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Death certificates

Death certificates in Washington, D.C.

In Washington, D.C., a certified copy of a death certificate costs $18 from the DC Health, Vital Records Division. Each copy costs the same. You can order online, by mail or in person. The funeral home can often order the first copies for you.

Last checked on the DC Health, Vital Records Division site. General information, not legal advice. Fees change, so confirm before you pay.

How to order in Washington, D.C.

Ordering a certified copy of a death certificate in Washington, D.C.
OfficeDC Health, Vital Records Division
First certified copy$18
Each extra copy, same order$18

Online, phone, and mail orders go through VitalChek, which adds a processing fee of $15.95 online or by phone and $6.00 by mail.

Who can orderThe spouse, domestic partner, or parent named on the certificate, an adult child, grandchild, sibling, or grandparent with birth records, a legal guardian, a legal representative, law enforcement, or someone with a tangible or legal interest. Death records in Washington, D.C. become public after 75 years.
ID you needOne original, unexpired primary photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport, or two alternate documents if you have no photo ID.
Ways to orderOnline, by mail or in person.

The state takes online orders only through VitalChek, a private company, which adds its own fee. By mail or in person costs only the state fee.

Walk-up service at self-service kiosks at the Vital Records Division, 2201 Shannon Place SE, Washington, D.C.

How long it takesThe office does not publish a time.

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.

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 Washington, D.C.?
$18 for the first certified copy from the DC Health, Vital Records Division, and $18 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. Online, phone, and mail orders go through VitalChek, which adds a processing fee of $15.95 online or by phone and $6.00 by mail.
Who can order a death certificate in Washington, D.C.?
The spouse, domestic partner, or parent named on the certificate, an adult child, grandchild, sibling, or grandparent with birth records, a legal guardian, a legal representative, law enforcement, or someone with a tangible or legal interest. Death records in Washington, D.C. become public after 75 years.
How do I order a death certificate in Washington, D.C.?
You can order online, by mail or in person. Online orders go through VitalChek, a private company the state uses, which adds its own fee. One original, unexpired primary photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport, or two alternate documents if you have no photo ID.

Sources

  1. DC Health, Vital Records Division: dchealth.dc.gov/service/death-certificates
  2. DC Health, Vital Records Division: dchealth.dc.gov/vital-records
  3. DC Health, Vital Records Division: dchealth.dc.gov/page/vital-records-fee-schedule-html
  4. CDC/NCHS: Funeral Directors' Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting, 2019
  5. FTC: Complying with the Funeral Rule (cash advance items)