How to get a Vermont death certificate

In Vermont, order a certified death certificate from the Vermont Department of Health, Vital Records Office.¹ Also issued by most town/city clerks (any 1909+ certificate, statewide) and VSARA.² Each certified copy costs $10². 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.

Last checked November 6, 2026 against official sources.

On this page

Ways to order
What a Vermont death certificate costs
How long it takes
Who can order a Vermont 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	$10³, plus $2² online processing fee + one extra charge	5 to 7 business days⁴	Card²
By mail	$10⁵	–	Check and money order⁵
In person	$10³	–	–
At a local office	$10³	–	–

Online

Run by: Vermont.gov (the State of Vermont web portal, run by the entity under contract with the State) for the Vermont Department of Health⁴
Fees: Per copy $10³
Online processing fee $2²
Expedited service $14.50⁴
Processing time: 5 to 7 business days⁴
Expedited service: $14.50. Overnight shipping once the order is fulfilled; processing itself is not faster⁴
Payment: Card²
Appointment: Not required⁴

Good to know

Certificates are mailed; nothing is issued online⁶
Partial refund if the order can't be fulfilled; the search fee and the online service fee are kept⁴
Online applicants must enter one of 8 government photo ID types with its number and expiration date; the two-document alternative and the homeless affidavit offered on the paper application are not in the online list⁷
No PO box for expedited delivery⁷
VDH positions online ordering for out-of-state or non-urgent requests²

Go to the ordering site²

By mail

Run by: Vermont Department of Health, Vital Records Office¹
Fees: Per copy $10⁵
Payment: Check and money order⁵
Make payable to: Vermont Department of Health⁵
Mail to: Vermont Department of Health, Vital Records, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-8370
⁵

Good to know

Include ID copy, payment and a self-addressed envelope⁵
One application per person; separate application for each certificate type⁸
ID address must match the mailing address⁸

Open the application or mail instructions²

In person

Run by: Vermont Department of Health, Vital Records Office¹
Fees: Per copy $10³
Make payable to: Vermont Department of Health⁵
Office: Vermont Department of Health, Vital Records, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-8370
⁸
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m.⁹

Open the official page²

At a local office

Run by: Vermont town and city clerks (issuing agents of the State Registrar)²
Fees: Per copy $10³

Good to know

Some town clerks may have opted out of issuing 1909+ birth/death certificates³
Town clerks may also accept application + scanned ID by email (clerk manual)¹⁰
ID address must match the application address¹⁰

Find a local office²

What a Vermont death certificate costs

First certified copy: $10²
Each additional copy: $10³
Expedite fee: $14.50⁴
If no record is found: The fee is kept as a search fee⁴
Fees in effect since: 18 V.S.A. § 5017 eff. July 1, 2019; waiver for former foster youth added eff. July 1, 2024³

Types of copies

Copy	Accepted for	Fee
Certified copy (State engraved security paper with raised seal)²	Prima facie evidence of the facts stated (18 V.S.A. § 5016(b)(4))³	$10²
Noncertified copy²	Not legal evidence, except for recording in municipal land records³	–

No-fee copies

Fee waived for people experiencing homelessness (18 V.S.A. § 5017(b)(1))³
Fee waived for former foster youth aged 18-24 (18 V.S.A. § 5017(b)(2), eff. July 1, 2024)³

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. They do not include shipping. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

How you order	Processing time
Online	5 to 7 business days⁴

Who can order a Vermont death certificate

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

Spouse, child, grandchild, a parent named on the record, brother or sister, grandparent, legal guardian, executor or estate administrator and attorney or legal representative³
Person named in a court order³
Proof: Certified copy of the court order; photocopies not accepted⁵
Government agency³
(D) in the case of a death certificate only, additionally to³
Funeral director: For death certificates, a funeral home or crematorium may apply for a certified copy.²
Government agency³
(iv) the deceased’s insurance carrier, if such carrier provides benefits to the decedent’s survivors or beneficiaries.³

Other kinds of copies

Informational copy Anyone¹¹

Social Security number on the copy: Social Security numbers in death reports are confidential and exempt from public inspection (18 V.S.A. § 5014(b)(1)(B))³

ID you need

Photo ID: Required²
Accepted ID: U.S. issued Driver's License or ID Card
U.S. Territories Driver's License or ID Card
Tribal ID Card containing your signature
U.S. Military ID Card containing your signature
Passport: U.S. or Foreign issued
Visa: U.S. issued and included within a Passport containing your signature
U.S. Resident Alien Card or U.S. Green Card or U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)
U.S. Employment Authorization Document or Card (Form I-765)
Valid State of Vermont Employee ID
Affidavit of Homeless Status form
Documentation from Vermont Department of Corrections substantiating identity⁵
Without that ID: Rule: Two documents together showing current address and signature; Documents: Employee Photo ID Card with a Pay Stub or U.S. Internal Revenue W-2 Form, School, University or College Photo ID with Report Card or other proof of current enrollment, Federal or State Corrections or Prisons issued ID, Social Security or Medicare Card with your signature, Pilot's license, Car Registration or Title with current address, U.S. Selective Service Card, Voter's Registration Card, Filed Federal Tax Form with current address and signature, Bank Statement, Property or Utility Bill with current address, U.S. or State Court documents with current address, A receipt from a licensed health care provider with name and current address, First class mail with name and current address⁵
Notarization: Not required⁵
ID copy with a mail order: Include a copy of your ID⁵

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.⁵

Date of death
Town of death
Name on certificate (first, middle, last, suffix)
Sex
Name of mother/parent
Name of father/parent
Applicant name, mailing address, date of birth, phone
Relationship to the decedent
Number of copies
ID document number and expiration date

Forms

Application for Certified Copy of Vermont Birth or Death Certificate revision May 2026²
Certified Copy of VT Birth or Death Certificate Instructions revision March 2026²
Affidavit of Homeless Status²

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds: 1909 to today²
Older records: Town clerks (pre-1909 certificates filed in their office); recording books 1908 and earlier at the State Archives²

Special situations

Fetal death: Fetal death reports are statistical only, not public, destroyed after two years¹² Details
Use abroad: Apostille can be added to an online order; see apostille record¹³ Details

Warnings from the office

False statements: fine up to $10,000 and/or up to 6 months in prison⁵
Online orders are mailed; nothing is downloadable⁶

The state office

Office: Vital Records Office¹
Email: [email protected]¹⁴
Mailing address: Vermont Department of Health, Vital Records, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-8370
⁵
Walk-in address: Vermont Department of Health, Vital Records, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-8370
⁸
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m.⁹
Website: Official website¹⁴

Questions people ask

How much is a certified Vermont death certificate?

Each certified copy costs $10.²³

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

Online: 5 to 7 business days.⁴

Can I order a Vermont death certificate online?

Yes. Online: Vermont.gov (the State of Vermont web portal, run by the entity under contract with the State) for the Vermont Department of Health.⁴

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

Write it exactly as the office prints it: Vermont Department of Health.⁵

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: U.S. issued Driver's License or ID Card; U.S. Territories Driver's License or ID Card; Tribal ID Card containing your signature; U.S. Military ID Card containing your signature; Passport: U.S. or Foreign issued; Visa: U.S. issued and included within a Passport containing your signature; and the other documents listed above.⁵

Where are older Vermont death certificates kept?

Town clerks (pre-1909 certificates filed in their office); recording books 1908 and earlier at the State Archives.²

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 6, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

Application for Certified Copy of Vermont Marriage or Divorce or Civil Union Dissolution…Vermont Department of Healthdated June 1, 2026
Order Vital RecordsVermont Department of Healthdated June 30, 2026
18 V.S.A. chapter 101 (Vital Records), full chapterVermont General Assemblydated May 9, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
Vital Records Request Service (secure.vermont.gov), a service of the Vermont Department of HealthVermont Department of Health
Application for Certified Copy of Vermont Birth or Death Certificate (May 2026)Vermont Department of Healthdated May 1, 2026
Vital Records Request Service HelpVermont Department of Health
Vital Records Request Service: Applicant stepVermont Department of Health
Certified Copy of VT Birth or Death Certificate Instructions (March 2026)Vermont Department of Healthdated March 1, 2026
Vermont Department of Health: Contact usVermont Department of Healthdated September 17, 2026
General Instruction Manual for Town/City Clerks (updated January 10, 2023)Vermont Department of Healthdated January 10, 2023
Vital Records (research online)Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (Office of the Secretary of State)
Vital RecordsVermont Department of Healthdated July 24, 2026
Apostille or AuthenticationVermont Secretary of State
Certified Vital RecordsVermont State Archives and Records Administration (Office of the Secretary of State)