After a person dies, it can take anywhere from one day to a few weeks for the official death certificate to be completely processed. Turnaround times vary by location, type of death, and when the person died.
Average Timeframe
Typically, laws dictate a death certificate should be created within 72 hours of a death being reported and submitted to the local health department. Each state has specific regulations on the timeframe for submitting a death certificate, and these requirements can range from one to 10 days.
Required Information
In some states, death records are public and anyone can request one, but in most states you must be related to the deceased or legally representing their family. To obtain a death certificate for someone you may need to provide the following, depending on your state.
- Proof of your identity that includes a photo, your signature, and that is not expired
- The full name, sex, and exact date and place of death for the deceased
- The legal names of the deceased's parents, including their mother's maiden name
- The reason why you're requesting a copy, with documentation such as an insurance policy with your name as the beneficiary
- Your relationship to the deceased and current contact information
Verification and Signatures
A medical examiner, coroner, or physician is often required to fill in portions of the certificate or, at the very least, they sign it to confirm the person is no longer living.
Once the medical professional has completed their portion of the certificate, they often have to deliver it to the funeral director, who also signs the document. The certificate is then transferred to the local government office charged with keeping vital records. This office completes the certification process by reviewing the information and affixing a governmental seal. This process differs slightly from state to state, so how long it takes to get a death certificate after someone dies can vary.
State Death Certificate Timeframes
To get specific requirements for processing by state, use this chart to find the processing time after requesting a certificate.
| State | Processing Time | State | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Same day in person | Montana | 2-3 weeks |
| Alaska | Same day in person | Nebraska | Same day in person |
| Arizona | 7-10 business days | Nevada | Same day in person |
| Arkansas | Same day in person | New Hampshire | Same day in person |
| California | 3-4 weeks | New Jersey | Same day in person |
| Colorado | Same day in person | New Mexico | 3-5 business days |
| Connecticut | 6-8 weeks | New York | 5-12 days |
| Delaware | Same day in person | North Carolina | Same day in person |
| Florida | 1-3 business days | North Dakota | 3-5 business days |
| Georgia | Same day in person | Ohio | Same day in person |
| Hawaii | 10 days | Oklahoma | Same day in person |
| Idaho | 2-3 weeks | Oregon | Same day in person |
| Illinois | 5-7 business days | Pennsylvania | Same day in person |
| Indiana | Same day in person | Rhode Island | 1-2 weeks |
| Iowa | Same day in person | South Carolina | Same day in person |
| Kansas | Same day in person | South Dakota | Same day in person |
| Kentucky | Same day in person | Tennessee | Same day in person |
| Louisiana | Same day in person | Texas | Same day in person |
| Maine | Same day in person | Utah | Same day in person |
| Maryland | Same day in person | Vermont | 2-4 business days |
| Massachusetts | 2-3 weeks | Virginia | 1-14 days |
| Michigan | Same day in person | Washington | Same day in person |
| Minnesota | Same day in person | West Virginia | 10-14 days |
| Mississippi | 7-10 business days | Wisconsin | Same day in person |
| Missouri | Same day in person | Wyoming | 5-10 business days |
Causes For Delay
National Cremation shares many reasons that may delay the processing of a death certificate.
- If a medical examiner has to wait for test results, it can delay the process for weeks.
- When a full autopsy or investigation into the death is necessary, it may take an additional six weeks at a minimum.
- If the person died in a large county, delays can be expected because the offices are busier.
- The certificate can be delayed if personnel are unavailable for live signatures due to office hours, vacations, or family emergencies.
- Data entry errors of details like dates and names can hold up the process.
- If the signer forgets to date their signature, the process can be delayed as well.
How to Speed Up the Process
Because a death certificate is an official government document, there's not much you can do to expedite the process. For the fastest results, it helps if you:
- Have the deceased's personal information on hand
- Know the exact time of death if the person died at home
- Have the deceased's physician's contact information available
- Speak with the coroner or funeral director about how you can participate in the process
Understand the Process
Familiarize yourself with local governments and identify which office is charged with keeping vital records. When you understand the regulations and parties involved in certifying a death certificate in your area, you'll better understand how long it will take to get a copy.
