How to get a Tennessee death certificate

In Tennessee, order a certified death certificate from the Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records.¹ County health departments also issue any death certificate registered statewide.² Each certified copy costs $15³. 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 in person: same day⁴.

Last checked November 5, 2026 against official sources.

On this page

Ways to order
What a Tennessee death certificate costs
How long it takes
Who can order a Tennessee 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 through VitalChek	$15³	Up to 3 days⁴	Card²
By mail	$15³	Up to 3 days⁴	Check and money order²
In person	$15³	Same day⁴	Cash, check, card and money order²
At a local office	$15⁵ (Knox County) + one extra charge	–	Cash, check, money order and card⁶

Not offered: online directly with the vital records office.²

Online through VitalChek

Vendor: VitalChek²
Vendor status: The state's only authorized vendor²
Fees: Per copy $15³
Processing time: Up to 3 days⁴
Payment: Card²

Good to know

An estimated date is accepted on VitalChek when the exact date is unknown⁷

Go to the ordering site²

By mail

Run by: Tennessee Office of Vital Records²
Fees: Per copy $15³
Processing time: Up to 3 days⁴
Payment: Check and money order²
Make payable to: Tennessee Vital Records²
Mail to: Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243
²

Good to know

Year or range of years is required when ordering directly from the office⁷

In person

Run by: Tennessee Office of Vital Records⁸
Fees: Per copy $15³
Processing time: Same day⁴
Payment: Cash, check, card and money order²
Office: Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243
⁸
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.⁸
Appointment: Not required²

Good to know

Entrance and parking directions⁸

Open the official page⁸

At a local office

Run by: County health departments²
Fees: Per copy $15⁵⁹
Knox County: 2.5% credit card fee ( minimum) $2⁵
Payment: Cash, check, money order and card⁶
Make payable to: Metro Public Health Department⁶

Good to know

Davidson County mail⁹
Recent deaths in Knox County⁵

Find a local office²

What a Tennessee death certificate costs

First certified copy: $15³
Each additional copy, same order: $15³
If no record is found: The fee is kept as a search fee³

Types of copies

Copy	Accepted for	Fee
Death "With" Cause¹⁰	–	$15³
Death Without Cause¹⁰	–	$15³
letter certifying that no record was found³	–	$15³
Verification of information¹¹	–	$15³

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
Online through VitalChek	Up to 3 days⁴
By mail	Up to 3 days⁴
In person	Same day⁴

Who can order a Tennessee death certificate

The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.

A parent named on the record, child, spouse and legal guardian: Other than the person named on the certificate, certified copies may only be issued to a spouse, parent, legal guardian or child of the person named on the certificate.¹²
Proof: Certified copy of the court-ordered guardianship papers¹⁰
Attorney or legal representative: These individuals will need to provide documentation.¹⁰
Proof: Letter on firm letterhead naming the entitled party and stating representation, copy of Bar card, driver's license, representation agreement¹⁰
If you are acting as an authorized representative for one of these people, the Tennessee Office of Vital Records may release the certificate to you under the following conditions¹²
Proof: Photocopy of signed government ID for both people, plus a signed statement from the entitled person¹²
Funeral director: Funeral Directors are entitled if the document is being given or mailed to the Funeral Home that handled the services.¹⁰
Proof: For cause of death: signed application requesting cause, relationship listed as "family", and purpose of copy¹⁰
Executor or estate administrator¹⁰
Proof: Letter of Testamentary, Last Will or probate court documents¹⁰
Person named in a court order¹⁰
Beneficiaries¹⁰
Proof: Copy of the policy naming the beneficiary¹⁰
Ex-spouse for Social Security Benefits¹⁰
Proof: Social Security letter¹⁰

Records open to the public after: 50 years¹³
Cause of death: Restricted on some copies¹⁰

ID you need

Photo ID: Required²
Accepted ID: Current driver's license, including the issue and expiration date.
Current passport
Military I.D. card
Alien, temporary or permanent resident card
Employment authorization card
U.S. Certificate of Naturalization
Certificate of Citizenship or Citizenship I.D. card¹⁴
Without that ID: Current pay stub or W2
Vehicle registration with name and current address
Voter Registration card
Military Discharge (DD214)
Utility Bill, Bank Statement or deposit slip with name and current address
Health care coverage card
Medical record
Application page of an insurance policy
Signed Social Security Card
For those persons who have had their I.D. stolen, a copy a police report or other official documents which support the theft.
¹⁴
Notarization: A signed and notarized application needs no additional ID¹⁴
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.¹⁵

Name of deceased
Date of death
Sex
Place of death (county)
Name of funeral home and city
Signature
Relationship to deceased
Purpose of copy
Address
Number of copies
Whether to show cause of death
Phone

Forms

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds: 1976 to today¹⁶
Older records: Tennessee State Library and Archives¹³

Special situations

If no record is found: A no-record letter costs the same as a copy³
Use abroad: The office can forward a new copy for an apostille¹⁷

Warnings from the office

Recent deaths⁵

The state office

Office: Tennessee Office of Vital Records²
Phone: 615-741-1763¹⁸
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]¹⁹
Mailing address: Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243
²
Walk-in address: Tennessee Vital Records, 1st Floor, Andrew Johnson Tower, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243
⁸
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.⁸
Website: Official website⁸

Questions people ask

How much is a certified Tennessee death certificate?

Each certified copy costs $15.³

How long does it take to get a Tennessee death certificate?

Online through VitalChek: up to 3 days. By mail: up to 3 days. In person: same day.⁴

Can I order a Tennessee death certificate online?

Yes. Online through VitalChek.²

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

Write it exactly as the office prints it: Tennessee Vital Records.²

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: Current driver's license, including the issue and expiration date.; Current passport; Military I.D. card; Alien, temporary or permanent resident card; Employment authorization card; U.S. Certificate of Naturalization; and the other documents listed above.¹⁴

Where are older Tennessee death certificates kept?

Tennessee State Library and 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.

What is a raised seal? How do I get a raised seal on my certificate?Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
How do I get my certificate? (In Person, Local County Health Department, Mail, or Online)Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Tennessee Department of Health: FeesTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
How long will it take?Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated June 23, 2026
Vital Records DivisionKnox County Health Department
Get Copy of Birth CertificateMetro Public Health Department, Nashvilledated August 8, 2025
How can I order a certificate without exact an known date?Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Office Hours and LocationTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Get Certified Copy of Death CertificateMetro Public Health Department, Nashvilledated August 6, 2025
Entitlement GuidelinesTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
ApplicationsTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
May I pick up a copy of a certificate for someone else?Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Genealogy ResearchTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Identification RequirementsTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Application for Certified Copy of Certificate of Death (1402 KCHD)Knox County Health Departmentdated November 16, 2023
Vital Records at the Library and ArchivesTennessee State Library and Archives
I have been told that I need to get an apostille on my certificate. How do I do that?Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Application for Certified Copy of Certificate of Birth (1401 KCHD)Knox County Health Departmentdated November 16, 2023
I still have a Vital Records related question, who do I email?Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records