How many death certificates do I need?

A short note before you start

This guide is general information for the United States, not legal, tax, financial or medical advice. Rules about who can request a death certificate, what it costs, and how "authorized" and "informational" copies are treated are set by each state, so treat the numbers here as a starting point and confirm the current fee and process with the vital records office where the death occurred.

Who actually needs a certified copy of the death certificate?

A certified death certificate proves, to a bank, insurer, government agency or court, that a specific person died on a specific date. Nearly every organization that held money, property or a policy in the deceased person's name will ask to see one, and most keep the copy you hand over, which is why families end up ordering more than one.

Not every contact needs an original. Utility companies, subscription services and most credit card issuers will usually accept a photocopy once the account is being closed rather than transferred, so save certified copies for institutions that specifically require one¹. See our executor checklist and notify Social Security of a death guides for the fuller list of who to notify.

How many death certificates do I need?

There is no single legal number. It depends on how many financial accounts, policies and titled property the person had, and whether the estate goes through probate. A practical way to estimate is to count the institutions in the table above that apply, since each one typically wants its own certified copy.

AARP advises families settling an estate to expect to order roughly 10 or more copies, since institutions keep what you send them rather than returning it¹¹.

In states like Texas, each additional copy ordered in the same request costs less than the first one ($3 for each extra copy versus $20 for the first)⁴, so it is often cheaper to order a few extra copies upfront than to place a second order later. If you are unsure, order a few more than you think you need rather than running short partway through settling the estate.

Authorized vs. informational copies: a common mistake

Several states, including California, issue two versions of a certified death certificate, and using the wrong one can cost you a second trip and a second fee. An authorized copy is a valid document to establish identity and is the version banks, insurers, the DMV and the SSA expect; it can only be requested by immediate family, a spouse or domestic partner, a legal representative, or someone else entitled by law. An informational copy carries the same facts but is stamped as not valid to establish identity, and while anyone can request one without proving a relationship to the deceased, most institutions will reject it for account closures, benefit claims or title transfers⁶. If you are the executor, spouse or next of kin, request the authorized version for every copy you plan to use with a financial institution or agency.

How much does a death certificate cost?

Fees are set by the state or county vital records office, and they vary widely. Two dated examples show the range:

Expect to pay more through a third-party expediting service such as VitalChek, which many vital records offices use for online and phone orders and which adds its own processing fee on top of the copy fee¹³. Expedited processing or overnight return shipping, where offered, is also extra; Texas, for example, charges a separate $25.00 expedited processing fee plus $16.00 to $22.95 for expedited return shipping⁴. Confirm the current fee on the vital records office website for the state where the death occurred before you order.

How do I get a death certificate in the first place?

1. Let the funeral home start the process. Most funeral directors file the death record electronically and can order your first batch of certified copies as part of their services¹².
2. Decide how many to order at once, using the estimate above, since extra copies in the same request are usually cheaper per copy than reordering later.
3. If you are ordering directly, contact the vital records office for the state where the death occurred; the CDC's "Where to Write for Vital Records" directory lists the address, phone number and fee for every state².
4. Bring or mail proof of your relationship to the deceased if the state restricts authorized copies, along with a notarized sworn statement where required⁶.
5. Pay the fee by the method the office accepts. Many offices do not take cash for mailed requests and ask for a check or money order instead⁶.

How do I order more copies later?

If you run out partway through settling the estate, order more certified copies directly from the vital records office that issued the first batch: the state office, or the county or city office if that is where the local record is kept². Most of these offices also accept online or phone orders through VitalChek, an authorized processor used by more than 450 vital records agencies, which ships the certified copy to you for an added fee¹³. Have the deceased person's full name, date and place of death, and your relationship to them ready before you order.

How long does it take to get a death certificate?

Timelines vary by state and by how the death was investigated. A funeral home's first order is typically fastest, since the death record is already filed electronically. Ordering by mail directly from a state office generally takes longer: Texas DSHS estimates about a month for standard mailed requests⁴. A death investigated by a coroner or medical examiner can take longer, since the certificate is not complete until the cause of death is certified. If you need a certificate quickly, ask about expedited processing and shipping, which usually cost extra.

What mistakes do people make?

• Ordering too few copies. Running out partway through settling accounts means a second order, a second fee, and a delay.
• Ordering the wrong type of copy. In states that distinguish authorized from informational copies, an informational copy will be rejected by banks, insurers and the DMV.
• Assuming Social Security needs a mailed-in copy. The SSA typically gets proof of death from the funeral director's electronic report⁷.
• Sending an original where a photocopy would do. Save certified copies for institutions that specifically require one; ask first.
• Not checking whether the county, not the state, holds the record. The CDC's "Where to Write" directory is the fastest way to confirm the right office².
• Waiting until you need one to check the fee. Fees change from year to year and by county, so confirm the current amount before you order.

When to get professional help

Most families can order and manage death certificates on their own. Get help from a probate attorney if an institution disputes your authority to request an authorized copy, if the estate involves property in more than one state and you are unsure which office to use, or if the certificate itself contains an error, since correcting a vital record usually requires a separate amendment process. A funeral director can usually answer questions about the initial order faster than a general customer service line.