Cost of Death Certificates: How Many You Need and Where to Order Copies

How Much They Cost

Death certificate costs vary by state and county. Additional copies ordered at the same time are cheaper in some states, while others charge the same flat fee per copy.

A few examples: California charges $26 per copy in 2026. Texas charges $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. New York State charges $30 per copy by mail ($45 online or by phone, plus vendor fees); New York City charges $15 per copy. Florida charges $5 for the first copy and $4 for each additional.

These fees can add up quickly when you need 10 to 20 copies — and you will.

How Many to Order

Order 10 to 20 certified copies. Confirm with each institution whether it requires an original certified copy or accepts a photocopy, fax, or scan.

Who needs a certified copy:

• Probate court (to file the will)
• Each bank or financial institution (one per institution)
• Each life insurance company
• The Social Security Administration
• The Department of Veterans Affairs (if the deceased was a veteran)
• The DMV (to cancel the driver's license)
• Each credit bureau (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion)
• The IRS (if filing the deceased's final tax return)
• The employer (for final paycheck, group life insurance, retirement accounts)
• The mortgage company or landlord
• Each credit card issuer
• The county recorder (for real estate transfers)

Some institutions eventually return the certificate, but many don't. Running out mid-process means ordering more and waiting again. It's cheaper and faster to over-order upfront than to submit additional requests later.

Certified vs. Informational Copies

There are two types of death certificates, and the distinction matters:

Certified copies carry an official raised seal or watermark from the issuing authority (county registrar, vital records office, or state health department). These are the legally valid versions accepted by courts, banks, insurance companies, and government agencies. This is what you need.

Informational copies (sometimes called "non-certified" or "abstract" copies) are marked "NOT A VALID DOCUMENT — INFORMATIONAL ONLY" or similar language. They're useful for your personal records but will be rejected by any institution that requires legal proof of death.

Always order certified copies. Informational copies are not a money-saving shortcut — you'll just have to order certified ones anyway.

Where and How to Order

Through the funeral home (fastest). The funeral director typically files the death certificate with the local registrar and can order certified copies for you at the same time. This is the easiest route — they handle the paperwork and the copies arrive within a few days to two weeks. Some funeral homes add a small service fee on top of the per-copy cost.

From the county registrar or vital records office. Visit or mail a request to the county where the death occurred. You'll need to provide the deceased's full name, date of death, and your relationship or legal authority (executor status). Processing time varies: some counties issue copies same-day at the window, while mail requests take one to four weeks.

From the state vital records office. Every state has a central vital records agency (often within the state health department) that maintains death records. You can order by mail, online, or in person depending on the state. Processing is typically slower than the county — two to eight weeks by mail.

Through an authorized third-party service. VitalChek (vitalchek.com) processes requests for most states and offers expedited shipping. Fees are higher (the per-copy state fee plus a service fee), but turnaround is faster for mail-in orders.

How Long It Takes

Timeline depends on how you order:

• Through the funeral home: Usually 5 to 14 business days
• In person at the county registrar: Same day to 3 business days
• By mail to the county: 1 to 4 weeks
• By mail to the state: 2 to 8 weeks
• Through VitalChek or similar: 3 to 7 business days with expedited processing

If the death is under coroner or medical examiner investigation, the certificate may be delayed until the cause of death is determined. In these cases, the coroner's office can issue an interim certificate (confirming the identity and fact of death without stating the cause) that most institutions will accept to begin processing accounts.

International Differences

United Kingdom: Registration deadlines differ by jurisdiction. In England and Wales, register a non-coronial death within five days after the registrar receives the medical examiner's completed certificate; if the death is referred to a coroner, register after the coroner completes the process and the registrar receives the required notification. In Scotland, register within eight days of the date of death where possible; in Northern Ireland, register within five days unless the death is referred to the coroner. In England and Wales, certified copies cost £12.50 each. The registrar may also provide the unique reference number for the "Tell Us Once" service, which notifies most government departments automatically.

Canada: Death certificates are issued by provincial vital statistics offices. Costs vary by province (roughly CAD $15–$75 per copy). Processing times range from a few days to several weeks depending on the province.

Australia: Each state and territory's Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages issues certificates. Costs are typically AUD $30–$60 per copy. Standard processing takes 5 to 10 business days.

Don't Wait

Ordering death certificates is one of the first administrative tasks after a death, and delays here cascade into delays everywhere else — you can't file probate, claim insurance, or close accounts without them. Our First 48 Hours toolkit includes a document tracker that shows which institutions need certified copies and in what order, so you can submit everything systematically as soon as the certificates arrive.