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Death certificates

Death certificates in New Mexico

In New Mexico, a certified copy of a death certificate costs $5 from the New Mexico Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics. 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 New Mexico Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics site. General information, not legal advice. Fees change, so confirm before you pay.

How to order in New Mexico

Ordering a certified copy of a death certificate in New Mexico
OfficeNew Mexico Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics
First certified copy$5
Each extra copy, same order$5

The $5 search fee per copy is not refunded. Online and phone orders through VitalChek add service and shipping fees.

Who can orderImmediate family (mother, father, sibling, child, current spouse, or grandparent) or someone with tangible proof of a legal interest. Death certificates become public records 50 years after the date of death.
ID you needA current government-issued photo ID, or a photocopy of it for mail orders.
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.

Only at the state office at 2554 Camino Entrada, Santa Fe. Public Health Offices do not issue death certificates.

How long it takesVitalChek orders take 3 to 5 business days to process. No time is given for mail orders.

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 New Mexico?
$5 for the first certified copy from the New Mexico Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics, and $5 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. The $5 search fee per copy is not refunded. Online and phone orders through VitalChek add service and shipping fees.
Who can order a death certificate in New Mexico?
Immediate family (mother, father, sibling, child, current spouse, or grandparent) or someone with tangible proof of a legal interest. Death certificates become public records 50 years after the date of death.
How do I order a death certificate in New Mexico?
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 current government-issued photo ID, or a photocopy of it for mail orders.

Sources

  1. New Mexico Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics: nmhealth.org/about/erd/bvrhs/vrp/death/
  2. New Mexico Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics: www.nmhealth.org/about/erd/bvrhs/vrp/
  3. CDC/NCHS: Funeral Directors' Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting, 2019
  4. FTC: Complying with the Funeral Rule (cash advance items)