Death certificates in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, a certified copy of a death certificate costs $20 from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Vital Records Office. Each extra copy ordered at the same time costs $3. You can order online, by mail or in person. The funeral home can often order the first copies for you.
Last checked on the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Vital Records Office site. General information, not legal advice. Fees change, so confirm before you pay.
How to order in Wisconsin
| Office | Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Vital Records Office |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $20 |
| Each extra copy, same order | $3 Additional copies must be ordered at the same time. Online and phone orders through VitalChek add a vendor fee. |
| Who can order | People with a direct and tangible interest: immediate family (parent, sibling, spouse, child, grandparent or registered domestic partner), a legal custodian or guardian, an authorized representative such as an attorney, or someone who needs it to protect a personal or property right. Others can get an uncertified copy. |
| ID you need | A copy of one unexpired photo ID such as a driver's license or passport, or two other documents such as a bank statement and utility bill. |
| 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 county Register of Deeds offices, or the Milwaukee or West Allis city health offices. |
| How long it takes | About 10 business days for mail orders, plus mail time. About 5 business days through VitalChek. |
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 Wisconsin?
- $20 for the first certified copy from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Vital Records Office, and $3 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. Additional copies must be ordered at the same time. Online and phone orders through VitalChek add a vendor fee.
- Who can order a death certificate in Wisconsin?
- People with a direct and tangible interest: immediate family (parent, sibling, spouse, child, grandparent or registered domestic partner), a legal custodian or guardian, an authorized representative such as an attorney, or someone who needs it to protect a personal or property right. Others can get an uncertified copy.
- How do I order a death certificate in Wisconsin?
- 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 one unexpired photo ID such as a driver's license or passport, or two other documents such as a bank statement and utility bill.
Sources
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Vital Records Office: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/vitalrecords/record.htm
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Vital Records Office: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/forms/f0/f05280.pdf
- CDC/NCHS: Funeral Directors' Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting, 2019
- FTC: Complying with the Funeral Rule (cash advance items)