Death certificates in Mississippi
In Mississippi, a certified copy of a death certificate costs $17 from the Mississippi State Department of Health, Vital Records. Each extra copy ordered at the same time costs $6. You can order online, by mail or in person. The funeral home can often order the first copies for you.
Last checked on the Mississippi State Department of Health, Vital Records site. General information, not legal advice. Fees change, so confirm before you pay.
How to order in Mississippi
| Office | Mississippi State Department of Health, Vital Records |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $17 |
| Each extra copy, same order | $6 The $17 search fee is not refundable. VitalChek online and phone orders add a fee. |
| Who can order | A parent listed on the record, a spouse, sibling, grandparent, child or grandchild with proof of relationship, the informant listed on the record, a legal guardian or legal representative, someone with a court order, or the funeral home on record. Plain paper copies are available for genealogy. |
| ID you need | A copy of a valid photo ID, such as a driver's license, state ID or passport, or two other documents from the office's list. |
| Ways to order | Online, 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. At the state Vital Records office in Ridgeland. Records from 2020 to now are available the same day. Older records are mailed. |
| How long it takes | Generally 7 to 10 business days after the office receives the request |
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.
The funeral home on record that took possession of the body may order certified 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 Mississippi?
- $17 for the first certified copy from the Mississippi State Department of Health, Vital Records, and $6 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. The $17 search fee is not refundable. VitalChek online and phone orders add a fee.
- Who can order a death certificate in Mississippi?
- A parent listed on the record, a spouse, sibling, grandparent, child or grandchild with proof of relationship, the informant listed on the record, a legal guardian or legal representative, someone with a court order, or the funeral home on record. Plain paper copies are available for genealogy.
- How do I order a death certificate in Mississippi?
- 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. A copy of a valid photo ID, such as a driver's license, state ID or passport, or two other documents from the office's list.
Sources
- Mississippi State Department of Health, Vital Records: msdh.ms.gov/page/31,1248,109,62.html
- Mississippi State Department of Health, Vital Records: msdh.ms.gov/page/31,0,109,809.html
- Mississippi State Department of Health, Vital Records: www.msdh.ms.gov/page/resources/21411.pdf
- Mississippi State Department of Health, Vital Records: msdh.ms.gov/page/31,1922,109.html
- CDC/NCHS: Funeral Directors' Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting, 2019
- FTC: Complying with the Funeral Rule (cash advance items)