How to Get a Colorado Death Certificate (2026)

A certified Colorado death certificate is issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics and by county Local Vital Records offices. Qualified family members and people with a direct and tangible interest may order one. The first copy costs $25.

How Do You Get a Death Certificate in Colorado?

You get a certified Colorado death certificate from the CDPHE Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics or from a county Local Vital Records office. Both the state and the counties keep Colorado death records, so you can use whichever is more convenient.

There are three main ways to order. You can apply online through the state vendor, mail an application to the state office, or apply in person.

Online orders go through the state portal vendor (VitalChek or GoCertificates). A surcharge applies for credit and debit card payments.

For a mail order, you complete the death certificate application, attach a copy of your identification and proof of eligibility, and include the non-refundable fee. You mail everything to the address listed on the application.

For in-person service, the state office in Denver is open to the public by appointment only, with no walk-ins. Many county Local Vital Records offices accept walk-ins and can issue a certified copy the same day.

Who Is Eligible to Request a Colorado Death Certificate?

You must have a direct and tangible interest in the record to obtain a certified Colorado death certificate. This is set by Colorado law and the State Board of Health rules, and it limits who can order.

People who generally qualify include the current spouse or ex-spouse, parents and stepparents, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, siblings and half-siblings, and grandparents.

Other applicants may qualify with the right proof. These include legal representatives, in-laws, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins, insurance companies, creditors, employers, and government agencies, each with documentation showing their direct and tangible interest.

You must prove your relationship or interest. A spouse, parent, or other person listed on the death certificate may simply show they are named on it. Others must provide documents such as a birth or marriage certificate, a court order, or an insurance policy.

Obtaining a record under false pretenses is a crime in Colorado and can carry a fine and jail time.

Colorado Death Certificate Cost and Processing Time

A certified Colorado death certificate costs $25 for the first copy and $20 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. This fee schedule took effect January 1, 2026, and applies statewide at both the state office and county offices.

Fees are non-refundable, including when no record is found that matches your request. If you do not know the year of death, a multi-year search may add a small per-year fee.

Processing time depends on how you order. State online and mail orders are normally processed in about 30 business days from the date the office receives them, and the state posts current processing dates on its order page.

In-person orders at a county Local Vital Records office are often filled the same day. Ordering at a county office is usually the fastest way to get certified copies in hand.

Certified vs Informational Copy in Colorado

Colorado issues a certified copy of a death certificate; it does not offer a separate informational or non-certified version the way some states do. The certified copy is the official document used for estate, insurance, benefits, and similar purposes.

Because Colorado treats death records as confidential, every order requires proof of eligibility and identification. There is no public, unrestricted informational copy available on request.

For family history research, the state can release certain older records marked For Genealogical Use Only. These genealogical copies are not valid for legal or identity purposes.

How to Get Additional or Replacement Copies

To get additional or replacement Colorado death certificates, order them the same way you order the first copy, from CDPHE Vital Records or a county office. There is no separate replacement process; each copy is simply another certified copy of the same record.

If you order extra copies of the same record at the same time, you pay $25 for the first and $20 for each additional copy. Ordering several at once is cheaper per copy than coming back later.

If you need more copies later, you submit a new application with your identification and proof of eligibility again, and pay the current fees. The same eligibility rules apply to every order.

Keep at least one certified copy in a safe place. Estates, banks, insurers, and benefit programs often each ask for their own original certified copy.

Disclaimer: This page is general information, not legal advice. Vital records fees, processing times, and eligibility rules change. Always confirm current details with the CDPHE Office of Vital Records or your county Local Vital Records office before ordering.

Sources

This page draws on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Office of Vital Records and Colorado county Local Vital Records offices.

For the broader rules on access, see Colorado Death Records, and compare other states on the Death Records by State hub.