Death certificates in Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, a certified copy of a death certificate costs $15 from the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Records Service. Each copy costs the same. You can order online or by mail. The funeral home can often order the first copies for you.
Last checked on the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Records Service site. General information, not legal advice. Fees change, so confirm before you pay.
How to order in Oklahoma
| Office | Oklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Records Service |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $15 |
| Each extra copy, same order | $15 Mail orders cost $15 per copy, and the search fee is not refunded if no record is found. Online and phone orders through VitalChek cost $20 for the first copy and $15 for each additional copy, plus a vendor fee. |
| Who can order | Surviving spouse, parent, child, grandparent, sibling, legal guardian, the legal representative of the estate with a court order, or the funeral director of record. Others must prove a family or legal relationship. Deaths 50 or more years old are open records. |
| ID you need | A copy of a valid government-issued photo ID is required, and some applicants must also send proof of relationship. |
| Ways to order | Online or by mail. The state takes online orders only through VitalChek, a private company, which adds its own fee. By mail costs only the state fee. Lobbies are closed to walk-ins. Online and phone orders can be picked up at Will Call in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, or McAlester. |
| How long it takes | About 2 business days for online and phone orders. About 6 weeks for mail orders, including delivery. |
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 director of record, or an agent, can order copies as part of their official business.
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 Oklahoma?
- $15 for the first certified copy from the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Records Service, and $15 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. Mail orders cost $15 per copy, and the search fee is not refunded if no record is found. Online and phone orders through VitalChek cost $20 for the first copy and $15 for each additional copy, plus a vendor fee.
- Who can order a death certificate in Oklahoma?
- Surviving spouse, parent, child, grandparent, sibling, legal guardian, the legal representative of the estate with a court order, or the funeral director of record. Others must prove a family or legal relationship. Deaths 50 or more years old are open records.
- How do I order a death certificate in Oklahoma?
- You can order online or by mail. Online orders go through VitalChek, a private company the state uses, which adds its own fee. A copy of a valid government-issued photo ID is required, and some applicants must also send proof of relationship.
Sources
- Oklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Records Service: oklahoma.gov/health/services/birth-and-death-certificates/faqs.html
- Oklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Records Service: oklahoma.gov/health/services/birth-and-death-certificates/death-certificates.html
- Oklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Records Service: oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/health/health2/aem-documents/vital-records/forms/18011vr-vr-death-application-eng-eform.pdf
- CDC/NCHS: Funeral Directors' Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting, 2019
- FTC: Complying with the Funeral Rule (cash advance items)