Find the right state source instead of guessing.
Life Kindly gives the planning framework, then points you to official sources for state-specific rules, fees and records.
Death certificates and many post-death requirements are handled at state or local level. Rather than copying fifty changing fee tables and procedures, Life Kindly sends you to the current official source.
Find the correct vital-record office
The CDC/National Center for Health Statistics maintains the official directory for states and territories.
Open the CDC vital-record directory
Need a certified copy?
USAGov explains how to find the state or local vital-record office that can issue a death certificate and what to do if the death occurred outside the United States.
Open USAGov: get a death certificate
Questions worth taking with you
- Who is eligible to order a certified copy?
- What identification or proof of relationship is required?
- What is the current fee and processing time?
- Is online ordering through an official or authorized service available?
- Does the organization I am dealing with actually require a certified copy?
Fees, forms, eligibility rules and procedures change. An official directory is less convenient than a copied table, but it is much safer than confidently giving you stale legal-administrative information.
Last reviewed: September 15, 2026 · Research & safety standards