Death certificates in Rhode Island
In Rhode Island, certified copies of a death certificate come from the Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Vital Records. 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 Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Vital Records site yet. General information, not legal advice. Fees change, so confirm before you pay.
How to order in Rhode Island
| Office | Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Vital Records |
|---|---|
| Fee and rules | We have not confirmed the current fee and rules for Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
- From the Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Vital Records, or through the funeral home that handled the death. Check the office's site for the current fee and who may order.
Sources
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Vital Records: health.ri.gov/vital-records/requesting-vital-record-state
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Vital Records: health.ri.gov/forms/recordrequest/Death.doc
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Vital Records: health.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur1006/files/forms/recordrequest/DeathFuneralDirector.pdf
- CDC/NCHS: Funeral Directors' Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting, 2019
- FTC: Complying with the Funeral Rule (cash advance items)