How many death certificates you need

Most families need more certified copies of the death certificate than they first expect.

The reason is simple. Banks, insurers, and government agencies each ask for their own certified copy, and many will not accept a photocopy or return the one you send.

Ordering several at once is usually cheaper and far less stressful than ordering them one at a time as each request arrives.

Certified copies come from the vital-records office in the state or county where the death occurred, not from the funeral home, though a funeral home can often order them for you.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where to write for vital records

Who will ask for a certified copy

Each of these tends to require its own certified copy: a life insurance claim, each bank or investment account, the Social Security Administration, a pension or employer benefit, the department of motor vehicles for a vehicle title, and the county for real property.

You can reduce the number by asking whether an institution will accept a copy you certify yourself or return the original after viewing it, but many will not, so it is safer to have several in hand.

Where they come from

Certified death certificates are issued by the vital-records office of the state or county where the death occurred. Ordering directly from that office, rather than through a third-party website that adds a markup, is both cheaper and more reliable.

CDC, where to write for vital records

Go deeper

The Body and the End of Life

The documents that certify a death, taught plainly.

Primary sources

Where to write for vital records (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)opens in a new tab

Last updated July 2026

This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and change over time. Please confirm anything that affects your situation with a qualified professional.