feesSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated January 9, 2025
  47. South Dakota Vital Records Request (application)South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  48. Tennessee Department of Health: FeesTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  49. Order Vital RecordsVermont Department of Healthdated June 30, 2026
  50. 18 V.S.A. chapter 101 (Vital Records), full chapterVermont General Assemblydated May 9, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  51. Online Application for a Vital RecordVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 5, 2026
  52. Chapter 70.58A RCW Vital Statistics (full text)Washington State Legislature
  53. Death Certificate Order Form (DOH 422-184, July 2025)Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated July 1, 2025
  54. Certificate RequestsWest Virginia Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health, Health Statistics Center (Vital Registration Office)
  55. Application for Copy of West Virginia Death Certificate (deathfm26.pdf)West Virginia Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health, Health Statistics Center (Vital Registration Office)dated January 6, 2009
  56. Office of Vital Statistics | DPHSSGuam Department of Public Health and Social Services, Office of Vital Statisticsdated September 15, 2025read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  57. Maryland Department of Health: FeesMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration