How to Get a Death Certificate in Pennsylvania
How to Get a Death Certificate in Pennsylvania
A certified death certificate is required for nearly every step of estate administration in Pennsylvania: opening probate at the Register of Wills, filing the inheritance tax return, claiming life insurance, closing bank accounts, and transferring vehicle titles. Pennsylvania death certificates are issued by the Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, and must contain a raised embossed seal to be accepted for legal purposes.
Who Can Request Certified Copies
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and fall into one of these categories:
- Spouse or ex-spouse (ex-spouse must show direct financial interest)
- Parent or step-parent (step-parent must also provide marriage certificate)
- Child or stepchild
- Sibling or step-sibling
- Grandparent, great-grandparent, grandchild, or great-grandchild
- Power of Attorney or legal representative (must provide proof)
- Estate representative (personal representative with short certificate)
- Individual with direct financial interest (must provide supporting documentation)
- Government office administering the estate
Certificate Types
Pennsylvania offers two types of death certificates for deaths occurring after 2019:
| Type | Contents | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
| With medical information | Includes cause and manner of death | Life insurance claims, pension benefits, wrongful death cases |
| Without medical information | Excludes medical details | Closing bank accounts, utility transfers, property transfers |
For deaths before 2019, only the full certificate (with medical information) is available.
Three Ways to Order
Online
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Website | mycertificates.health.pa.gov (VitalChek, sole authorized vendor) |
| Availability | 24 hours/day, 7 days/week |
| Cost | $20 per certificate + $10 service fee |
| Payment | Credit card |
| Processing time | Approximately 3 weeks |
By Mail
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Form | Application for a Death Certificate (available at pa.gov) |
| Mail to | Division of Vital Records, Death Certificate Processing Unit, PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103 |
| Cost | $20 per certificate (no service fee) |
| Payment | Check or money order payable to "VITAL RECORDS" |
| Required enclosures | Completed application, copy of valid government-issued photo ID showing proof of address, payment |
| Processing time | Approximately 3 weeks |
In Person
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Locations | Six Vital Records Branch Offices across Pennsylvania (Erie, New Castle, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton, and Harrisburg area) |
| Cost | $20 per certificate |
| Processing time | Same day for applications received by 2:30 PM |
| Required items | Completed application, valid government-issued photo ID, payment |
Contact for all methods: 724-656-3100 or toll-free 844-228-3516. Hours: Monday through Friday 7:15 AM to 6:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
Cost Summary
| Method | Cost Per Copy | Additional Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Online (VitalChek) | $20 | + $10 service fee per order |
| $20 | None beyond postage | |
| In person | $20 | None |
| Through funeral home at time of death | $20 | May include funeral home handling fee |
Fee Waivers for Military Families
The $20 certificate fee is waived if the decedent or their spouse was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces in active service at time of death, or was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Limited to 10 copies per applicant per calendar year. The waiver does not cover the $10 online service fee.
How Many Copies Do Families Typically Need
| Purpose | Copies |
|---|---|
| Probate / Register of Wills | 1 |
| Pennsylvania inheritance tax return | 1 |
| Federal estate tax return (if applicable) | 1 |
| Each life insurance company | 1 per policy |
| Each bank or financial institution | 1 per institution |
| Social Security Administration | 1 |
| Pension/retirement plan administrators | 1 per plan |
| Vehicle title transfer (PennDOT) | 1 |
| Real property transfers | 1 per transaction |
| Personal records | 1 |
Recommended total: 8 to 12 certified copies for a typical estate with multiple accounts and insurance policies. Order all copies at once to save time. Each trip back to order more takes 3 weeks by mail.
Processing Times
| Method | Estimated Time |
|---|---|
| In person (branch office) | Same day (if received by 2:30 PM) |
| Online (VitalChek) | Approximately 3 weeks |
| Approximately 3 weeks |
Delays may occur for applications with errors, genealogical requests, subpoenas, powers of attorney submissions, or records requiring verification.
Death Certificate and Inheritance Tax
Pennsylvania's inheritance tax return (Form REV-1500) requires a copy of the death certificate. The return is due 9 months from the date of death, with a 5% discount if the tax is paid within 3 months. See estate and inheritance tax in Pennsylvania for complete details on rates and filing.
Death Certificate and Probate
The original death certificate is required when filing a Petition for Grant of Letters at the Register of Wills. The Register typically retains the original and returns it after processing. You will need additional certified copies for banks, insurance companies, and other institutions as you work through the probate process.
Amending a Death Certificate
If information on the death certificate is incorrect, amendments are possible:
Who can request: The original informant listed on the record, the funeral director who filed the certificate, or the physician/coroner who signed the medical certification. Anyone with a court order may also request changes.
Process:
- Complete Form HD002191 (Request to Amend a Death Record)
- Provide death record details, specific changes requested, and supporting documentation
- Notarization is required unless submitting a certified court order
- Mail to: PA Department of Health, Bureau of Health Statistics and Registries, ATTN: Death Registry, 555 Walnut St., 6th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101-1934
Special rule: If the amendment changes the cause of death from natural causes to other-than-natural causes, the certifying physician or coroner must submit a sworn affidavit (28 Pa. Code sections 1.36, 1.37).
Pre-1906 Records
The Division of Vital Records holds death records dating back to 1906. For deaths before 1906, contact the county courthouse (Orphans' Court Clerk) where the death occurred. Directory available at pacourts.us.
What to Do Next
Once you have your certified death certificates, the next steps are to file for probate at the Register of Wills, notify financial institutions, and begin the inheritance tax process. See the complete guide to what to do when someone dies in Pennsylvania for the full sequence.
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This guide was researched using Pennsylvania statutes and Department of Health information current as of April 2026. Processing times and fees may change. For questions about specific records, contact the Division of Vital Records at 724-656-3100.
Sources: 35 P.S. section 450.101 et seq. (Vital Statistics Law); 28 Pa. Code Chapter 1; pa.gov/agencies/health/programs/vital-records; mycertificates.health.pa.gov