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Death certificates

Death certificates in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, certified copies of a death certificate come from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. We have not confirmed the current fee and rules there yet, so check them on the office's own site before you order. The funeral home can often order the first copies for you.

Not yet confirmed. We could not read the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics site yet. General information, not legal advice. Fees change, so confirm before you pay.

How to order in Massachusetts

Ordering a certified copy of a death certificate in Massachusetts
OfficeMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
Fee and rulesWe have not confirmed the current fee and rules for Massachusetts yet. Check them on the office's own site before you order.

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

Where do I get a death certificate in Massachusetts?
From the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, or through the funeral home that handled the death. Check the office's site for the current fee and who may order.

Sources

  1. Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics: www.mass.gov/how-to/order-a-birth-marriage-or-death-certificate
  2. Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics: www.mass.gov/info-details/vital-records-service-fees
  3. CDC/NCHS: Funeral Directors' Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting, 2019
  4. FTC: Complying with the Funeral Rule (cash advance items)