Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a death certificate?

Depending on the state where the death occurred, certificates can take between 2-4 weeks before arriving to the family. It is generally what people need the soonest, but it can often take the longest. Here’s why — the process starts with the family furnishing personal information about their loved one on a provided vital statistics form. A funeral director takes the vital statistic information and creates the death certificate. The certificate then goes to the appropriate doctor for medical certification. From the doctors, the certificate is sent to the county vital statistics office in which the death occurred. After being registered by the county, certified copies are made and sent to the family. We do everything we can to expedite this process and are happy to help families calculate how many death certificates they need. Read more.