Death certificates in Colorado
In Colorado, a certified copy of a death certificate costs $25 from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics. Each extra copy ordered at the same time costs $20. You can order online, by mail or in person. The funeral home can often order the first copies for you.
Last checked on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics site. General information, not legal advice. Fees change, so confirm before you pay.
How to order in Colorado
| Office | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $25 |
| Each extra copy, same order | $20 Credit and debit card payments add a surcharge. Online orders go through GoCertificates or VitalChek. |
| Who can order | The spouse, parent, stepparent, sibling, child, or stepchild of the deceased, the informant, the funeral director listed on the certificate, or a legal representative, each with proof of relationship. Others who show a direct and tangible interest, such as beneficiaries, creditors, or insurance companies, may also order. |
| ID you need | A copy of a current driver's license, passport, or state ID. |
| Ways to order | Online, by mail or in person. The state takes online orders only through GoCertificates or VitalChek, a private company, which adds its own fee. By mail or in person costs only the state fee. At the state office in Denver by appointment only, or at local vital records offices. |
| How long it takes | The office posts the dates of the orders it is currently processing on its order page. |
Do funeral homes order the first copies?
Often, yes. The funeral director files the death certificate with the state, so ordering copies at the same time is common. The FTC lists death certificates among the cash advance items a funeral home may buy for you and add to its bill. Ask what it charges per copy.
Funeral directors listed on the death certificate may order copies.
For more copies later, order from the office above. How many copies do you need? Our calculator counts one for each bank, insurer and agency.
Questions people ask
- How much is a death certificate in Colorado?
- $25 for the first certified copy from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics, and $20 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. Credit and debit card payments add a surcharge. Online orders go through GoCertificates or VitalChek.
- Who can order a death certificate in Colorado?
- The spouse, parent, stepparent, sibling, child, or stepchild of the deceased, the informant, the funeral director listed on the certificate, or a legal representative, each with proof of relationship. Others who show a direct and tangible interest, such as beneficiaries, creditors, or insurance companies, may also order.
- How do I order a death certificate in Colorado?
- You can order online, by mail or in person. Online orders go through GoCertificates or VitalChek, a private company the state uses, which adds its own fee. A copy of a current driver's license, passport, or state ID.
Sources
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics: cdphe.colorado.gov/order-certificate-now
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics: drive.google.com/file/d/1POQTDPVLqteFe2rdx59mnLAOyca4ZA3A/view
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics: drive.google.com/file/d/1gEmbDCHF-N9NfDKpaIfYrz7BNh7PGtQb/view
- CDC/NCHS: Funeral Directors' Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting, 2019
- FTC: Complying with the Funeral Rule (cash advance items)